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He leads her back into the palace but down another labyrinth of hallways and doors until they finally halt before a circular wooden barrier. Hadrius pushes it open. Each footfall is as quiet as a shadow. The hallway opens to a bath chamber, walls of different fluorescent mosaic colours beneath glass tiles. River’s steps falter as she takes in the spectacle before her. The chamber curves like a cave, natural luminescent lights glowing from the walls and ceilings, illuminating the thin mist of steam that rises from the large bath to drift around her ankles.

Her skin grows damp.

She inhales mint eucalyptus and spots a nude female servant dropping two dollops of hardened oils into the water.

“Enter the bath, I will join you in a moment.” Hadrius turns away, leaving her alone in the room. She stands by awkwardly, uncertain as to why he would want her in the bath, but the waters steamed invitingly and it wouldn’t hurt to take a quick dip.

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