11
CAIMBRIE
A sound in the hall roused me from my nap. Herod had been right. I was more exhausted than I thought. Even now, I could probably sleep for a few more hours before feeling fully rested. Maybe this was my body’s way of telling me I had been too tense for far too long.
I was finally starting to feel safe.
Safety. Such an odd sensation after all this time. And somehow, that feeling was tied intrinsically with Herod’s presence. The terrifying rogue had come to represent something so much more to me, and I was struggling with how I felt toward him. Were we friends? Would I ever see him again once I was back on Divoron with the others?
Sitting up, I looked around and saw a small package near the door of the cabin. Curious, I threw back my blanket and got to my feet. Herod had disappeared up into the cockpit, leaving me alone with the delivery. I bent and retrieved the package, turning it over in my hands before slowly untying the string that held it tightly together.
Inside, I found a collection of items. I brought them to the bunk to get a closer look. Bottles of shampoo and body wash were tucked neatly inside, along with a toothbrush and some other items. There was also a small bottle of what appeared to be perfume tied with a dainty pink ribbon. I spritzed a little onto my wrist and raised it to my nose, taking in the light floral scent and pausing to consider Herod’s choice.
“How did I do?” he asked from over my shoulder.
I spun, caught unprepared, and found him leaning against the doorway, a bit of a hopeful smile on his lips.
“Oh! It’s lovely. You really didn’t have to do all this.”
“My treat. I just wanted you to have something to help you feel at home.”
It was an unusual kindness he was showing me, and I searched his face for some sign of deeper meaning. But he was not playing coy with me now. Instead, he levered himself off the wall and strode forward, lifting my wrist to his nose and taking a quick inhale.
“Ah, yes. The merchant was right. This was just the perfect choice for you. I knew he wouldn’t lead me wrong. Anyway, there’s food up front if you’d like some, or you’re welcome to bathe before we eat?”
An awkward moment followed. His hand still encircled my wrist, and we were standing much too close to one another, caught in the strange intimacy that came with a gift of this kind. I didn’t know what to say. I was starving, but a shower sounded so good I could almost cry. In fact, I might actually cry if I had a minute to myself with a hot stream of water to conceal my sniffles. Yes, a shower it was.
“I would really like to get cleaned up before we eat, if that’s okay?”
Abruptly, he dropped my arm and stepped back.
“As you wish. Follow me.”
He ushered me into the washroom, which I had seen plenty of times before, but this time he pressed a few buttons on the wall and started the water for me. Then, he rummaged around in a small storage cabinet and returned with a fluffy towel.
“Thank you,” I repeated, eager for him to be out of the way.
“I’ll keep the food warm until you’re ready to eat.”
He excused himself, leaving me alone with the drumming of the water on the walls, and a cloud of steam. As soon as the door closed, I had a moment to address the pounding of my heart and the shaky feeling in my knees. What was happening to me?
I undressed quickly and slipped under the stream of water, taking my time as I lathered and rinsed. The scents of the soaps mingled in the thick air, filling my nose and making me wonder just what kind of strange alien plants had created such a delicious smell. Perhaps Herod would know. Perhaps one day he could show me.
After some time, I became conscious of how long I had spent in the shower. Did the ship have a limited supply of water? Was I being wasteful? I felt a pang of guilt and quickly cut off the stream and reached for the towel, wrapping it neatly around me. It occurred to me that I didn’t have a change of clean clothes anywhere on the ship, and I was begrudgingly thinking of wearing my soiled ones. I wondered whether Herod would mind me slipping on one of his shirts until I had something more suitable for myself.
However, my wondering was cut short as soon as I reached the bunk. There, laid out in perfect sets, were three new outfits. The first one featured bright, geometric patterns and what appeared to be loose-fitting shorts. I frowned a little, hoping Herod wouldn’t be too offended if I never, ever wore that one. But the other two were a little closer to my taste, and I eagerly scooped up one of the shirts and the leggings.
I felt like a new woman.
Somewhere amid the pile of goodies Herod had brought there was a hairbrush as well. Even without a mirror, there was something therapeutic about combing my hair out in long repetitive strokes. Until this very moment, I hadn’t realized how much I missed the quiet of this routine. Finally, I was ready to go eat.
At the front of the ship, Herod was in his captain’s chair, silently staring out at the crowded port. He looked pensive, and I wondered if he might not want to be disturbed, but as soon as he heard me approaching, he turned to greet me.
There was an unmistakable look of surprise on his face, which was quickly replaced by the proud and satisfied look of a man who has done well. I couldn’t help but giggle at the way his chest puffed out triumphantly when he saw me wearing the new clothes.
“May I sit?” I asked, unsure if he was done gawking at me.
“Yes. I mean, of course. The food’s ready. It’s about time!” He stumbled through a series of remarks before finally turning away and producing two small containers of food. As soon as the lids were removed, the cockpit was filled with a sharp odor that was rich with spices, but I couldn’t begin to identify what they were.