Page 58 of A Blightress of Wrath
“Didyou bring the right undergarments?”Iteased, thinking of the times as children when we had spent days swimming in theGreatStreamin our most threadbare clothing.
Shescrunched her face, hands on her hips. “Guessnot.”Shecocked her head, eyeing the clothes of the swimmers. “Canyou find me a clothing shop?”
“Youneed coins to buy new clothes.”
Shereached into her pocket and dangled a purple bag in my face. “Youreally thinkPah-Pahwould send me to his home city without some coin?”
Iquirked a brow. “Alright, let’s get you some new clothes.”
Iled her out of theHatchery, following one of the canals westward, keeping an eye out for the blue roofs.Ipointed out how they changed in color as we headed west. “It’show you know what part of the city you’re in.West, blue,”—Ipointed again— “east, purple, north, pink.”
“Andsouth?” she asked, her head tilted back to see just the edge of the varied blue shingled domes that glinted in the midday sun.
“Southis green.”
“Istill thinkI’dget lost living here,” she laughed.
“I’msure there’s a spell to help you find your way.”
Sheshrugged andIpointed to a door set into the white stone buildingI’dled her to.Ipulled on the copper handle, gesturing her inside.
“Ifthere is,Idon’t know it.I’venever needed a wayfinding spell inFelgren.”Shemumbled to end the spell at her face, sweeping a hand over mine as well.
“Doesn’tsurprise me in the least,”Iadmitted.
Westepped inside the shop and a middle-aged woman with long black hair braided across the top of her head greeted us. “Goodafternoon, mayIhelp you find something?”
“Yes, please,”Saestarted. “I’mlooking to dress in the fashion of this city.Preferablypants and boots.”Sheheld up the bag of coins. “I’llalso need swimwear for myself and my friend, if you have it.”
Theshopkeep raised her brows, eyeing the hefty bag of coins.Hereyes brightened, looking us both over. “Rightthis way,” she offered, gesturing to a dress form fitted with a similar style to whatLannatypically wore.
Itwas theLadyherself who’d single-handedly changed the common clothing in theSpirein the last five years.She’dcomplained endlessly to me about how unfair it was that just becauseIwas male,Igot to wear pants that allowed me the swiftnessIneeded to perform as aRunnerin theFour’sarmies.ButLanna, the daughter of one of theFour, could only wear long, bulky skirts and couldn’t run nearly as fast because of it.
Iset myself down into a sleek cobalt chair, setting my ankle over my knee to watchSaelynpick out and purchase clothes for the first time in her life.IhopedI’dget to be a part of a lot of her firsts.
* * *
“Sowe just…jump in?”Saeasked, bent down on her knees, her hand back to swirling in the water of theHatchery.
I’dbeen keeping my cool fairly well, considering.
Consideringsince we’d left the shop, her new clothes bundled neatly in a package, she’d told me all about her new attire.Thenew corseted shirt, the black leather pants—just likeLadyLanna’sshe’d informed me—the tall black boots…
Andnow, here she was, dressed in what she assured me that woman had said was swimming attire appropriate to theSpire’sfashions.
“Ithink so,”Imanaged, avoiding the sight of her mid thighs and knees, exposed completely along with most of her shoulders and arms.
Thecut of the swim wear was bold, flattering, andInoticedIwasn’t the only one in theHatcherytaking my fair share of glances.
Wehad bundled our clothes on the edge of the deep pool, my own swimwear exposing my entire torso and most of my calves.
Saehadn’t said a thing when she’d gasped at the scars across my chest.I’dgotten them last winter during a particularly brutal surprise attack on theHyrithianborder from a band of wildBlightbeasts.
Threelong, white slashes across my right pectoral had been difficult to heal, and honestly, the medicus conduit assigned to me in that tent just outside of theBlightLinehad more important soldiers to work on at the time.She’ddone a quick job of it and moved on, unbothered about how my skin would heal over and scar forever.
Therewere a few other swimmers in the pool that spanned at least two-hundred feet in diameter and at least fifty feet deep.Ipeered down, searching for the aurum fish when a splash of cool water hit me in the face.
Sae’shead popped up above the surface and she pulled the hair back from her cheeks, sputtering water from her mouth.Hereyes matched the color of the pool—ocean blue and…stunning.
