Chapter 2
-Next Day—
After leaving me to soak Yuri, the three sisters, and Tessa all took off to the Marketplace for the festival. The three sisters had to encourage and push Tessa to go with them on the lure of good food, music, and textiles to look at. Tessa tried to get me to go but I had to decline. I had woken up that morning with more bone deep bruises than I'd ever had in my life. It had been all I could do to get out of bed and walk around. I had to take shallow breaths and every step shot pain up my legs to my back which only made everything else spasm.
Tessa still looked worried about going till I had to point out that if she was travelling with the Taiwanana the soldiers wouldn't let even a single fly hurt her. She smiled and then reluctantly left. The sisters had blessedly made up the hot water in the bathing room. I was finally alone. I sighed as the hot water sluiced against my skin as I gently lowered myself into the boiling water. After adjusting and relaxing into the heat I leaned against the cool stone tiles of the bathing room. I didn't mind one bit if I was scalded at this point, it felt too good. Just as I started to close my eyes and melt in to relaxation and peace I heard footsteps on the tile ahead of me. Not wanting to really move I peeked open my eyes in the direction of the doorway.
The Egyptian from the banquet last night, who had sat to the right of the King, walked through the doorway and smirked at me. Only moving my head I looked up at him and rested my chin on my arms. We simply stared at each other for a moment.
"Sit down or something. You're making my neck hurt to look at you like this." I said a little irritated and huffy. Just when I thought I'd get to just relax and have a chance at some quiet time just for me, someone comes into the bathing room. 'Aren't bathrooms supposed to be sacred or something?' I huffed internally. The Egyptian with two different colored eyes and blonde hair smirked and simply sat right in front of me staring. It was like I was a bug, pinned in a frame being examined by an entomologist.
After awhile of him not speaking I closed my eyes and just continued to soak in the hot water, willing my muscles to relax further. I've been through a lot in this time but I know that it didn't mean that every man in this time was going to jump me or beat me; just most of them. Most, not all, see the difference. Very slight, I know.
"She said you're from the same country but you have darker skin and lighter hair than her." He commented aloud. I could only assume he was talking about Yuri in reference to me. It also seemed to be a veiled question; so again, I turned and looked at him under lidded eyes. However, since I felt rather grumpy I didn't answer because it wasn't a question; which, by the glare I received wasn't what he was used to, or had intended.
"Why is that?" he added a little terse. I smirked at his reluctance to spit out the actual question.
"Because, not everyone looks exactly alike; there are many different cultures living together where Yuri and I come from. Many different skin tones, languages, and beliefs mingle and co-exist peacefully. By the way what is your name I didn't hear it the other night at the banquet?" I asked curiously.
"Rameses. So, then is your culture different than Yuri's?" he questioned with a frown forming on his forehead. I was still shell shocked from the name he told me to answer him right away. I covered for it by adjusting my shoulders. I knew my history, knew that this man was both a warrior and a skilled politician. I started to wonder why he would want to know about me at all. Then I remembered the banquet; the clever banter back and forth between Rameses and the King, the long looks at both myself and Yuri.
"Sort of. My father came from another country to live and work in Yuri's country. That's where he met my mother. So, I have the same culture as her but I have my father's culture to hold fast to as well." I saw his confusion, "It's hard to explain sorry."
"No, it's all right. I'm just curious." He smiled and got up from sitting in front of me and walked to the edge of the bath, slipped off his sandals and stuck his feet in the water next to me.
"I'm especially curious about these." He said trailing a hand over my shoulder tattoo, "They look like nothing I have ever seen, they must mean something? And how do you get the body paints to stay even in water?" I laughed and I couldn't help it. He looked hurt though when I looked back to answer him. I hadn't meant to offend him. So, I smiled and made sure my tone didn't imply chastisement.
"I'm sure I have one or two images that you would recognize on my body, however, we are not good enough friends for you to see them." I smiled and he reciprocated it, "as for how the paints stay on…that's another answer that is hard to explain…" I had trailed off trying to find the right words.
"I'm not a simpleton. I can understand it if you explain it."
"I never meant to imply otherwise, but as you said I have to explain it correctly." I chuckled at him 'Boy does he have a short fuse on his ego.'
"So…?" he posed the question after a few short moments of silence.
"Don't rush me!" I laughed, "It's not something done in too many countries around here; but in order to get body paints to stay on your skin, like mine do, you have to used a needle and scratch and poke to place the colors under the first layer of skin so that it stays forever. These images will never come off my body. Ever." Rameses looked perplexed and then looking over my body at the tattoos his frown deepened.
"But, why? Why have something on you that doesn't change." I smiled and rested my head back down again on my arms.
"Because each image means something to me personally that I want to immortalize and keep with me always. Some are to remember loved ones that have passed on." I explained hoping he would understand and not push any further. The less these people knew about the future the less the past would be altered.
Rameses looked at me and nodded and then gave me, what could be classified as, a devilish grin.
"So, how good of friends would we have to be for me to see the rest of them?" he asked with mischief and laughter in his eyes.
I laughed a little too hard and had to hiss out a breath of pain. My ribs felt like they were in a vice grip and every breath burned until I got my breathing under control again. Rameses looked stricken; I could tell he hadn't meant me any pain. So I smiled, sighed out a small breath, and resettled in to place lying on the cool tile.
"Don't make me laugh. My ribs are bruised." I chuckled slightly after he stayed looking worriedly at me. It was odd since I had been here I had been wary around men, but here in Hattsua they all seemed respectful and, well, letches, but all they could do was look and make obscene comments, and trust me that's way better than the alternative.
"You are rather colorful today. I didn't notice it yesterday. Do you wish for me to leave?" I thought about it and then shook my head. It was nice to have some company after all, and he was genuinely inquisitive.
"No. You can stay; but since you've noticed my injuries, can you bring over more hot water?" I asked not sure if he really would move. Most men of his rank and stature in this time didn't do such things. They had others to do smalls things like this for them. Rameses again, surprised me. He flashed me a grin, got up, walked over to the fire where the water was boiling, and came back and poured it in to the gigantic pool that Yuri called a bath.
"Thank you." Rameses nodded, returned the bowl to the fire and reached for something else. When he returned to the bath's edge he had a purple vile with some kind of liquid in it.
"What is that?" I asked looking over the ornate craftsmanship of the small bottle. It was exquisite especially for the times. Rameses smiled and let me hold the bottle, as I was truly fascinated with it.
"It's an herbal remedy that is used a lot for sore muscles. It's my mother's recipe and I can vouch for its powers," he grinned at my shocked look, "Do you want me to rub that on your back?"
I know I must have looked like a fish out of water with my mouth hanging open the way it was but I didn't know what to do. Rameses was being polite and asking but if I was going to be truly honest was I ready to have any man touch me again? On the heels of that thought a memory of Sparta blasted through my mind and made my decision for me. I could talk to men, stand to have them near me while I wasn't decently clothed, but; touching? No, no, defiantly not yet, maybe not ever… I closed my mouth set his herbal remedy down next to his hip, and sighed. I gave an involuntary shiver as yet another memory bombarded me, quickly I dropped back and ducked under the hot water to try and shock it away. When it had stopped I returned to my resting position on the tiles.
"As much as I appreciate the gesture Rameses I honestly don't want anyone touching me for awhile. I hope you can understand." I tried to lessen the refusal as much as I could since he had been nothing but kind.
"Ah, forgive me I forgot that you probably won't want men around you. To be honest I thought you might throw things at me when I first started to come in here. I didn't think you had a problem since I was able to get this close to you so far? However, I didn't want to stress you further. This wasn't stressful was it?" Rameses rambled trying to find his footing.
"No, this wasn't stressful. It's nice talking to you. I just don't think I can handle a man touching me without me trying to kill that person." I said smiling flatly; which got me a startled laugh out of Rameses.
"I wouldn't mind having to defend myself from you." He laughed.
"I'm sure you wouldn't, but I would mind after the fact." I droned.
"Ah, well then, I'll leave this with you and the sisters, or that little girl that came with you can help you." Rameses began to get up as if to leave and I reached for his wrist. He stopped and looked back down at me. I didn't know how to convey this in words but I had to try.
"Thank you." I said lamely with my voice cracking with my emotions of gratitude and hope. Rameses smiled pulled my hand and squeezed it in reassurance.
"You are most welcome, and trust me had it been me who had found you and those women; those men would have paid for every bruise I saw." He grinned but it was more a bearing of teeth. I loosened my grip but before I could take my hand back he pulled it to his mouth and placed a kiss on my knuckles. My reaction must have been funny because his grin got wider he started for the door.
"I'll see you at dinner Thea!" he shouted over his shoulder as he jogged out the door. I smiled to myself and turned my back to the door to watch the clouds pass the pergola covered bath. This was a beautiful city, with kind rulers. 'I'll be fine here, I can make a life here.' I thought trying to squeeze down on that longing hope that maybe, someday, I would return to my time. I knew, however, that once I left I would always miss this time and these people; Yuri especially. Had it not been for her I would have most likely died or have killed myself trying to get away. I owed Yuri a lot and when I healed up a little more I would be able to hold my own and be of some use around the palace.
