“It’s fine. Thank you.” Sebastian stepped forward, and Ciana’s spine went rigid. “We appreciate the hospitality.”
The soldier gave a low sound of acknowledgement. Without further word, he turned and marched away.
Leaving them standing outside the painfully, ridiculously small tent. A tent they were expected toshare.
Ciana shoved her mare’s reins into Sebastian’s chest. She didn’t bother giving him a look as she unslung her small pack of provisions from the saddle, storming into the tent.
He could care for the horses. It was the least he could do.
The tent was even smallerthan it looked from the outside.
Ciana was not a very big person; far from it, actually. But even her petite frame felt cramped within the narrow canvas walls.
She scowled as she set her satchel down on the packed earth. There were, at least, two bedrolls, two small pillows, and several soft blankets. They’d have to share the space, but thankfully not everything.
Rolling her shoulders, trying to shake loose some of the tension that had wormed its way deep beneath her skin, Ciana set to work digging through her small bag. It had come attached to the mare, and she’d been curious about its contents all day. She pulled out two clean tunics and a pair of rolled leatherbreeches, the former made from the soft, breathable cotton that was favored here in Kreah. The breeches, while a little thicker than Ciana would’ve liked, were lined and padded to make the long days in the saddle more comfortable.
She released a tentative, relieved sigh. Thank the goddess; truly all she wanted was to bathe and change from her sweaty clothes.
The entry flap fluttered behind her, early evening sunlight spilling in around a large shadow looming in the entrance.
The air between Ciana and Sebastian prickled with tension. She still struggled to understand why his words from earlier that day annoyed and upset her so much. Perhaps it was because she thought she’d finally found someone who trusted she could make her own decisions while also standing by her side in firm support.
What a joke. Maybe that’s all she’d ever been to Sebastian: something delicate and broken to save and protect. Nothing more. Not a strong woman in herownright.
Ciana ground her teeth before snatching up the clean clothes, along with a bar of soap that had been tucked into a pocket of the bag. She stood and whirled to find Sebastian hunched awkwardly below the tent entryway, his mouth parted as if he wanted to speak but struggled to find the words.
She had no interest in listening. Not right now. Not yet.
“I’m going to go bathe before it gets too crowded. And then I’m going to make sure everyone is settling in well.”
Sebastian closed his mouth, stepping back from the entry flap but holding it open. He still looked like he was about to say something as she brushed past him, but she again beat him to it.
“I need some time. More time. Don’t wait up.”
He nodded. His eyes followed her as Ciana stomped through the thin underbrush, heading toward the center of the oasis.
She didn’t know for certain that the bathing pool would be there, not beyond the vague directions she’d received from the Kreah soldier. But she kept marching anyway, stubbornness and a desire to put a little distance between herself and Sebastian fueling her pace.
Horses whinnied, and wagons creaked through the trees. The Onitan’s were arriving, then, and starting to settle into their camps. She skirted around them as family units claimed patches of cleared earth for the evening, exchanging soft words of relief that they were finally out of the sun.
Soon enough, the larger open space in the center of the oasis appeared through the trees along with a great firepit in the center. The hunters were already there, depositing their kills, sharpening their knives as they prepared to skin and clean so the rest of them could eat.
And there, just past the clearing, a tall fence, a bit out of place amongst the trees. A privacy construction for travelers who might be sharing this refuge on the road.
The bathing pools. It had to be. Ciana’s footsteps quickened until she reached the wooden gate, pushing up the latch and shoving open the heavy barrier.
The pool was large, its crystal blue water sparkling in the dying sunlight. Even within, there were smaller walls built into the pool, sectioning it off into about a dozen stalls to afford everyone who wished to bathe a moment of privacy. Ciana slipped into the nearest one, shimmying out of her soiled clothes, and sinking thankfully into the sun-warmed water. A soft current brushed her legs, telling her that this water was far from stagnant; whatever source kept it fed also recycled the water, pulling it back beneath the earth.
Ciana piled her thick curls atop her head—she wanted to bathe, not leave here looking like a drowned rat—before setting to work, scrubbing her skin with the mild, sweet-smelling soap.The sweat and sands from the day sluiced off her, leaving behind the sweet relief of cleanliness.
Feeling exponentially better, Ciana climbed out of the pool, toweling herself off and dressing quickly in soft leggings and a tunic. There were a few splashes from the stalls beside her; she was no longer alone. In fact, when she opened the door, she found that a short line had formed, people with weary expressions who looked as ready for a bath as she had been. Giving them a sheepish smile, she slipped past, the rising scent of roasting meat pulling her back toward the open space in the center of the oasis.
The Onitans had spread throughout the clearing, and a great fire had been built. Someone had hoisted a massive pot beside the flames, and a middle-aged woman deposited a large tray of sliced roots and herbs into the rolling water. A second woman followed her, carrying pounds of butchered meat, adding it to the stew.
Ciana smiled. A smart way to feed so many people; despite the warmth of the day, there was nothing like a hot meal to aid weary travelers.
It pleased her, but she couldn’t help but feel surprised at the communal way these people went about tending to the camp. Onitans were not usually like this, preferring to see to their family’s needs and no one else, but something about this journey had brought this population together. Forming one large family amongst many.
