Rada stood in his tree form, branches pointed towards the ceiling, in a room leading out into a small garden. It was a pleasant sort of room with an earthen floor and four olive colored walls on which wild roses climbed never knowing that they would not reach the sky. Cream colored muslin curtains fluttered flirtatiously at the open rectangular windows that were nearly the size of a small man. A clay washbasin stood just under the window standing on a wooden stand with curliques carved deep into it accompanied by a large clay jug of spring water, a cake of soap, scented oil, and cream colored cotton washcloths with an ivy pattern embroidered on their edges. There was a bed of a dark, supple wood with four pillars and a fine muslin canopy allowing for privacy and there were scenes from the Song of Lufituaeb carved into it. It stood near the west wall with a small oval window above it. And enigmatically placed, there was a closet inside the wall near the bed but it was cleverly hidden with a fancy wooden panel. A small writing desk stood by the opposite wall of the same wood with the same curious pattern as the washstand. Over it hung a vast shelf with scrolls and manuscripts that seemed untouched for centuries. Mirti wondered who had previously occupied it for it seemed not the kind of room that a warrior would occupy, not even a simple man or sage, nay, it had the fancy of a woman. He made a mental note to query the Chief Sage about it after dinner or would Rada oblige?
Leon bowed and left. “Rada?” “I’m glad to see You, Mirti, how did You sleep? Did You meet with the Chief Sage?” “Sleep was no difficulty after our journey. And yes, it was the first thing I did this morning after washing up. He seems to be a rigid man but pleasant.” “Ah, he is always rigid upon the first meeting but then You will see that the two of You will be on friendly terms by the end of Your stay.” “Did You find out who the person behind the fire in my village was and how they knew of me?” “No, last night our conversation was very brief. I mean to ask Dharma when all of the sages are assembled at dinner. Even if they do not know exactly, they will most likely have rather good guesses. “ Mirti nodded. “Do You think that You could tell me to whom this room belonged before You ? Its air is not manly, I would venture to say.” Rada laughed “Curiousity truly never fails You..but nevermind that, I will tell You of Lufituaeb.” “Who is Lufituaeb ?” “This was her room, of course…she was the daughter of the wood nymph Sen and the first King of this land, Adel. It was a match of the deepest Love that You can imagine ; however, as You are probably aware, wood nymphs are practically immortal and Adel was but a man. She loved him until the very end but watching him age while she was as she had been since the world’s beginning was painful. Adel gave Sen this room to make her own and the garden outside it to please her and when he lay dying, he lay in this room so that she could be close to him. When he breathed no more, Sen performed a ceremony to imbue her spirit into the room and her body was burned with the man that she had so loved and the ashes scattered in the wood that they had met. Do You notice that this floor though earthen is never out of order? That these roses are eternally wick and blooming? That though these windows are but holes in the walls, the temperature is unwavering, perfect? That is because of her spirit. The room was bequeathed to Lufituaeb and though she rarely chose to sleep in it, she would spend hours writing in it or walking through the gardens till inspiration was returned to her. After her parents were gone, it was she who ruled the kingdom..Yes, You may very well gasp, Mirti, but she was a wise woman and this was acknowledged by all of the sages and by the people. If she had been unsuitable, a marriage would have been forced ;however, there was no need for that. She could have married, of course, had she wished to, but the man that held her heart passed from this world suddenly and though there were many romances in her life, she could not forget him and so did not marry. “
“Are those manuscripts written by Queen Lufituaeb, then? “ “Yes…those are her thoughts and songs and other such compositions in the original.” “Could I leaf through them?” “Nay, those should be preserved for future generations to admire.If You would like to peruse them, there are copies in the library. We’ll get You permission from the Chief Sage at dinner..but please remind me.”
“I will..You’ve gotten me quite interested, Rada.” “I’m glad to hear it. Now, what do You say to me showing You all the places that You will have to go to for Your lessons tomorrow?” “I say that it is an ingenious idea! Let us go!” cried Mirti. And go they did, thus occupied until the dinner hour.
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