“Nonsense!” I take her arm and guide her to the tub. “Look, I realize that we were raised in very different environments, but it's just a bath. No need to get all worked up about it. I promise, I’ll be a perfect gentlewoman. We'll keep things chaste. I won’t even help you wash your back if you don’t want me to.” I mean it as a light joke, but she still resists. I swear she flinches when I mention her back.
“Okay.” With slumped shoulders, I grab my things and head for the door. “I understand. You take the first bath. Take all the time you need.”
I exit to the hallway, and after a few minutes the water splashes as she gets in. Having nothing else to do, I sit against the door while I wait. I earn some strange looks from other bathhouse patrons when they walk by, and I imagine I paint quite the odd picture, covered in road dust and reeking of horse. They look down their noses at me, and I wonder if they even recognize me.
One such person grabs a manservant and whispers in his ear when they spot me, and I hear the word “vagrant” amidst the mutterings. A grin spreads across my face. If they only knew.
The servant, a young man named Digg with whom I am well acquainted, tries to argue with the patron, but the middle-aged man insists Digg come over and tell me to leave. By this point the lord’s voice has risen to the point where I can make out every word.
“Listen here,boy,” the man sneers. I stifle a chuckle, as Digg is at least thirty. “I will not tolerate you letting the homeless take refuge in this bathhouse. I pay good coin to bathe in luxury, and that means only people of good standing are allowed.”
“But—” Poor Digg tries to protest, but the man continues.
“And another thing: if you do not eject her this minute, I'll report you to the palace guard!”
That ruins any amusement I could get out of the exchange. Digg is a good man; he doesn’t deserve to be threatened when he's done nothing wrong. I jump to my feet and walk over.
“Beg your pardon, good sir, but might I borrow the young master here to help me draw a bath? One gets terribly filthy chasing after panthers and burning them to a crisp.” The man turns to me with a red face. I raise a hand and casually ignite the air above my fingertips.
He blanches, and he stumbles over his words trying to backpedal. “M-mistress Cara! I-I didn’t recognize you over there!”
“I imagine not, seeing as how you felt the need to repeatedly insult me.”
Digg’s jaw twitches. I pour more power into the mini fireball, hoping to distract the patron before he catches Digg laughing at him.
“I believe you were just about to leave, isn't that right, m’lord … Apologies, but I don’t know your proper name and rank.”
“I-it’s—”
I snuff the flames with a gesture. “It doesn’t matter. I suggest you go home, and if I catch word of you harassing Digg or sullying his name, there will be repercussions.”
He darts down the hall without another word, and as soon as he’s gone, Digg bursts into laughter.
“Well played, Mistress Cara. Well played.”
I pull a handful of coins from my pocket and press them into his hand. “Here. For your troubles. I heard you trying to talk sense into that jerk, and it's much appreciated.”
“If I may, mistress, there are other bath rooms open now. You don’t have to wait for that one.”
That may be, but I want to be sure Sable comes out of her bath to a familiar face. “That’s okay, Digg. I’m waiting for a friend. She’s in that room there, and she’s new to the palace. She doesn’t know anyone here; I don’t want it to seem like I’ve abandoned her.”
He nods his understanding and goes back to his duties. Just then, Sable emerges in one of the outfits we bought for her.
My heart does a flip inside my chest, and try as I might I can’t stop my jaw from dropping. The clothing is simple enough, but thefit… Every curve of her tiny body is hugged, and the skirt— “Was the skirt that short at the tailor’s?”
Sable blushes and tucks a lock of raven hair behind her ear. “I kept tripping on the fabric, so I cut it.”
At least the boots we bought her are almost long enough to make up for the short skirt, though with her arms bare and bits of thigh showing I'm sure to hear about her manner of dress when we meet the Elders. “I, for one, approve, but don’t be surprised if you get more attention than you want when we go inside.”
She looks down at her clothes. “Will I get you in trouble?”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’m well-versed at getting myself in trouble without any help.” I wrap an arm around her shoulders. “Come. Let’s go to the dining hall. I hear they’ve got beef stew with carrots and potatoes tonight. Not quite the fancy fare we’ve been supping on the past couple of days, but hearty enough.”
Unfortunately, it seems that dinner will be delayed. I turn around and come face to face with Corvin and a full complement of the guard. Even through his thick beard, I can see the tension in his jaw. This is not a social call.
Not wanting to get her in any trouble on my account, I withdraw from Sable’s side. “Just tell me you're only here for me,” I say to Corvin.
“For now.”
