“We would be happy to accompany you,” Lady Starling said.
“Yes,” Lady Corvina said, though she looked like she’d rather do anything else.
“Fine by me,” I said, just ready to get into the warm water at this point.
“I will leave you to it, then,” Lord Heron said with a bow and a shared look with Lady Starling. A skitter of warning went up my spine. I hadn’t forgotten what he had said to me in the throne room, and from the looks of these ladies, neither had any real interest in helping me.
“Ready, mistress?” Baz asked.
“Yes,” I said, and then gestured for the two noblewomen to go ahead of me. I would rather not be stabbed in the back on the way there.
With tight smiles, they did as I asked.
Baz led us deep into the palace, down many hallways and twisting staircases, until all at once I could smell the change in the air. It took on an almost herbal scent, and the temperature rose until it was nearly as warm as it had been on the plains.
Baz stopped before an open doorway cut into the rock, where beyond I could feel the steamy warmth. Once I walked into the cavernous space, I just stood there and stared. The water was as green as jade, bubbling gently and emitting a fresh scent into the air. But it was its size that had me standing still with my eyes wide. The springs fed into countless pools, each separated by stalagmites rising to a cavernous ceiling, and the entire space was farther across than I could see. I heard the echo of voices, but nowhere nearby, and as the whole place was so large, there was no concern for it being overcrowded. Dimly lit and quiet save for the bubbling of the water, it was like we had the springs to ourselves.
“This way to the royal alcove,” Lady Starling said, waving one slender hand at me.
I hesitated for a moment, watching to see what Baz would do, but he merely waited for me.
They led me to a pool that had outcroppings that served asunderwater benches. Hung on hooks from the stalagmites were heavy brocade robes in creamy white. Baz stood guard with his back to the pool, which I found both prudish and potentially dangerous considering I might be bathing with women who wished me harm.
For the moment, though, they weren’t paying attention to me. They kept their gazes averted as they carefully took off their clothes and hung them on one of the empty hooks. I stripped out of my own clothing unselfconsciously and then did the same.
When I stepped into the water, though, I immediately let out an appreciative groan. It was the perfect temperature—hot enough to soothe muscles, curls of steam coming off the surface. They both shot me looks like I had just done something unforgivably crass. With eyes still averted from each other’s naked bodies, they slipped silently into the water.
They made no effort to talk to me, so I tried to pretend they weren’t there and enjoyed the warm water instead.
After a few minutes of peace, Lady Corvina deigned to speak to me. “Has the emperor taken you into Naharu yet?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“No, but I would love to see it.”
They both winced like I had shouted my response to them. “You mustn’t speak so loud, First Daughter,” Lady Starling said, her tone soft but reproachful.
“This is my normal speaking voice.”
“It’s best to speak quietly so that everyone is forced to listen closely,” Lady Starling said, in a way that suggested this was a well-known proverb.
I didn’t really want to go around whispering, so I just nodded and barely lowered my voice. “Do you live in Naharu?”
“Yes, we both do—in the royal district,” Lady Corvina added with unmistakable pride.
“That’s the area closest to the palace,” Lady Starling said.
“How many districts are there?” I asked, fascinated despite myself. I did like learning about other cultures, and there was so little that we knew about the Zephyrians.
“Four,” Lady Corvina said. “Royal, Merchant, Artisan, and Tradesman.”
“So each area is divided by family occupation?”
“Yes,” Lady Corvina said in her strange whisper.
“I would love to go visit Naharu. Or anywhere, really. I would like to travel the continent now that the war is over.”
They shared a look. “An empress doesn’t travel.”
“What do you mean?”
