The guest tower surprised Irenya; the plain exterior had given no indication of a tiled interior decorated with mosaics and delicate filigree. A shallow, star-shaped pool, set in the floor of an indoor courtyard, spilled a gentle flow into a marble race. Water gurgled along the shallow channel, then cascaded down several steps into another pool, where a single jet tinkled a soothing sound. A small boy led her up a staircase and along a gallery overlooking the pools. He turned into an open doorway and gestured for her to enter. The chime of water echoed in the arched ceiling and flowed, muted, into her room to blend with the scent of roses.
The first thing she noticed was the lack of a bed. She touched one of the large, comfortable-looking chairs.
‘Um… Do I sleep on these?’
The boy drew
