Page 33 of A Vow of Shadows

I opened the door to the bathing chamber. Moist heat wafted into the hall in curls of steam as I motioned for Katrin to enter first.

I inhaled as she brushed past, and her scent struck me. It was no secret that she’d traveled for some time and wore the dirt of the road upon her, so I hadn’t been lying when I said she needed to bathe. However, my motives may have been more selfish than they seemed.

Her scent drove me mad. She was lilacs and warm summer breezes, and I wanted more than anything to scrub the aroma from her skin, to replace it with everything that was ordinary and between. So that every time we shared space, I could breathe without remembering all I’d traded away.

The shadows lingered after she entered. Even eyeless, I felt their stares—their judgment—like they knew my thoughts. I raised a brow in their direction. If they had something to say, they would need to acquire the power of speech.

I followed Katrin into the bath, and the shadows swooped in after.

Logs crackled and popped in the hearth, the fire I’d started while waiting now roared to life. I wore only a light tunic and trousers, but even that was too much. Sweat collected on the back of my neck and ran in rivulets down my face and chest.

A large clawfoot tub sat before the fire. I was certain that in my life it had been white with copper feet. Here, it was a black monstrosity that swallowed the light of the flame. A small table lay next to it, laden with all manner of soaps, oils, combs, and towels.

Katrin stood facing the fire, the warm glow a stark contrast to the dark markings on her face. I’d never seen anything like her mark. I had no idea if it was truly a mark of Death as she thought. It did nothing to hide the gentle curve of her cheekbone or the arch of her brow as she turned my way.

“Aren’t you meant to be showing me how to do this?” she asked.

Chastened, I strode to where she stood. The compact chamber felt smaller still by the presence of the shadows which seemed to take up no space and fill half the room at the same time. I let them be if only for the futility of asking them to leave. For what reason would we need space or privacy? I would only show her how to fill the tub, and then I would leave.

I stepped up to the large cauldron hanging beside the fireplace.

“The water pump is here,” I said, gesturing beside me. “All you need to do is fill the pot and put it over the fire to heat.” It took several seconds for the water to pour forth. Moving the lever up and down, I waited until the water began to flow then gestured for her to try.

She struggled at her first attempts but eventually managed to fill the cauldron. I showed her how to use the iron poker to swing it over the fire.

“You’ll need to do this several times to fill the tub, so it’s best to get the water piping hot lest the bath cool before you get in.”

“And how do I get the water from the pot to the tub?”

“I’m sure if you ask nicely your shadows will do it.”

She squinted at me in surprise. “They’ll listen to me?”

In response, one dark form separated from the rest. It twined around her legs like a hungry cat, turning transparent in the flickering light of the fire. She giggled as it danced around her, ruffling her hair and winding through her fingers.

I nodded as the shadow retreated, rejoining the darkened corners of the room. “They appear quite fond of you.”

She hummed thoughtfully and sat on the lip of the tub.

We lapsed into silence as we waited for the water to heat. When it was near boiling, I showed her how the poker became a hook that she could use to pull the cauldron from the flames. Once it was out of the fire, I beckoned the shadows to empty it into the tub.

Katrin observed without comment and rose to start the process again.

I should have left once I verified her confidence with the process. She had no further need of me. Instead, I leaned against the wall, content to observe her while she wasn’t fearful or arguing with me.

“How did you do this before the shadows?”

I straightened. “Pardon?”

“This was your home, right? Before…”

I heard the words she’d left unspoken. “Before I turned into the monster that steals children from their mother’s arms?”

She flinched as the words struck their blow. I couldn’t seem to keep my tongue from cutting.

“Before you became the Ferrier.”

I didn’t ask how she’d figured it out, focusing instead on her first question. “BeforeTyr Anighwas lost to The Between—”and me with it, “—there were hundreds of people staffed here, including those who would run the baths.”