The moment the question leaves my lips, a small chuckle reverberates under my skin, the sound vibrating against my very being.
I nearly drop my toddy on the counter.
What in the ever-loving Ancients?
It’shischuckle.
I quickly look around the room for Keane, frowning when I spot no one in the room with us. Everything is empty save me and the woman.
Maybe he’s outside at the stables, I shake my head, taking a steep drink to collect myself.
“There’s a mill not far in the woods, Lady,” the woman says briskly, moving her towel over an area that’s already been dusted, “it’s where our toddy for the village is made.”
“A water mill?” I ask curiously.
“Indeed,” she nods, “next to the running stream.”
“I don’t recall hearing any running water around us,” I frown again, sitting back in my chair.
“The woods here are very dense, Lady,” she smiles.
“That they are,” I reply with a small nod, “thank you for the drink.” I place a cinerin on the countertop, “I think I’ll take that bath, now.”
“Of course,” she replies, eyes quietly watching as I walk down the hall.
“How good are you at tracking, Golem?” I ask and push through the door to my room.
I hear the quiet swish of his robes moving against his shoulders, his shrug in response saying so-so.
“Me too, but we’ll have to make do.”
I remove my cloak and hang it on the back of the door. “I don’t think we’ll have enough time before dinner to wander through the woods, but let’s set off for the village after my bath.”
I strip down and walk to the tub, noticing the steam rising from it already. My head glances back to the door and then again to the tub, knowing there is no way it was filled up in the small amount of time I sat with the woman. Someone used their summoning.
“We’ll stop at the shops first,” I continue and step into the water, “there has to be someone here that sells a map of the village and the forest surrounding it. They should be able to help us find the mill.”
Golem turns back my way when he hears me sinking into the tub. He nods just before I close my eyes, the cool breeze flowing through the window and relaxing the room…
I must’ve dozed off for a while because I wake to less than warm water and my skin prickling in cool bumps and completely wrinkled. I tilt my head back and notice the daylight is nearly fading, the small room now engulfed in a soft grey haze that has me frantic. I hurriedly wash off and jump out of the tub, grabbing a towel and looking straight at Golem in accusation.
“You let me fall asleep!”
Golem shakes his head.
“What do you mean, no? No, you didn’t let me sleep?”
Yes.
“Yes you did let me sleep?”
No.
“Golem!” I huff in frustration, watching as he looks at me and then turns to the window above the bed. He frowns and walks straight to it, shutting the slats to the cool air. I hustle to my traveling pack and pull out some clothes.
“We don’t have much time. We can still make a quick visit to the shops before dinner begins.”
Golem stands frowning at the window, his arms folding in front of his chest as he looks at it in consideration.
