There was a short awkward pause before May said,
"Well at least let me thank you for your hospitality. I'm new to this area, and I don't know what I would have done without your kindness."
Bowser chuckled.
"I'm sure that under different circumstances you would have been just fine. I've never heard of an uncreative traveler before. You would have found a way."
May's jaw dropped.
"Y… you… know about travelers?"
"Of course, most people do here. Is that odd?"
"I… I've never met anyone who did and wasn't a traveler themselves…"
May's mind was whirling. It was as if a bolder had been lifted off her shoulders, and yet she had so many questions. But when she tried to ask them all nothing came out. But eventually she did manage to choke out, "Then why did those men attack me on sight?"
Bowser sighed, "Now that is long story."
It was just at that moment that May's stomach let out a loud gurgle, and she winced in embarrassment.
"How inconsiderate of me! You must be starving! Only natural after three days I suppose…" said Bowser
"Three days?"
"Well, yes."
All this was proving to be a bit much for May. She began to stand, but swayed with the combination of hunger, stiffness, confusion, and growing fatigue. But before she could collapse back onto the piano bench, Bowser had strode over and swept her into his arms before she even had a chance to let out a squeak of surprise.
"First order of business: get you some food." He said with a smirk.
Before May could protest, Bowser's long strides quickly took them from the empty piano room into the large corridors of the castle. May was at a total loss for words as He carried her down several flights of stairs at a pace that was so fast she was a bit motion sick, despite having an empty stomach, when he finally came to a stop and set her in a high backed chair at the head of a long table.
The table was a bit too high, but no uncomfortably so. May tried to sit strait up take in her surroundings, but found that this was too painful and relaxed against the back and turned to look at her enormous host, who had taken a seat to her left.
"I… I just don't understand…" Said May, as she tried to prioritize all the questions that had.
"Eat first." Said Bowser firmly.
At that moment another one of the little chocolate colored persons came through a swinging door off the right carrying a steaming platter of toast and what appeared to be hash browns on its head. He came right up to May's side and placed the platter on the table with surprising grace, considering his apparent lack of limbs. May tried to give an appreciative smile, but it probably came out more like a grimace. The little person didn't seem to mind however, and with a little bow it strode out the door it had entered from.
"The Doc said nothing too exciting, but this should at least fill you up." Bowser said.
May didn't reply, but instead began to eat hungrily. The toast was wonderfully delicious in its familiarity. The hash browns were also delicious, but May was pretty sure that they were not potatoes. Something like a bready carrot; it was odd, but good.
As May filled up and slowed down, she began to feel very sleepy as well. She struggled against it though, and tried to ask a question.
"Have a lot of Travelers come here? And how did they come to be so open about it?"
Bowser smiled as May suppressed a yawn and said, "I'm not sure what constitutes a lot of Travelers, but at three have had a substantial impact on our history in the last three hundred years. And I suppose that it was natural that people asked where they came from and why they looked so different."
May, nodded and suppressed another yawn. "But what do you mean impact on your history?"
Bowser chuckled and said, "I'll tell you the whole story when you'll be able to stay awake for the whole thing, but for now you should rest."
May tried to protest. There was still so much she wanted to know. But once again Bowser had picked her up with no effort, and she found herself resting against his chest trying to stay awake.
In that twilight fog between wakefulness and sleep May was strangely aware of small details, like how despite looking scaly his hand felt like soft leather against her arm, and how all the portraits hanging in the walls had those same strange orange eyes.
She did wake up a bit more when he ducked his head into the room that she had originally woken in and set her gently on the large bed. He turned to leave, and just before he shut the door behind him, flashed a sharp toothy smile.
May wasn't sure how, but she did manage to untangle herself from the much too large dress, and slip on the white chemise, and crawl under the covers.
As she finally let herself drift off into a deep sleep, all she could think was, "Well, this is different."