Then, I slipped into my tent to rest. I’d have to wait until all the males had finished bathing and were slightly drunk before going to the stream myself to, well, be Assyria and bathe. Once I’d secured the flaps behind me, I released my magic, sighing. Every day, this moment was like removing dirty, travel worn clothes, though I still had to physically remove them from my body once I returned to myself.

Shaking out my tired limbs, I did just that, letting them drop to the canvas before lifting my feet from the thick leather boots. I was tempted to stick them outside to let them air out. They were starting to stink, and I didn’t want the smell invading my senses while I napped in my tent. But it was still glaringly bright outside, and I couldn’t risk my slender arm being seen slipping through the flaps.

So with a sigh, I curled on my cot, closed my eyes, and dreamed of the bath that I would take later that evening.

Weariness still pulled at me as I roused myself. Boisterous laughter drifted through the fabric surrounding me, and I heard Dromak’s deep voice boom as I stretched my arms overhead. Yawning, I pushed myself upright, blinking the world into focus.

The sun no longer shone little pinpricks of light across my body, which meant that it was late enough that the males had likely tapped into the casks of ale and started eating dinner. A rustle sounded behind me, followed by a laugh and footsteps, then a shadow crossed the canvas for only a moment before disappearing. Everyone was on the move and enjoying themselves.

A slow smile spread across my lips as I tipped my head back, letting my messy, matted hair fall down my back.

Fucking finally, I can bathe.

Grabbing my bag, I pulled out everything but the clothes I needed to wash, leaving it lighter. Pulling on the clothes I’d discarded earlier, I reformed Vagach around myself. The shadows in my chest came easily when called, as happy as I was to have gotten a few extra hours of sleep.

Untying the strings that held the tent flaps closed, I peeked my head out. A handful of large fires blazed past the row of tents in front of mine, and most of the males surrounded them, passing skins around or pouring ale into metal cups. Those with long hair still dripped water, while others’ tunics clung to their muscled torsos in a few damp spots.

Plates piled with food made their way around too, and the smell of roasted meat hit my nostrils, pulling a long growl from my stomach. As tempting as it was to grab a few slices of what appeared to be venison from them, I needed to slip away unseen now that it appeared most of them had already bathed.

Dragging myself and my bag through the flap, I secured them as best as I could to make it appear as if I were still inside. Crouching, I slipped through the tents, making note of any others that strolled through the clearing. Izgath glanced over his shoulder but quickly continued to the center along with Dromak and a few others. Once they’d passed out of view, I peered into the growing darkness around the stream to ensure I’d be alone.

No one spotted me as I broke away from the camp and slipped into the trees. Straightening, I walked toward the reeds, scanning for a flat rock beside the bank where I could deposit my bag along with the clothes that would need drying once I’d washed them. Down one side, a group of them waited as if that spot in particular were made for such activities. I switched my direction, heading straight for them. It was a little further away than I wanted to be, but if I bathed quickly, it would be worth the extra privacy.

Hopefully no one will look for Vagach while I am away.

That was the challenge; if someone suspected Vagach had deserted, they’d hunt for him immediately. I hoped that they would give him the benefit of the doubt for a little bit at least, leaving me with enough time to return, wet hair and all, showing that I’d merely been taking a much-needed dip in the stream.

I heeled off the heavy boots, then glanced around again to ensure no one was around to bear witness to my activities. Dusk had fallen, and in the distance, small fires dotted the center of camp. The smell of roasting meat had grown fainter, and the air was punctuated occasionally by a bark of laughter.

Stripping out of my travel worn clothes, I dropped my magic. Sweet relief captured me as I wriggled my bare toes in the grass, appreciating the feel of something other than Vagach’s form on my skin. It was too risky to remain in the open, so I grabbed the bundle of dirty clothes and the bar of soap and pushed through the reeds. Easing forward with my toes, I tested the muddy ground before stepping into the cool water. The bottom was a mixture of sand and smooth rock, and as I waded in, the water quickly rushed up to my waist. With a swish, the fronds closed behind me, giving me the first semblance of true privacy I’d had in weeks. Overhead, the sky was clear, the last rays of the sun casting long shadows of the Skala Mountains over me.

I closed my eyes, savoring the caress of the water against my skin. The light scent of lilies mixed with the crisp, cool air reminded me of hours spent in the garden with Olrus.

Olrus.

Grief slashed at my heart as I thought of the male who had helped me escape a pyre for killing my husband. I missed my friend fiercely, and I wondered if he’d be proud of how well I had stepped into my leadership role. He’d love to hear about the moon lotus vine I’d spotted, and of course, I’d try to sneak away to observe their pearly white blooms opening.

With a sigh, I forced myself to return to the present moment and continue on with the task at hand.

Birds released their last chirps before settling in for the night, and a soft breeze whispered through the thick plants crowding the riverbanks. It was a stolen moment of peace among the stress of maintaining my secret.

The water was calm, so I set my belongings against a thick plant before dunking under and scraping my nails against my scalp. Coming up for air, I reached for the soap and scrubbed vigorously against my skin, removing weeks worth of dirt and sweat. I circled my palms over it, creating a thick lather, and then worked it through my hair, feeling lighter as oil was stripped away from my long locks.

It wasn’t until my skin had pinkened and the soap was nearly half its original size that I realized how much cleaner I felt. My clothes were next, and after I finished one piece of linen, I risked a momentary peek beyond the fronds to place them over the rock to dry.

A shadow shifted in the distance, and I paused, waiting to see if it would move again.

I am being paranoid.

Shaking off the feeling, I grabbed a tunic from my bag. Pulling it into the water with me, I scrubbed the soap over it and then used the plants as a washboard to remove any excess dirt from the fabric. I repeated the process twice before I held it up to the fading light, turning it this way and that in search of any spots I might have missed.

Satisfied and wearing a soft smile, I dropped it back to the water, breath catching immediately at what the movement revealed.

From the riverbank, a pair of garnet eyes stared at me with wide-eyed shock.

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11

“Who are you?” Izgath demanded, eyes dropping away from my face. Stunned, I remained rooted in my place, and only when he cleared his throat did I realize that my breasts were fully exposed to him. I clutched the tunic to my chest protectively, sinking deeper into the water to hide my body.

“Where is Vagach?” he pressed, his expression hardening as his lips curved into a frown.