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Once I was completely dressed, I was taken back to the bench and was e paste and four brushes Every steward, except the eldest, took a brush and chose an appendage, working to create pretty floral designs intertwining froertips to shoulder blades, or fro my calf

I orried the clay like henna would stain the ivory sari but through a series of gestures the eldest steward relayed to ic And so I did, protecting the beautiful gar

Once the henna art was finished, the eldest steward approached o to work, paintingeye shadow and finally when she was finished the customary red dot in the middle of my forehead

I was allowed to stand and admire their handiwork in the nize myself I stood in awe at the beauty they created and half wondered if I could take theether and offering the half bow that was the only way I had to display my appreciation When I looked up, back at the eldest wo back and forth She sraciously and I returned the expression, truly thankful for the steward’s service

The woest steward beckonedI experienced so far had been empty; outside of my rooh hallith vaulted golden ceilings and all kinds of intricately designed wooden pieces of art, displaying statues of Hindu gods, or wildlife native to the jungle, paintings that seeile vases that I was afraidroom adorned in the sa table placed in the center that stretched from one side of the room to the other At one end of the table, a spread capable of feeding twenty people waited forfor my stewards to sit down and join me, but they just s away Apparently I was to eat alone

The exotic smell from spices I had never experienced before drifted my way and my stomach ru as much as I could Fresh, local fruits and delicious Indian breads, eggs with curry and tururt surrounded

The stewards returned so and ht I was nervous about leaving the dining rooain until after I completed my walk and that was only if Lucan decided not to kidnap and i This could potentially be my last meal, I decided to enjoy it

I gave up trying to finish the meal made for twenty and the stewards led the way out to the elephants, a staircase waiting for me to climb aboard I dreaded the idea of another buet to the Cave of the Forever Winds in one piece

Once, carefully aboard htly, until the stewards had boarded their own massive mammals Today our elephants were decorated in colorful paints and head pieceseither the stewards purple saris orforward through the jungle and into what felt like very uncharted territory

The day was not as hot or as humid as it had been before and I was thankful I didn't have to be concerned about sweating through le, the canopy above blocking out direct sunlight and curious etation right along with us The journey was slow and treacherous, but the elephants navigated a make shift trail expertly My seat swayed back and forth with every step the elephant took and I released antic creature

After what seemed like hours of steady travel the elephants came to a halt, without coreenery had nearly blanketed the old cruinal foundation stuck stubbornly out The stewards swung expertly down froh seats and then led my elephant over to a worn, stone platform so I would not have the fall that the native women had to take

I did my best to mimic their sround The five women surrounded me closely and moved me in front of the darkened expansive doorway to what at one time had been the entrance to a temple

The stone ruins were not a full structure like I had originally thought, but instead the front of the entrance to a wide-ht and I couldn't make out much past a few feet in

Once in front of the door the earth shuttered beneath my feet, and afraid of an earthquake, I reached out to the wo their heads with gentle sh my blood, an answer to the treic

Pinpricks stabbed at ht I was afraid I had no idea what to expect inside, but the calling of an to turn away from me and I prepared myself mentally to take the brave step forward and inside the cave The eldest wo my way and before she moved she reached out to cup esture so I paused, giving her my full attention