I shook my head. “Aiden brought me some earlier. I have one goal right now, Ruru, and that’s to take a gods-damned bath.”
I’d been taking baths at Melaena’s after rehearsals, but after lying in my stinky, sweaty clothes for two days, I wanted nothing more than to wash off all the paste, ointment, and grime.
Ruru’s face fell. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? I mean, I could go with you...”
I leveled my fiercest stare at him, my hands wrapped around my new knives. “I’m going alone, and you’re not going to stop me.”
He blinked, then bobbed his head once.
I hated to push him like this, leaning on the guilt I knew he harbored for leaving me behind in that alley. I’d told him he owed me nothing because I’dwantedhim to leave. But the debt still lingered in his eyes.
“I’ll be fine, Ruru,” I said more gently. “It’s daylight. No Wolves. I have my knives and my impressively bad smell to ward off any danger.”
His grin broke out easily. “That’s true. Well, once you’ve washed up, maybe we could get some sticky bread from the market.”
“I’d love that. I’ll be back soon.”
I stepped outside and inhaled deeply. I’d listened to a few rain showers while I lay on my cot, and now the air was crisp and fresh. Clouds danced over the sun, giving warmth and coolness in turns.
I doubted I would ever wander this city after nightfall again.
But at least I’d earned the ability to walk around by myself.
Keeping my head low, I hurried to the tavern Renwell had told me about.The Crescent Moon.I ducked into a grooved alley and tread across the thin stream of water and piss to the west wall. After clearing away a pile of broken crates, I carved two diagonal slashes in the worn stone near the ground.
Now all I had to do was check back.
Was Renwell already waiting for my mark? How often had he checked this wall? Or did he have someone else watching it?
I glanced up and down the alley but saw nothing.
Apprehension roiled in my gut like a black-cloud warning as I made my way to the nearest bathhouse. Ruru had shown me three scattered around the Old and Market Quarters.
I passed one of my last copper coins to the attendant at the front. His nostrils flared as he took in my bedraggled appearance, but he handed me a clean towel and a sliver of honey-scented soap without comment.
The bathhouse felt like a cave of sorts—a large, cavernous stone building. Dim and quiet. A few lit braziers gave the room a soft, sleepy glow. The pool was half the size of the one in the palace, but steam still rose in tantalizing curls above the water.A furnace—not unlike the one the pyrist used—heated the fresh river water from a room below as it was funneled in through an aqueduct.
And I had it all to myself.
I nearly whimpered with relief.
Men and women were allowed to bathe together, Ruru had told me, but not allowed to touch. I’d dreaded climbing into a crowded pool with leering men. Unless the snooty attendant came to check on me, I’d be free from prying eyes.
I chose one of the curtained nooks in the farthest corner and stripped naked. I untied my hair and tried to shake it out. If only I’d thought of bringing a comb...
I bundled my knives into my clothes. Hopefully, no one would be foolish enough to paw through my belongings.
With the towel wrapped around me and armed with my soap, I padded over to the water’s edge. I dipped a toe in.
Oh,gods, it was so warm.
I dropped the towel and slipped into the pool.
The water hugged my sore body, promising relief. With my eyes half-closed in bliss, I dragged the soap over my skin until naught but a pebble was left. Not quite enough for my hair, but I didn’t care.
I gently scraped off the dried clawberry paste with my nails. Bits of green floated away from me before dissolving.
It was hard to see in the steamy, low light, but I couldn’t make out much of a scar. My fingers, however, could track its thin line across my chest. If I stretched it too much, the skin tugged uncomfortably. Melaena wouldn’t be pleased with my stiff movements later.
