Daughter of Hauk (The Raven Chronicles Book 1) by KateMarie Collins

brought to them, the fire made the room comfortable and Y’Dürkie seemed satisfied no one would be coming in during the night unannounced. Grenda brought them two trays laden with beef and vegetables in gravy, as well as a loaf of bread. Another girl followed behind her, with ale and mead. “Master Ian wanted me to let you know they’ve been getting the fires ready in the bathhouse. Should have plenty of hot water for you both in about an hour or less. It’s just off there,” she pointed out the window at a small outbuilding. Smoke wafted out of the chimney. “Oh, and you can leave your dirty clothing in a basket and we can wash it for you. Master Ian said it’d be a courtesy just for you.”
                  “Thank you, Grenda. And you as well,” Arwenna acknowledged the other girl. “I noticed a stage for a bard downstairs. Is there one in residence or someone who performs regularly?” Bards were great sources of information.
                  “Not really. Well, it was built with one girl in mind but she’s only here off and on. I think she’s supposed to be back tomorrow, but not sure. She’s the daughter of one of the local shopkeepers.” She paused then looked at Arwenna a little more closely. “They’re both elves, like you are. They don’t get to see many elves around here, so they’d probably like you to say hello.”
                  “I’d like that as well, Grenda. Perhaps, if you’re not busy tomorrow, you could take us to his shop and introduce us?” Arwenna pressed a small garnet into the girl’s hand. “I’d much rather have someone who knows the town take us.” She smiled warmly as Grenda quickly pocketed the gem while bobbing her assent.
                  The girls left, shutting the door behind them. Arwenna locked it and put the key on top of the dresser while Y’Dürkie sat down in front of one of the platters. They began to eat in silence.
                  Pushing away the clean platter, Arwenna sipped her mead while watching Y’Dürkie mop up the last of the gravy with the bread. Between the fire and the meal, she finally felt the late winter chill leave her body. All she needed now was a bath and she would almost feel alive again. “I suppose you’re going to insist on standing guard outside the bathhouse while I’m bathing, aren’t you?” She raised an eyebrow at Y’Dürkie. “It would be much simpler, you know, if you were to ask that they put two tubs in the room and we bathe at the same time. You need it as much as I do.” Arwenna sniffed the air, teasing Y’Dürkie a small bit. Watching her go from a scowl to nodding in agreement in the span of a few mouthfuls brought a grin to Arwenna’s tired face.
                  “You are probably right,” Y’Dürkie conceded. “Vhen I can smell more of me than the meal, it is time. Might as vell take these down vith us,” she gestured at the empty platters.
                  Arwenna grabbed the key and put it in her small pouch after locking the door behind them. She and Y’Dürkie headed downstairs towards the bathhouse.
                  The common room was fuller than it had been earlier, few chairs stood empty tonight. A pack had been left on the bardic stage. Perhaps there would be music tonight after all. Arwenna glanced at Y’Dürkie; they needed to decide if they wanted to listen when they were done bathing.
                  As promised, the bathhouse had plenty of hot and cold water by the time they arrived. Y’Dürkie located a second tub and dragged it near the first one as Arwenna began to fill it. Once the tubs were both full, they folded their travel-stained clothing into a pair of baskets and started to wash the dirt from the road off themselves. Without thinking, Arwenna dunked her head into the water and washed her hair. The water changed color from the dye Y’Dürkie had made. “So much for being