The Royal Flame

The Longing Pumpkin

“Make way!” our inn’s doors are smashed open with a blast. However, neither of our guests pays notice. A despaired looking middle aged man holds a woman wrapped in cloth with care in his hands as he walks inside.

“Oh my dear Lord, what happened to this poor child?” With my most welcoming barkeeper smile I walk towards him before our other visitors take notice of him and are disturbed. Shifting the cloth of the girl’s head I look into the eyes of the man, who on a closer look seems to have seen enough of the world. Grey stubbles on his cheeks, lines around his grey human eyes that have deepened and made their own paths towards each other show he has passed a great deal of his life time already. With a look of despair towards me his coarse but warm voice fills my ears. “I found her collapsed on the ground on my way to Ancia.”

Further lifting the cloth of her, I see a fragile looking young woman with perfect skin and black tangled hair. Never before have I seen such smooth skin, my fingers are naturally attracted to touch it. The touch of ice cold skin makes me pull away as quick as I was attracted to it.

“Isn’t she? The poor child is ice cold and lost all her color.” I should have chosen my words wiser as my own concern if she has not left us already causes the elder man to turn paler.

“Isbeil! Prepare a warm cloth and bed for our new guests!” Isbeil who was in the corner pouring our guests cups of ale full, while eyeing our new arrivals, quickly runs ahead.

“This way sir. We have to warm her up.” Slightly pushing him into movement, I lead the elder man by my side towards my private quarters, upstairs on the side of our inn.

“Please lay her on the bed there.” Closing the door after him I follow him towards my bed that is situated behind my desk.

“Sir may I ask your and her name?” pressing my hand on his back for strength he looks with surprise up at me, after laying the young lady down.

“Kenider my lady. But I do not know this child’s name, she is not mine. I found her at the feet of the mountain which guides us anf forms the trail towards Ancia.”

“I see. Kenider, would you then please let me examine the girl? It is improper to undress a lady in front of a man.” The concern on his face tells me he will not leave knowing the girl is doing well, but as he seems to be well mannered he found himself uncertain of what to do.

“If you mention downstairs that Eresa send you down they will give you enough to warm you up from the inside. I will send someone down to you to inform you about the girl when we know more.” His nod is so small it can be barely noticed.

With a gush of wind I guide him out, the needed push he needed. At the same time that he disappears through the door, Isbeil makes way into the room with cloths over her shoulder and a tile of warm water in her hands, warm clouds of air moving above it.

“Dip the cloths in the water, we have to clean her up.”

Removing the wrapped cloths from the girl’s body, while Isbeil dips and wrings the cloths, her body is revealed to my eyes. She is wearing the strangest clothes I have ever seen. No skirt or dress, but manly pants. However, I have never before seen a man were such pants. My hand strokes over the material, a feeling I have never felt before. My eyes slowly move towards Isbeil who now also hovers over the body.

“No word about thi..” Before I can finish my sentence the door opens. With a quick turn, I push another gush of wind to close the door in the face of the person who tried to enter.

“My apologies my lady.” Mer’s soft voice seeps through the creaks of the door.

“What can I do for you Mer?” with no intent to further involve any of my girls into whatever she is and the trouble she brings, I desire to continue this through closed doors.

“An elder looking lord told me downstairs that he was send down by my lady.” He indeed chose to speak to our most innocent and unknowing girl of the house.

“Provide him with a warm meal and a full cup of ale. Keep his cup full Mer.”

“Yes, my lady.” Her soft steps down the hallway tell me she left.

“Not a word about this.” My eyes are locked on Isbeil but my fingers continue to caress the unfamiliar fabric of the pants.

“We do not know an enemy from a friend unless they are conscious, let’s not alarm anyone just yet.” Isbeil nods and starts to remove the tied pelts from her feet.

“But my lady, from what far lands could she possibly be?” Isbeil whispers for nobody else to hear except my ears.

“Even I have never seen such cloths. Hide them for now. We do not want to create chaos for nothing” in silent we further remove her cloths from her skin. Her body is nowhere damaged except for the redness and blisters.

With the greatest care, we dip the warm cloth against her skin, cleaning any mud of her porcelain skin. Covering her eventually up with a nightgown before laying my blankets on her.

“Her skin is beautiful.” Isbeil reddens quickly, not meaning to say that out loud.

“It is.” She has clearly been taken care of till now. Thus, why was she found on the side of the road during such winter days. With such a skin, it is hard to imagine she has been through much hardship. She must be of some sort of royalty, maybe from some far away land across the borders of Samaria.

“Please bring some more wood for the fire and tell the elder man that the girl is doing well but asleep.

But remember not a word to the others.” Midway Isbeil halts, after a small curtesy she leaves me alone besides the strange new girl in our inn. Unable to leave her side I find myself on a chair places besides the bed, filled with curiosity if I should be afraid of her or protect her.