Danika had just finished taking her bath, getting ready to go to the mines. Her body
hurt badly, and she’d give anything not to have to work today.
But then again, she didn’t want to allow herself to dwell on the things she couldn’t
change. Sally had taken her clothes out and got them ironed. By the time she was out
of the bathroom, Danika’s clothes were ready, and her sandals cleaned. She thanked
Sally.
Just then, the door opened and Baski entered. “Time for your morning treatment,
young lady.”
“Good morning, Madam Baski,” Sally said. She and Danika bowed their heads in
greeting.
Baski, always moved with hurried steps, waved them away and entered deeper into
the small room towards the table. She set down all her herbs. “I’m glad you’re done
with your bath. Lie on the bed and give me your back,” she said distractedly, sorting
through her herbs.
Danika did as she was told while Sally helped Baski, just like they did before.
Several minutes later, the herbs were ready, and they applied them on her back.
Baski was happy about the results of yesterday’s treatment.
“Your wounds are looking so much better already, Danika. I believe these won’t
scar, and there will be no sign of it in a few weeks to come,” she said as she applied
another ground green leaf.
“Thank you so much,” Danika whispered, trying to breathe through the searing
pain in her back.
An hour had passed before they were done. After the herbs, they gave her potions
and then pills, too.
“All done,” Baski announced.
Danika was hurting horribly, tears streaming down her face from the pain, while
Sally patted her arm in consolation.
“Thank you, Madam Baski,” Sally said tearfully afterwards, her princess’s pain
getting to her.
Baski nodded and patted Danika’s shoulders. “You’re a strong woman. You’ll be
fine.”
“Thank you,” she whispered hoarsely.
Sally huddled closer to her. “You just lie down here, my princess, while I get
everything ready for working the mines. You don’t have to stress yourself and-”
“There will be no working mines or any kind of work for you, Danika, for this
entire week. No kind of work. Nothing. You just concentrate on getting well,” Baski
ordered, getting up from the bed.
Shocked silence met her. Sally’s eyes widened as she stared at Madam Baski.
Danika was sure her ears weren’t hearing right. She was afraid to hope. She
swiveled her head to see the woman clearly. “Really? But the king-”
“Forget what the king said and take my word for it, young lady. And you, Sally,
can take this day off too. Take care of the king’s sick slave.” Her herbs bag packed,
she faced the door. “I’ll come back later for your night treatment.”
After Baski left, Sally got from the bed and started dancing. “I’m so happy! I’m so
happy! I’m so happy!”
She danced and smiled and hummed music. Being horrible at dancing, her dance
steps were hilarious, and at one point, Danika found herself chuckling tearfully while
watching her.
Danika was so happy and relieved that more tears only left her eyes, even as her
lips kept smiling. “I’m happy too.”
Sally saw it and gave a mock pout. “Admit it, my princess. You want to laugh at
Sally’s poor dancing!”
“No, it’s not poor,” she lied in a hoarse voice, distracted from the pain in her back.
Sally only danced harder and worse, and before Danika knew it, she was giggling
like a child as she watched.
At last, Sally turned and smiled so hard at her princess. “The day is suddenly
looking so bright, my princess!”
“The only person brightening up the day is you, my dear Sally.”
.
Danika slept the rest of the day, and Sally took care of her. It was evening before
she could get up and leave the room. “Let’s get some fresh air,” she told Sally in the
evening.
As they headed out of the palace, Sally grinned at her. “Where do you want to go,
my princess?”
“Library. Let’s find any library in town,” she replied as they walked out of the
palace gate.
The evening wind blew, causing their clothing to sway around their legs, and long
hairs that weren’t properly pinned lifted from their owner’s nape as the streets filled
with people walking to their various destinations.
Danika enjoyed the fresh air. The only time she got out of the palace was when
they went to the mining site. It was refreshing and beautiful to leave the palace for
another reason.
She walked in her usual unhurried steps, her head held high, her hands clasped
together at her midriff beneath her clothes. Her clothes were ironed, and her long
blond hair styled and braided. She stood out as she walked, the regalia of her presence
clinging to her like a second skin.
While she walked behind, Sally skidded her way ahead, laughing and talking and
greeting anyone and everyone.
“Wow! Look at this!” She’d point to a flower, stopping to pluck a bit of its leaves.
She showed it to Danika with a huge smile on her face.
“It’s called a rose,” Danika supplied with a small smile as she walked.
Sally started ahead, even as she talked. “That’s the rose?”
“That’s the rose.”
“Oh, it’s so beautiful, my princess!” She skidded aside and gently plucked the
flowers out. Two long beautiful, and fresh-looking roses. She pushed one rose into her
hair and glanced at Danika with a smile. “How do I look, my princess!?”
With the flower stuck in one side of her black hair, Sally looked more beautiful,
more childlike. “You look beautiful, Sally.”
She flushed under the compliment. Then she stepped closer to Danika and placed
the remaining flower in her hair. “There. You look so beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Danika said to her with a smile.