Could he manage a griddle or two for the kitchen too? It would be tricky, because if he tried to do too much work, the girls would probably… Tor had no clue what they’d do to him. Douse him with water so that he couldn’t work properly? That wouldn’t be enough to mess him up, unless the water was really cold. Or hot. But burning him might be counterproductive, if the goal was for him to not damage his health any more.
Some of the other tubs started to be filled with water, the sound a lot softer than when he’d done it. Ah! Right, they only had the flow of one little stream to work with and the water pumps didn’t work if there was no water to put out. Another reason to test the new rivers he realized. His little house here needed more water, and so, most likely, did the bigger base where the flight training was going on. That map pointer guy had mentioned it as a growing problem already even.
After about half a minute Tor felt the water in his tub suddenly rise as someone climbed in to share, and before he could even open his eyes a second body joined the first. He nearly panicked for a second until he realized that assassins or robbers wouldn’t climb in with him. Robbers would have just lifted what was sitting on the little bench, and assassins would have slit his throat from behind. The idea wasn’t comforting, but as Varley had pointed out, inside like this, well, they did have guards and stuff, right? He could live without any pleasures, sure. He’d done it. But if he couldn’t even have use of the little joys and comforts available to him, what was the point of being anymore?
“This is the best part of this job. In the city we’d just get a cold bucket out the back alley to scrub up with after the night.” The voice was entirely too feminine, causing Tor to freeze suddenly.
Worse the next voice that spoke was just as womanly.
“Same where I was. I’ve got to say though, I was a little afraid at first, what with this place not having proper bouncers and all, but all the costumers are right gentleman, aren’t they? “Please miss, if it’s all right, might I do you from behind?” and “If it’s acceptable, would you please use your mouth?” at first I thought they were just putting us on, but they’re all like that. One got a little rough with Glari the other day and the other blokes came boiling out and thrashed the man right proper, and then, get this, without them even threatening him or telling him he had too, he apologized to her and gave over all the coin he had! Really, no one even said he should. It wasn’t even that big a thing, didn’t bruise her or nothing, just made her gag a little much is all.”
Apparently, he realized quickly enough, he’d come at the time of day that the women of… rettry, got off work and was invading their normal bath time. Well that was rude of him, wasn’t it? It kind of made sense, the end of their shift being near the beginning of his today given their current professions. Now he was kind of stuck, wasn’t he? If he opened his eyes, they’d all be there, naked. That wouldn’t be proper at all. Well, there was only one thing for it; he’d have to keep his eyes closed until they left to preserve their dignity. His own was… well, given everything, that didn’t matter, did it? He was the one in the wrong here, not them.
“The lady of the house told me that everyone is so nice here because the base commander, that fellow they call Major Godfrey? He told them all that the Prince himself said that if any of us is mistreated in any way he’d get Tor the wizard to come out and thrash them himself. No one wants to cross him.”
From the sound of it, this came from a tub down a ways to his left. From just slightly closer another voice spoke, this one a little breathy and younger sounding.
“One of the men here told me about how there was this Count from down south, who’d challenged a little noble boy to a fight to the death, just to punish the kids da, and Master Tor went and made him fight him instead and humiliated the man into apologizing to the boy, just by pointing at him. How fierce and powerful a man do you have to be to make a Count grovel just with a hard look and some gestures? Makes me shiver just to think of.”
Tor nodded. It did sound pretty bad, when put that way. It wasn’t that he’d just pointed at the man, he’d had weapons in his hands, they were just all on copper tubes, and smaller than the normal ones, so that they’d be cheaper. That could have looked a bit like he was just pointing to some of the rich people that had been watching, used to seeing large silver weapons as they were.
Further down, in what must have been the last tub; a more familiar voice spoke quietly.
“S’Tor’s n’s hi’s… Tor… is… nice. He baky, baked… with me yesterday.”
Sorlee.
Well, that made it even more important that he keep his eyes closed, didn’t it? He’d see her in a little while off in the kitchen, and have to be able to look her in the eye. He’d already probably blush.
One of the women in his tub spoke then.
“What’s that Sorlee? You baked with him? Is that a country euphemism for fucked? I guess I can see it, the whole “bun in the oven” thing, baking… I kind of like it!”
The girl down on the far end chuckled.
“Na… real baking. Making the meal bread and desserts. I didn’t know it was… Master Tor. It is why the food was better. The master is also a real baker, not just a wizard. He went later to house and lady bow and lower to him. Set it up so I do both now, practice up like last night an larn… And learn to take a large man without pain. The nice women wot d’Prince… The ladies of the Prince? They came and gave me hints for sex.”
Sorlee spoke slowly and had to get some help with words every now and then, but the other women were certainly being kind to her about it, even taking pains to help her learn it seemed.
“And… then the big woman told me about using oil so I won’t hurt too much. I don’t know her name…”
“Ursala. Countess Thorgood.” Tor spoke, keeping his eyes closed tightly and head tilted towards the ceiling, in case his eyes opened by accident or something.
“Hey, you speak! I thought you might be being all hoity and saying you were too good for us, refusing to even look our way and all even. Didn’t jump out like were tainted at least, so that’s something. Some get like that around whores.” This came from the woman to his right. Her voice didn’t sound angry about the perceived slight. Sighing he figured he’d better explain so he wouldn’t offend them by not looking at them. Moving to a cave suddenly started to make sense to him; all these social rules were hard.
And annoying.
“It’s not that. Nothing like that at all. I just have to keep my eyes closed so that I won’t give offense, looking at you naked. I didn’t realize that you all used the bath house this time of day and was just getting ready for work myself. So, I figured that I’d just sit here with my eyes shut so that, you know, we preserve your dignity and all that.”
The room went silent.
After a few seconds everyone laughed. It wasn’t an upset sound at least. His right arm was suddenly nudged a little from the right.
“You’d worry about preserving the dignity of a bunch of whores?” At least the voice was amused sounding.
The question baffled him at first. He thought about it for a few seconds and then felt even more confused. Tor tried to explain, knowing he’d probably sound like a hick again. At least he could get the accent right, he figured, so made an effort to sound quick proper about it all.
“Well, you aren’t at work right now… Why shouldn’t your dignity be as important as anyone else’s?” He said quietly. Suddenly something warm and soft pressed up against his arm and he felt a kiss on his cheek.