Thessamar Wants a Hot Bath

"Not walking into an inn, no. I'm afraid that it will be the same wherever you go, Princess."

"I had believed that I did not care what men thought of me, but I was never looked at so in Aqualaria. There even the men know how to behave in the presence of a princess of the blood royal."

"That's the point, Princess. In Aqualaria, everyone knew who you were. Here you are just an unknown woman, and a dirty and bedraggled one at that. And before you suggest it, no, it would not be a good idea to tell them who you are. These country folk are uneasy enough with strangers, let alone foreigners. If they knew that you were from Aqualaria at best we would be asked to leave."

"No doubt you are right. Well, I cannot do anything about being Aqualarian - and would not if I could - nor about being unclothed. But I can do something about being dirty and bedraggled. I see that this room boasts a tin bath. Would you ask the innkeeper to get some hot water sent up."

"This is a poor country inn, Princess. The luxuries of the Aqualarian court will be lacking, I'm afraid. I'm pretty certain that we only have cold wash barrels here."

Thessamar's heart sank. She had been looking forward to a long soak in hot water. It would be good to be clean again, but even better to get the chill out of her bones.

1. "A cold bath it will have to be then," she says unhappily.
2. "Would you go and get some kettles, then," she says. "I'll use them to heat some water up on the fire, and then mix that with the water from the barrels."
3. They hear someone - or something - banging on the floor of the room above. Have they been talking too loudly, and disturbed whatever is up on the top floor?

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