Where Ashes and Oaths Collide

Chapter 75: Steamy

Luz pulled Amelia closer, his arms wrapping around her as if he could shield her from the very world, he was a part of. His fingers brushed against the greyed white ribbon on his wrist. “But we can’t,” he murmured into her red hair. “Mestre Escuro… he is not patient. And I have things have to do. Things I have to finish.” He opened his eyes, and for a moment, the amber flickered– just once– before settling back into a steady, warm glow. He kissed her temple, a lingering, aching touch. “I know,” she said understandingly. “But one day maybe, right?” he did not answer immediately. He just held her, his chin resting on top of her head, his breathing finally levelling out into something steady and calm.

The room was quiet, the only sound that occasional crackle of the dying fire and the distant, muffled echoes of the Corrompido army outside. “One day,” Luz finally said. He said it like a promise, but also like a prayer– something he was not sure the gods would grant him. He tightened his grip on her, his fingers curling into the small of her back. “I will make it happen,” he added, his voice dropping into that low, determined register of a commander. “I will finish this. I will burn every last one of them down to the roots, and then I will come back to you.” He pulled back just enough to look at her, his thumb brushing across her lower lip. “Hey, at least this is an adventure,” she said with a lighter tone. “Something we can tell out children one day.”

Luz let out a breath that was almost a laugh, the kind of sound he had not made in years. He shook his head, a small, genuine smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Children,” he repeated, the word sounding impossibly far away. “You are talking about children like we are just two people in love, not a traitor and a woman living in a war zone.” He reached out, tucking a stray long of red hair behind Amelia’s ear, his touch lingering on her cheek. His thumb traced the line of her jaw with a gentleness that betrayed everything he was trying to hide. “But yes,” he said softly, his gaze locking onto hers. “An adventure. That is one way to put it.” He lay back against the pillow, pulling her with him until she was resting against his chest. His arm wrapped around her, his fingers tracing idle patterns on her shoulder.

They laid there for a long while before Amelia stretch her arms above her head and sat up slightly. “We should probably go take that bath now.” Luz watched her stretch, the way her body moved with a languid grace in the dim light. A sow, lazy smile spread across his face– one that actually reached his amber eyes. “A bath,” he repeated, as if the concept were entirely new to him. “I think I could get used to that.” He sat up, pulled her with him, his bare chest warm against her back. The room was cool now, the fire having durned down to glowing embers, but the heat between them had not quite dissipated. He stood, offering her a hand, his movements fluid and unhurried.

“Lead the way,” Luz said, his voice returning to that softer, more intimate tone he only used with Amelia. He pulled on his trousers, and she pulled on a brown robe she got from a wardrobe. She led him to the kitchen where the boiling cauldron stood. The hearth occupied most of the room, its broad stone structure blackened by years of smoke and heat. Orange flames dance beneath an enormous iron cauldron suspended from a heavy metal chain. The cauldron hangs directly over the fire; its dark surface covered with soot and age. Steam rises continuously from the boiling water inside, forming pale clouds that drift upward into the shadows of the chimney. The firewood beneath the cauldron crackles brightly, illuminating the surrounding stonework with a warm orange glow.

The stones around the hearth appear rough and uneven, showing centuries of use. A sturdy wooden worktable stands to one side. Upon it are clay bowls, earthenware dished, cooking utensils and a collection of ingredients awaiting preparation. The walls are lined with shelves holding pottery, storage jars, and cooking vessels of varying sizes. Bunches of onions and garlic hang hang from beams and hooks, drying above the work areas. In the background, a small leaded-glass window allows a shaft of pale daylight to enter. The cool light contrasts with the warm glow of the fire, creating pockets of illumination amid the darker corners of the kitchen. Wooden stools, barrels, and buckets are scattered throughout the room.

“Will you carry it?” Amelia asked softly. “There are already buckets with cold water in the bathing chamber. Luz did not hesitate. He stepped toward the cauldron, his bare chest catching the dim light of the hearth. He picked up two thick pieces of cloth and reached down, his broad shoulders flexing as he gripped the heavy iron handles. “I have carried heavier,” he said with a quiet smirk, though the weight was substantial. He lifted the cauldron in one smooth motion, the hot steam rising up to dampen his skin. He followed her toward the bathing chamber, his footsteps silent on the stone floors. As they entered the small, stone-lined room, he carefully poured the hot water into a large circular wooden bathtub– constructed from thick oak planks bound together by iron bands– the hot water swirling around the edges.

The tub sits on a raised wooden platform, elevating it slightly above the surrounding floor. Its polished wood glows warmly under the light of numerous candles. Heavy dark blue curtains surround parts of the chamber, providing privacy. The curtains appear thick enough to help retain warmth and black drafts from the stone walls. Several candles mounted in wall sconces cast a golden light throughout the room. Their flickering illumination creates soft shadows across the stone arches and wooden furnishings. To one side stands a wooden shelving unit neatly stocked with folded linens and towels. Beside it rests a large metal pitcher and several wash basins used for pouring additional water into the tub or rinsing afterward. Wooden buckets with cold water are placed around the room.