The bathhouse was communal, though there were separate wings for the men and women. Tarrowanne was lucky to have Talents in the village that dealt with irrigation and plants, so taking a bath was a treat to the senses. The stone floors were even, terraced, and had a grain scratched into the surface to prevent slips from happening. Stone bathing pools were set into the floor with rock walls mortared around them for privacy. Plants clung to the walls for dear life, but flourished inside thanks to the Talented individual that kept them maintained. There were skylights set into the domed top, letting in shafts of light during the day and allowing those inside a splendid view of storms or stars at night. Birds enjoyed the bathhouse and regularly visited to perch and sing, their voices echoing in the vast structure.
The combination of scents, greenery, and sound was enough to send tantalizing chills of pleasure up the spine. Tonight, though, the birds were silent; asleep elsewhere. And no other bathers splashed or giggled in the silence of the dome.
In the center of the women’s wing was a raised dais where the water was warmed for the baths. A fire was set inside of it, and pipes and gullies ran to each pool for easy water delivery. Every young man and woman, before their first Coming of Age Ceremony, had worked in the separate wings of the bathhouse. Getting the right tube for the right bath was memorized and learned within the first weeks. How to clean everything right became almost second nature.
“My lady, all of the attendants are enjoying the festivities, but I will be happy to help you. If you would, could you go to the far pool and choose a soak?” Her kind eyes crinkled with a smile, and then she turned and began coaxing the coals of the fire up under the huge pot of water.
Walking to the far pool, I fondly rummaged through the herbal soaks. The one I loved was a mixture of jasmine, cinnamon stalks, and mint. Bringing my choice back to Yaniya, she placed the dried lump in the depression that was in front of the pipe leading to the back bath. Kindly waving me on, she ladled enough water in to soak the hardened lump into fragrant submission. After staying long enough to get a good whiff of the potent blend, I began my journey down the dais and back to the bath.
After a few seconds, I heard running water coming my way. The bath mix traveled under the rock, coming out at intervals to be poured into more depressions for further steeping. When I reached my bath alcove, it was pleasantly steaming, hanging jewel-like beads of water onto the leaves of the plants that clung to the wall. Smiling to myself, I tried to empty my mind of the stresses that clogged the unpleasant evening and attempted to relax.
I can hide in the plants, Naylin, Titrus whispered in my mind as he poked out from behind the shell.
Before I could reach for him, though, he leaped joyfully into the air and glided into the nearest plant. There was a great deal of flapping, falling, and leaf rustling as Titrus struck a vine with one of his wings and tumbled through the foliage. Landing in a pile of dirt, he righted himself, trying to figure out what to make of the incident as I stifled my giggles…
I’m okay! Titrus declared loudly as he launched himself out of the plant, looking like a startled cat, feathers and fur raised and tousled in unnatural directions.
I looked around alarmingly but then reminded myself that his voice was only in my mind.
My sides hurt as I gripped them in silent laughter. My mirth, though, was quickly calmed as I heard the scuffle of another set of feet coming my way. Titrus dove back into the plant, and I started to remove my dress.
“My lady, I will fetch you your night robe and be back to massage away the unpleasant evening.” Yaniya turned to leave.
A feeling of guilt hit me at this unaccustomed treatment.
“Yaniya,” I started nervously, not sure how to continue. “I’m not sure how to put this, but I am not royalty; nothing special. And I don’t believe I deserve this type of attention.”
There, I said it.
I had been talking with my eyes fixed on the floor where the water lapped against the stone edge of the bath depression. Finishing, I raised them to gaze at Yaniya’s startled expression. Slowly, her eyes grew kinder. A gentle smile lit her face and eyes.
“Naylin, do you know whose maid I am?”
I shook my head, puzzled at the question.
“Judge Ramos’ wife was so excited at the prospect of a Joust that she immediately asked me to watch over you.” She came closer to put her hand on my shoulder. “She told me that this ordeal was going to be stressful and to make sure you were cared for. I intend to do that.”
Giving me a pat, she began walking away. Seemingly giving it a second thought, though, she stopped.
“Besides,” she said, looking over her shoulder from the corner of her eye. “I admire how you are holding up under the circumstances and would like to help.”
With that, she briskly walked off around the corner of the stone wall.
Well, Titrus stated as he once again emerged from the plant. She was nice.
Finally turning from staring at the spot where Yaniya disappeared, I unwrapped my dress and slipped into the water.
“I’m not sure what to think about it, T.” I settled in, water up to my chin, and closed my eyes. “I heard figures being discussed among the Elders about revenues they thought would be brought in. That is one reason they’re allowing the week for preparation. There needs to be time for word to spread.” I sighed and ducked my head under the water.
That will help your parents.
Coming back up, I brushed the water from my face and smoothed back my hair.
“I know, and being the parents of the bride, their shop will be the most popular in town.”
I smiled to myself, visualizing my tiny little mother taking chocolate basket orders and my father in the back attempting to fill them. “I hope they anticipate this rush, Titrus. It’ll be difficult without my help.”
They’ll be fine, Naylin, Titrus said as he pranced around on the rocks. His tiny size made him look like a little blue beetle, and I stifled more giggles behind a hand.
It was at that moment that we heard the soft footsteps coming along behind the wall. Titrus dove back into the foliage, and I ducked back into the water.
“Here we go, now.” Yaniya laid down the robe on the rough table next to the wall. Then, she brought her oils to the edge of the bath and sat. “I thought you would like the peach and coconut oils, Naylin.”
“Yes, thank you,” I said nervously. Glancing over at the plant, I saw that Titrus was well hidden.
Heaving an inward sigh, I rolled over onto my stomach and crawled onto the edge of the bath, depositing myself in what I thought to be a good position for a massage.
“You know, Naylin, that Julius seems to be a nice young man,” she said as she pulled my wet hair away from my neck and back. “Where did you meet him?”
I blushed.
Yaniya patted the water off of me with her hand towel.
“We have known each other for several years. We started out as childhood friends and grew to be more than that before his family moved a few years ago. We have been in contact ever since.”
“What about Garak? What is his problem?” Yaniya seemed to force herself to be kind, but her tone wasn’t afraid to reveal her interest.
I sighed.
“When we were young, Garak was madly in love with me. At least, that’s what he told me.”
My mind wandered back to those times. Things were so much simpler.
“We had been friends, going about our daily lives as any other children. We hunted bugs together, terrorized squirrels together, even got in trouble together for being covered in mud.” I paused as sadness came over me. “Our mothers were best friends, but then Garak started hanging around some other kids that weren’t so nice, and that was when another side of him was born.”
Yaniya nodded as she worked out the kinks in my back. Surprisingly, the massage was working miracles for me. My mind drifted slowly from one thought to another, and I finally realized I hadn’t finished telling Yaniya what she had asked. I brought myself back from the daydreams.
“As Garak became more abusive toward his mother, she drew further and further away from our family. It grieved us, but what could we do? There was no father in the home. Garak, himself, was a product of a brutal rape, and he had become almost hateful toward me, so we let it be. It was like that for three years before he began declaring his love for me. I was eleven, and he was twelve.”
“That’s a little young for that, don’t you think?” Yaniya stated, working on my lower back.
“Yes, it was, although he had always teased about picking me in the ceremony. But this time, he was almost demanding me to make a commitment to him, as well.”
“Mmhmm.”
“I refused, of course, and Garak was furious. He had changed so much, and I just couldn’t see myself with someone like him. He didn’t take that well, as you can imagine.”
Yaniya sighed a little gustily. “And a little while after that was when Julius came into your life as your love prospect.”
“Right.”
There was silence while Yaniya finished up her work, sliding her hands rhythmically down my back to work the rest of the tension out. Unfortunately, the trip back into memory lane had taken away from the relaxation I could have gotten from the massage. I sighed softly, attempting to keep it quiet.
“It’ll be fine, Naylin. I have a feeling about that Julius.”
At his name, his soft, blue eyes overwhelmed me. I wanted him to hold me, again.
“Thank you, Yaniya. I appreciate your support.”
At that, she stood and gathered her oils up. Bending again, she scooped up my dress.
“You can continue your bath. I’ll leave your robe here and meet you at the entrance when you’re done.”
She gave me a smile and disappeared around the corner, leaving the gentle sound of the water and the silent steam behind her.
You’ve never talked to me about Garak before, Titrus said softly, staying hidden in the plants.
“I know.”
I slid back into the water, somberly avoiding the plants. Garak wasn’t who I necessarily wanted to talk about. Whenever I thought about tonight, hearing that tone of voice he used when he asked what it would take for me to look at him the same way as Julius and seeing that broken expression in his eyes at my response, I felt my heart tighten in an odd way.
Dunking my head under the water, I held my breath, but I wouldn’t be able to avoid Titrus’ questions in my mind.
Do you feel anything for him?
It was an innocent question coming from an innocent source, but the feelings that flowed into my heart weren’t so innocent. There was fear, yes, but there was a wilder feeling there, as well. I was partially flattered that Garak would want me. He wasn’t an ugly man, by any means, and I missed our friendship terribly, but he hadn’t been a kind person for years. I sometimes still saw that childhood friend in his eyes when he looked at me, but it was quickly replaced by the person he had become. And as much as I didn’t want to admit it, there was a part of me that thought I could change him back, even though I knew it was impossible.
Coming up for air, I wiped the water from my face and opened my eyes.
“I’ve already chosen,” I said, glancing at the blue snout that was sticking out from behind a leaf.
And?
“You can feel what I feel, so who do you think I chose?” I glanced away to hide a smile. Titrus’ innocence was adorable, to say the least.
Lathering up the sponge, I finished my bath with my hair and body. Titrus trotted back out of the plant and proceeded to lay down at the edge of the bath and watch the bubbles as they drifted by.
I had wondered why Garak was going through with this. It didn’t make sense for it to only be about a competition.
“I know,” I told him while rinsing my hair. “I’m sorry I didn’t clarify, but everything happened so quickly. I wasn’t actually expecting him to try to go through with it.”
Titrus nodded and attempted a very humanlike smile.
Later, stepping out into the night air brought nostalgia to me. I knew the celebrations would go long into the night, as they did every year at the Coming of Age Ceremony. I could even see the beginnings of the display hosted by the local Pyrotechnics Guild. Musicians played old favorites that drifted in and out on the breeze, and I thought I might have caught the sound of a new melody learned from the minstrel schools.
Last year, there’d been a traveling bard that stopped by for the ceremony. He’d sung for the couples and had broken the hearts of most of the young girls when he left. They had followed him around town in flocks until that day, hoping they could catch his eye. Unfortunately for them, he was one man who had decided to stay single.
I smiled as I watched the lights of the celebration that had moved from the arena into the fields beyond flicker off of the low-hanging clouds. I knew this ceremony would change things for me, but I’d never anticipated having to deal with this specific issue. Thinking of amusing events in the past helped, but there was still a sick feeling in my pit.
It might rain, Titrus stated from my robe pocket.
I nodded a little but didn’t speak. My guards walked on either side of me with Yaniya leading the way back to my tent.
Upon arriving, my escort allowed me to go inside and go to sleep in peace. Snuggled up with several large pillows, a light sheet, and Titrus in my arms, I fell asleep, composing my message of love to Julius.
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