Page 80 of Stone Heart
The sounds of water running echoed from the bathroom. Rina looked longingly toward the splashing, knowing she needed to get cleaned, but she didn’t want to be gone too long from Rhodack’s side.
“Come, my lady. Let’s make you presentable for when our lord awakens,” Ajuki murmured. Entwining their fingers, she led her from the room.
The smells of lavender filled Rina’s nostrils as she entered the bathroom. Manea and Manga prepared large basins of hot water and carried them from the room.
“Thank you,” she said to Ajuki.
“No need to thank us. This is our purpose.” Ajuki smiled softly.
Rina jumped slightly; small hands reached up behind her and began disrobing her. She turned to find Dese and Calista to her rear.
Sleeping for ten hours should have made her feel energized, but it didn’t. She didn’t have the willpower to argue against the ladies while they prepared her bath and assisted her in.
She groaned and settled in the warm water. Her body was completely healed, and the water helped her relax. She stiffened, sensing two other figures in the water with her.
She opened her eyes and found Calista and Ajuki, naked in the bath.
“Don’t worry. We’re only in here to help bathe you. You’ve been through so much.” Calista revealed the large bathing sponge in her hands.
“Come, let us refresh you.” Ajuki slid in behind her.
Rina sighed and floated in the middle of the tub and allowed the two women to bathe her and wash her hair. She couldn’t hold in the moans of pleasure from the feel of Ajuki scrubbing her scalp clean. Dese prepared clean clothes and readied them on the counter.
“You all are too good to me,” Rina said.
Ajuki poured water over her hair to rinse it. It was because of Rina that their lord was lying unconscious in the bed.
“Don’t say that. Word has spread through the lair about what you did to save Rhodack,” Ajuki scolded her, smoothing her wet hair back, away from her face.
“But my powers were too strong. He told me to do it, but—”
“And because of what you did, he’s now lying in the next room in a healing slumber. Our lord lives because of you. Had you not done what you did, the necromancers surely would have taken him from us.” Calista gripped her shoulders.
Rina stared into her eyes and nodded. Deep down, she knew what they spoke was the truth.
“Now let us finish so we can prepare you for when he awakens,” Ajuki instructed.
They finished washing her, and Dese waited with a large plush towel. They assisted her from the bath, and Dese wrapped her up in the towel. Ajuki and Calista stepped from the tub and covered their bodies with robes.
Dese helped dry her off before offering her a robe.
“Let me comb through your hair, my lady.” Dese guided her over to the vanity.
Rina bit her tongue to keep from mentioning that as a powerful Elf, she could blink and fix herself. But she’d keep her mouth closed and let them pamper her to help kill time until Rhodack opened his eyes.
