Techromancy Scrolls: Adept by Erik Schubach Read Free Book Online

seamstress had, before I could waste any more money.
    I smiled at the tunic I had chosen for myself. Instead of the usual natural browns and tans of the threads, this one had been dyed a rich hunter green and the seamstress had embellished the sleeve cuffs and collar with yellow leaves that looked almost gold. It was the nicest shirt I had ever owned.
    After picking up Goliath and the wagon and stowing my purchases I headed down to the baths. Again drawing people's eyes, most likely wondering why a young woman such as myself had such a stallion. I know it would have been a curiosity for me if I had witnessed it.
    I set the brake at the public baths. They weren't busy today. Or perhaps it was because it was midday, I had never visited them during the day.
    This was a perk of living in Wexbury. The baths were open to all at no charge, and were famous through all the realms. Wexbury extended into the lake for the sole purpose of this convenience. The founders of the keep determined that cleanliness kept away many of the blights and disease that pestered other realms. So they designed the keep to include a safe area for swimming and bathing within the walls.
    I looked around, there was another wagon with two older draft horses at the yoke, and three mares hitched beside it. I took my new tunic with me and entered the arch into the women's side of the bath house. There was a ten foot tall stone wall that divided the men from the women, and the baths had underwater entrances into the swimming hole. They even had a smaller area on the other side of the bath house where they had heated water pools in the winter. I found it odd not to have to stand in line.
    I walked over to the elderly matron of the bath, Hannah, and greeted her. The pleasant portly woman was always dressed impeccably for a serf, just as well as any noble. She had the rich speech patterns commonly associated with the nobles as well, indicating a good education. Though she was of lower station, I have always found it odd that the noble women paid her great respect.
    She handed me a large white towel and I turned and sat at the benches and undressed self consciously as I looked out to the waters just beyond the benches. There were only nine or ten women in the large fifty foot square waters. Some had oils and soaps they were cleaning with. I was jealous of such luxury.
    I undressed and stacked my clothing on the bench, hiding my coin purse in a boot. I wrapped in the towel and started toward the waters when a rich voice called over from the matron. “Laney? Fancy meeting you here.”
    I froze then turned slowly to see Lady Celeste in full armor with another knight taking towels from Hannah. I walked up to her with my eyes lowered and said shyly, “Celeste.”
    Hannah spit out quickly, “Mind your tongue girl! Address the lady properly!” I glanced over and then winced, waiting for her raised hand to come down on my cheek. Why was everyone disciplining me lately?
    Lady Celeste caught the matron's strike gracefully and far more gently than I would have thought possible. She chuckled out to the woman, “It is alright Hannah, I gave her leave to address me so. We are old comrades in arms, Laney and I.”
    She shot me yet another one of her winks as I wondered if blushing could be terminal. Hannah was immediately her calm professional self and she simply tilted her head to me in acknowledgment, “I apologize miss, I was not aware.” Then she bowed her head slightly to the knights, “Lady Celeste, Lady Verna.” To my surprise they both returned the bow if not slightly shallower.
    Before I knew what was happening, the Techno Knight had looped her arm in mine and was dragging me to the benches, “You simply must join Verna and I.”
    I tried to protest but she ignored me and I sat and turned away from them as they removed their armor and disrobed. I turned back when they had towels around themselves. She said, “Laney, this is Lady Verna, Knight of the Realm, and my