“Thank you,” I murmur, but I look a question at Kaelen.
Is this okay?
He waits until the man disappears into the inn and then touches my arm. “You saved my life, and you’re going to save all of Altarra. I think you deserve a bath and your own room.”
It’s the best bath of my entire life.
Not that I’ve had many, but even if I’d taken hundreds, this would be in the top ten. Top five, even. I empty my pockets and give the maid my filthy clothes and boots to clean, and then I wash off the worst of the travel dirt with a brush and a bucket.
After that, I soak blissfully in a wooden tub, neck-deep in steaming, flower-scented water. When I start to doze off, I rouse enough to wash my hair and body with the provided floral soap and then climb out and wrap up in a towel, so happy to be clean again.
Deciding to peek out, in case the maid left my clothes, I unbar the door. Before I can open it, someone on the other side pushes it toward me. I stumble back, clutching my towel, wishing I still had my dagger.Chitai bursts into the room, carrying an armful of fresh clothes and my boots. She dumps it all on a chair, kicks the door shut behind her, and throws her arms around me, only hesitating briefly when she sees the amulet in its locket and the key around my neck.
“Soli, I have never been so glad to see anyone in all my summers.”
I’m startled by her enthusiasm. I wouldn’t have pegged the warrior as the hugging type. She’s more the “get too close, and I’ll cut you” type. But I’m happy to see her, too, so I hug her back with the arm not holding up my towel.
“I want to hear everything. How did you escape?” Her keen black gaze bores into me, and she leans back against a wall and folds her arms across her chest, like she’s prepared for me to spill the entire story right here and now. She’s clean, and her pale curls are tied back. I also see, more importantly, that her armband is covered again with the blue cloth.
“I need to get dressed. I’m getting cold standing here in the towel.”
She shrugs. “So, dress. You can tell me your story as you do.”
I shake my head as I pull on my clothes. “Kaelen and I should tell the story together, and you can tell us how you escaped. It will be easier than repeating the same thing over and over.”
Her smile fades. “As you say. We’ll meet down in the inn’s great room. I’ll see you there soon.”
“Thanks for bringing my clothes. Is … is Elianna all right?”
Chitai frowns. “A complicated question about a complicated woman. Better you ask her.”
And then she’s gone, leaving me staring at the door. My empty stomach growls at me, and I hurriedly pull on my clean clothes. Fresh pants, the dark-green shirt, warm, clean socks, and my boots. I need to ask Kaelen or Elianna for a few small coins for the maid.
For now, I need to find my room, my companions.
My …friends.
Warmth flushes through me when I realize they’re on the way to becoming my friends. I never expected to have any but Trick, and certainly not so many. The thought is wrapped in wonder in my mind and heart.
Ihave friends.
My stomach growls again.
Okay, I need food.
Before I leave the room, though, I braidSurviveinto my hair and, tearing a piece from my precious few pages, Wavedancer.
Safe for now or not, I feel like I’m going to need all the courage I can get.
Ahint. A teasing glance. A subtle seduction. These are key to the art of the courtesan. When plying your arts, however, ward yourself against falling in love.
The emotional power of the truest love is often spoken of in water metaphors: a torrent, a raging waterfall, a tempest at sea. In truth, love is all and none of these things, but the courtesan should beware:
No matter how love is described, the danger of drowning is real.
—Love Languages of the Courtesans’ Guild,Sorchonne Parnour
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
