Gatebound

Chapter VIII

The old adage about a night's rest fixing everything is total crap. When I wake the next day, I still feel like I'm walking the fine line between panic and fury, and I'm definitely starting to stink--but I do feel a little stronger. Yet again, I realize I've had bizarre dreams: something about Alex, I think, but they fade quickly. With any sign I was ever sick miraculously gone, Alex and I spend the morning laying out a plan of action. In other words, we work out everything we want to ask Cor Amel.

The list is pretty huge. Priority number one: figure out how transportation through whatever kind of portal we came through works. Lesser priorities: figure out whether there's really magic here (Alex emphasizes 'whether they believe there's really magic, but whatever); find out how the translators work and if we need to take any kind of special care of them; learn more about this world, especially if we're commiting any faux pas; finally, find out how we're going to pay the cor and the innkeep for our room and food. Privately, I also add: find out where to get a bath, clothing, and maybe even makeup if that's a thing here.

I'm kind of surprised by how easily Alex and I work out The Plan. He's decisive, and I don't let my bullheaded desire to take charge clash too much against what are obviously good ideas. The guy is smart, I can't deny that.

As Alex starts moving around to grab his shoes, I decide to make my secret priority number one instead, because he doesn't smell so good either--although it isn't too offputting, just noticeable. "Before we go anywhere, can we see about a bath?" He looks up at me and my word vomit problem suddenly emerges. "Separately, I mean. Not that you were going to suggest otherwise. I don't even know why I said that."

He just raises an eyebrow with a laughing smile. "I wouldn't mind getting clean," he answers.

I slip out the door and down the hallway to the front room, feeling self-conscious. Mara and the younger girl are both wiping down tables, and seeing them side by side it becomes obvious that they're mother and daughter.

Mara is saying, "and I don't like the interest he's taken in you. You know the rumours, so if he comes back in, you find a reason to come get me, and I'll--" She breaks off suddenly when she sees me.

"Good morning," I begin, hating how fake my polite voice sounds.

Mara nods. "Good morning. What can we do for you?"

"My, erh, friend and I were wondering if there was some way for us to wash and get clean."

"Of course. Emada can pull you a bath. I'll bring along some soap."

The girl--Emada--immediately smiles at me and goes around the corner, returning with a large wooden tub. She heads down the hall to our room and then Mara disappears into the back.

When I head back, cloth and bar of astringent smelling soap in hand, Emada is making her first trip carrying a pot of steaming water. I'm sitting on the bed, watching the tub slowly fill and feeling guilty over how hard this is for her, judging by the sweat that beads on her pretty forehead, when Alex offers to help. She smiles happily at him, but says it is her job. A strange pang of jealousy mixed with guilt pinches inside me, and I pick at my nails instead of looking at either of them. Why didn't I offer to help? Why is the girl so exotically pretty? Although, I think haughtily, she's really too young for him to be flirting with. He ought to know better.

Bath negotiations are only slightly odd--Alex offers to let me go first, and I agree with minimal blushing. Maybe we're getting used to basically living together. The bathing itself is actually more uncomfortable; there's just something really odd about standing naked in a tub of water, right in the middle of your bedroom as you run a soapy cloth over your body. I wonder vaguely if Alex is outside and if he's close enough to hear the splashing. Is there a way to make splashing sound alluring?