I shouldn't seek comfort in his arms but I couldn't help it. Being around male family members and always getting love and support made me want that comfort even more.
He gets up and gets water from the pool to heat up so I can take a comfortable bath.
Once the tub is pretty full he helps take the wrappings off leaving me completely bare.
My abdomen has yellow-green bruising. It's healing but it still hurts.
"It looks a lot better than the first time I applied the medicine." Koda tries to reassure me.
I take a deep breath and let Koda pick me up and slowly put me in.
I sigh heavenly. It feels so good to be in relaxing warm water.
"Koda, could you bring me the goat milk that is in a jar in the pool, the sweet oil from my workspace, and the bright red herbs that should be next to the sweet oil. I believe they'll be on the second shelf to the right." I had my eyes closed relaxing while I spoke to Koda asking for a favor.
I heard movement and could sense he was doing as I asked.
A moment later he speaks right next to me. I open my eyes and stare at what he had. "Is this what you asked for?"
I smell the golden liquid first, "yes that's the sweet oil." I take it from him and slowly pour it in a circle in the water before closing it and giving it back.
Then open the lid to the smaller jar that fits in his hand, "these are defiantly the fire leaves for purification." I put a small amount in the tub.
Finally, I open the lid to the larger jar, "and this is goat milk. Can you pour a quarter of it in here please?" He does and goes to put everything back.
This combination cleans, purifies, and relaxes the skin, muscles, and hair. I rub myself down before leaning my head back and letting my hair soak for a bit.
Prince Koda walks back over. "Since when have you started calling me Koda?" He folds his arms over his well-defined chest putting all his muscles on display.
"Sorry, was I too forward?"
"No, I like it. But only call me that when it's just the two of us, ok."
I smile brightly at Koda, "Okay"!
"Are you ready to get out?" Koda grabs some sheepskin.
"Yes, can you help me?" I can move my arms a little bit more but the rest still needs some work.
He helps me out and dries me off. There are already some fur clothes set out and he helps me get ready.
"On the shelf above the chest is a comb to untangle my hair, do you mind getting it."
He goes to get it and comes back over, handing it to me.
"You'll have to comb my hair out as well."
He looks at the comb, then my hair then at me. "How?"
"Start at the ends of my hair and work your way up while dragging the comb down all the way through." I tried my best to explain.
Koda gets to work. "Whatever you put in the tub has made your skin and hair incredibly soft. Your hair feels smooth like water."
"Thanks. The great tree was the one that recommended goat milk. Later with my studies, I realized more could be added to the tub for different reasons. Not only that but plants can be used as medicine and food. Plants are so fascinating and have many great uses." Lyria explains with admiration.
"You must really love plants your eyes shine when you speak about them." Koda implies.
"I do love plants, but it still makes me upset when I cut them up. Plants are most beautiful in their natural environment. But to find ways to better our everyday life, I'm willing to do it."
"Yes, I do agree to that." Koda secretly looks down at Lyria. Watching her talk about her passion is a one-of-a-kind experience. I can only imagine what it's like when she's working in her workshop or the temple.