Chapter 17
A SILK DRESS DOES NOT MEAN CLEAN UNDERGARMENTS
“All of you good people have come seeking aid. I’m here to tell you today that I’ve heard your wishes and judged your hearts and found all of you worthy. That is why I’ve chosen to break with tradition. My decision is not to help one of you today, but all of you.”
There were gasps of amazement from the crowd, along with claps, shouts of joy, and even scoffs coming from those filled with skepticism.
Veru had expected that and prepared for it.
Holding up her hands, she waited for them to quiet.
“I’ll admit, I am not Yu—my mother. My magic is weak compared to hers.
But I will offer you what I can. In my hand, I hold a vial of the first draw from the well.
My companion, Danik, will mix it with our own water from the pump and give all of you an equal share to drink or use as you see fit.
“Perhaps the magic will be diluted this way. Perhaps not. We have already distributed food and the flowers that sprung from the well. I see this as a sign. My hope is that all of you will benefit from it and have a blessing from the Flower of the Well come your way. But know this: If what you seek does not come to pass, return here, and I promise to do my best to render what aid I can.”
As Danik mixed the water and those who remained formed a line to accept their offering, Veru placed her hand on his shoulder and said, “Can you summon them and provide them with water in the following groups? First, I’d like to see the man who wanted his cattle to prosper and the one who needed his grain to grow hale and hardy.
After that, I’d like to see the young woman looking for a husband and the three lonely widows whose sons are wandering. ”
Rubbing the stubble on his face, Danik grinned and nodded, listening closely as Veru introduced the first people called and spoke of how they might help one another.
The man with cattle might offer fertilizer to the man with the grain, who in turn might provide feed and hay to the cattle.
They walked off talking of a new partnership, both toasting the future possibilities with their jugs of water.
Danik marveled that Veru never forced them together in any way.
She just spoke to them of how she’d seen things successfully done in other villages, cleverly making it seem as if it their new partnership was their idea all along.
Then, with the next group, she somehow got the three widows to all offer up their homes to the beautiful girl, hoping she might entice their wayward sons to return home to settle down.
The young lady was quite enthusiastic about the prospect of three eligible bachelors, especially with mothers-in-law all vying for her attention.
The man with a sick daughter was introduced to a medical student who needed a place to begin a practice.
There were no guarantees that he could save her, but he was bright and energetic, and he wouldn’t give up hope.
His youthful enthusiasm would be infectious, and he’d lend that optimism to the parents and give them a reason to keep trying.
In turn, they would give him a place to stay.
Again and again, Veru skillfully arranged partnerships among those who needed help, usually without them recognizing her efforts.
The only one she couldn’t seem to find a solution for was her silver-armored white knight, who had mysteriously disappeared for the duration of the day.
No matter how she considered his problem—or her own, for that matter—there didn’t appear to be a way to free him or her and Danik from the old woman’s clutches.
When everyone was satisfied and gone, Danik and Veru toasted their success by downing a mug of the water themselves.
“What do you wish for?” Danik asked her.
“Do you mean other than a good night’s sleep that isn’t in a hard wooden chair?”
He chuckled. “You’re welcome to bunk on the floor with me.”
She gave him a quick, piercing look but saw no hidden agenda behind his words.
It almost made her feel melancholy, especially as she remembered his rejection of her before.
It was puzzling. No man had ever been uninterested in her.
To be fair, it had been some time since she’d bathed or brushed her hair. In fact, she probably looked a mess.
“What do you wish for?” she asked, avoiding answering his question.
“Hmm, would it be wrong to say I’d really like a bath?” he asked, echoing her thoughts.
Veru laughed. “I was going to say the same thing.”
“Then wish granted.” Danik stood up suddenly and looked around. “It will be much warmer out here than inside the house. Not to mention there’ll be privacy. Let me see what I can scare up.”
“Privacy?” she scoffed as he disappeared inside the little house. “Did you forget all the people who were just here? I’d say this porch is anything but private.”
“You just leave it to me, Tsarevna,” he called out.
Veru began unknotting her braided hair, wincing at the tangles and the sticks and weeds she found twisted in them, and sincerely hoped she wasn’t going to find any bugs. As she worked, she heard the movement of large pieces of furniture inside the house.
“What are you doing in there?” she called out.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said.
There was a hiss and a meow, and Max ran outside and sat at her feet, licking a paw furiously, obviously irritated.
“Did he step on you?” she asked, stroking the cat’s head. “Poor kotenok.”
Danik appeared just then, carrying what looked like a huge copper bowl. It was even larger than the stone dish the old woman had taken with her. The thing barely fit through the closet door.
“Think it’ll do?” he asked. “The house thought it might.”
“I’ll make it work,” Veru said, eyeing the large pot. “What on earth do you think she used this for?”
“No idea. It’s heavy though. Had its own stirring spoon, but I left it in the secret cupboard.
Apparently, the house is full of them. Didn’t think you’d need the stirring rod since you’re not making soup of yourself.
Here. Brought you some salts and soaps. Choose what you like while I bring out the water. ”
Danik brought out pails full of steaming water from the cauldron inside and tried arranging the dried blankets still hanging on the porch to give her a semblance of privacy.
She shooed him away and fixed them herself, almost creating a private room on the porch.
The last thing he did before adding just one bucket of cold water to offset the hot was to set a clean blanket on the little stool next to the tub so she could dry off.
Stripping off her now worn and torn blue gossamer dress, Veru gingerly stepped into the steaming bath and sank down as low as she could.
It wasn’t nearly as roomy as her old tub back home, but it was large enough to at least get her limbs wet, so she commenced scrubbing herself clean.
She set to work right away, lathering the large cake of soap into her hair, wincing at the astringent smell, hoping it would at least stave off vermin and insects.
It certainly wasn’t the pleasant floral scent she was used to, but it would do to get her clean.
When she was finished, she dunked under the water, getting as much soap out of her hair as possible.
With bubbles still dripping down her shoulders, she found herself missing her maid and wondering if she should consign herself to staying soapy, when she noticed that Danik had left her a bucket of warm, fresh water to rinse with.
Grateful for his thoughtfulness, she stood in the tub and carefully poured it over her head, getting all the soap out of her hair and off her body before stepping out and wrapping the blanket around herself, using it to squeeze the excess water from her hair.
“Danik?” she called out. “I’m finished. If you want a go, it’s all yours,” she said. “I’ll bring you a fresh bucket to rinse with to return the favor.”
“That would be wonderful!” he said.
“Thanks for letting me go first,” she said, her body cocooned by the blanket. “Next time you get the first turn.”
“I don’t mind,” he said, removing his shirt and ducking around her, not even paying attention to the woman in the blanket. “I just hope the water is still warm.”
“It should be,” Veru replied.
She heard a splash and exited with her back to the tub so as not to catch a glimpse of his naked form.
Her face colored as she picked up her clothes and hurried into the house.
Veru’s breath froze when she entered the cottage, and she realized for the first time all day just how cold it still was inside the little home.
She’d nearly forgotten. Quickly, she threw the last of their logs onto the fire and danced on the floor, hurrying to put on the knitted stockings Yuga had given her.
After she adjusted her blanket, she headed back to the summer porch and cleared her throat outside the makeshift bathing chamber.
“Um, Danik? Can you pass me the bucket so I can bring you some rinse water?”
“Here you go.”
His very wet, naked arm appeared, holding the bucket, and Veru couldn’t help herself.
Her eyes trailed up the arm to his handsome face.
His blond hair was dark and slicked back from his forehead.
With his eyes closed, she felt braver and let her eyes drop down from his stubbly bearded cheeks and chin to his chest.
Veru had worked and sparred with many soldiers and thus had seen many chiseled male forms in various stages of dress.
She’d schooled herself well to take no notice of it, and in most cases, she never did.
To her, seeing a well-built male was much like seeing a well-built stallion.
She appreciated such a creature and could even admire it and recognize its value, but never did it inspire feelings of lust.