Cahir laughed and looked at the feathered troublemaker. The bird had landed in a nearby tree and watched, cawing loudly as they walked past.
“If I didn’t know any better, I would think she understood you,” he said.
“I don’t care,” Seda huffed and continued walking. “My shoulder hurts from one of them. Let’s get back home.”
“No can do,” said Cahir. “We have a date with the food dispenserand three solid copper coins to spend,each.” He flashed the coins in the sunlight and smiled brightly.
Her eyes landed on his dimples, and she couldn’t help but smile back.
“Here, take mine,” she said. “No fermented eggs! I would ratherstarve. Can you see if they have any bananas this time, please?” She handed her coins to him, and he placed them alongside the others in his palm, closing it tightly.
“Are you sure you’ll be alright? What if the Jotnar attack again?” he asked.
“They never attack so quickly after. I’m heading straight home—no other stops. I really need to shower.” She desperately needed to wash herself after how that Rozzer looked at her.
“Okay… no yummy eggs for you,” Cahir teased as they reached the split in the road. “I’ll be back home before you know it.”
They embraced and parted ways.
Seda carried on alone through a maze of apartment complexes to their building and ascended the winding stairs to the top floor, where she and Cahir lived. She dug her key out of her pocket and unlocked the door. The soft scent of cleaning supplies surrounded her, the familiar smell of safety. She turned around and made sure to lock the door behind her.
She paused at the portrait of Lord Mordred in the entryway and pressed her palms together. “Thank you for your protection,” she said as she bowed at the waist.
It was customary to offer a prayer. All citizens kept a portrait of the lord in their homes and paid tribute when they left or returned.
The memory of his eyes watching her made the hair on her neck stand, and she shivered.She tried to recall if he might have been looking at her or someone nearby, but even Cahir admitted it seemed likely.
She walked through their tiny apartment into the bathroom andturned on the shower, watching as the cool water sputtered and trickled out.
Looks like a cold shower today.
She undressed, grabbed the slim bar of soap, and stepped into the chilled trickle.
Her shoulder flared in pain as she lathered up the soap and rubbed it into her scratches. The slow flow of water was a challenge, but she managed to lather enough shampoo into her hair and wash all the dust from her body.
She felt dirty and disgusting, thinking that perhaps if she cleaned herself more, she would finally feel truly clean.
She scrubbed herself until her skin turned red.
A loud noise from outside the bathroom caused Seda to jump and nearly slip in the soapy water.
“C-Cahir, is that you?” she hesitantly called out, a knot twisting in her stomach. She did lock the door. What if someone broke it down?What if it was that Rozzer?
She felt her heartbeat thunder in her throat, but all she could hear was the gentle drip of water.
She tried again, “Cahir?”
For the second time since arriving home, her neck hairs prickled. She took a deep breath and summoned the courage to turn the knob, her hand trembling as she did. With heightened senses, she heard the water dripping, the shower curtain rustling as she stepped out slowly, and the sound of her uneven, shaky breathing.
She forced herself to breathe steadily and carefully grabbed a worn towel, slowly wrapping it around her body.
She cracked open the bathroom door and peeked out.
There was no sound or movement in the main room.
She gently pushed the door open, wincing as the hinges squeaked, and took a cautious look into the small living room.
“Cahir?” she asked as she stepped further out of the doorway.
