Chapter Twenty-One

Listen

The hot water helped to relax her still aching muscles and ease her bruises, allowing her to feel completely cleansed as she scrubbed away at her body and hair with the milky soaps. There were burning incenses clouding up the air with the steam of her bath, which smelled heavily of lavender and sweet oranges. The old woman sat behind her, with her skinny withered legs dipped in and on either side of her as she gently combed her hair. Something about the elderly lady gave Cana some ease and she allowed her to do her tasks without any more fuss.

She had fought with the two men who came into her room to escort her, clawing and swinging at them until the aged woman came and stayed her hand. The two men had stopped the instant they saw the woman and shied away when she spoke to them.

Cana dipped down into the water so that the lower half of her face was submerged. Her tenant had said something, but the water muddled it. Why am I being treated so well here? What are they planning on doing with me? With Bacchus? Her mind raced with thoughts until she heard the woman's crackling voice again. It wasn't difficult to tell by her tone she was trying to comfort her, but the unease about her situation stayed. Unable to continue with her hair, the old woman gently put the long toothed comb down beside her and started to hum while smoothing back the hair on the top of her head with her hands.

"What are they going to do with Bacchus, Granny?" She straightened up and asked, knowing her caretaker could not understand her. The woman continued on silently, likely assuming Cana had been talking to herself. She had decided to call the woman Granny, assuming it would be better than calling her "old woman" all the time. She was nurturing like a grandmother might be, though the closest thing Cana had known to a grandmother was the rather abnormal hermit woman Porlyusica.

"At least you like people, Granny." She wondered how she might actually call the woman by that in Yikani. Or if she would understand the name. Cana perked up when she was struck with an idea. His name! She turned around abruptly and looked at the shocked woman.

"Jian." She said, unsure if Granny would understand. There was a puzzled look on her face as she said it back. "Jian." Cana repeated slower, hoping she was saying his name accurately enough for the woman to comprehend. Her wrinkled brow knotted and she squinted, mouthing the syllables Cana said and reviewing them. When her sparkling gray eyes lit up she pointed across at the large golden phoenix mounted on the wall.

"No, no." Cana shook her head and looked at Granny again. "Chi-ehn." She tried once more, but Granny only nodded and pointed at the bird again. With a defeated sigh, she turned back around and went to the steps to get out of the in ground tub. Realizing she was ready to get out, Granny fetched her a towel and gave it to her to dry off while patting her own legs with a small cloth and rolled her pant legs back down. She was led to a small seat where her hair was combed once more and then tied back into a braid. It was something she was not accustomed to and watching Granny try to fit soft blue slippers that were at least a half size too small onto her feet did little to help her feel any more comfortable.

She led Cana out of the bath hall and walked side by side with her until they reached her room. Granny made her gesture for food and she nodded in acceptance. There was a smile spreading across those wrinkled lips that was contagious enough to have Cana mimic it. The old woman exited, but as the door closed, Cana caught a glimpse of someone walking up to Granny and a familiar man's voice could be heard. Despite the tone he had as he spoke a different language, she knew immediately who it was. The card mage had blurted half a dozen questions and swears from her side of the door, but Qi Peng only chuckled. Cana's anger burst inside of her as she imagined the smug grin on his face.

"Where is Bacchus?" She demanded in Fiorian.

"Where he is needed." Came the reply and the fading sound of footsteps.

A/N: Early upload! I know this one is a relatively short one and really more of a transitional chapter, but I figured that since tomorrow's chapter is going to be HUGE, I'd give you all at least an appetizer!

Thank you to my new followers and for all the views! We have reached 3.3k!

Hope you all liked the small read and I will see you tomorrow!

Until then,

Betty B.