“Why are you so concerned about being found?” Rose asked curiously, her blue eyes piercing despite her mild tone. “From what I heard, she cares about you.”
“She likely does. The difference is… cultural, I suppose,” Kanae said, finally tacitly admitting that Rose was correct, which made her even more nervous. A tiny part of her was almost angry with the angel for causing the feelings she had. “There are desires for me that I don’t agree with. You’d likely be even less comfortable with some aspects of what is considered acceptable down here, so I won’t try to make you uncomfortable. Suffice to say that while Queen Estalia has desires that I find… understandable, her methods are not something I’m comfortable with.”
Rose looked at Kanae with just a hint of confusion in her gaze, but she didn’t say anything, instead just pursing her lips. On the other hand, Isalla paused, then asked, “Why don’t you seem interested in going to the mortal world with us? You seemed to be considering the idea before, and if you’re that worried about being found…”
“If I’m right, going with you would bring her down on you two. That wouldn’t be right,” Kanae said simply, shaking her head slightly, but being careful not to let it interfere with her work. “No, making pursuers split their attention seems like a better idea to me.”
As did not getting between the two angels’ relationship, but Kanae wasn’t going to say that aloud.
“Ah. That… does make some sense. We just have to figure out what we’re going to do, I guess,” Isalla said, looking at the other angel as she asked. “Rose?”
“I’m still not sure. While I understand your opinion, a large part of me is still inclined to return to Queen Estalia. However… what you’ve said makes a lot of sense,” Rose admitted, adjusting her position to allow Kanae to treat her more easily. “At the same time, I truly don’t like the idea of you going off on your own to simply draw attention away from us. It feels too much like sacrificing your freedom for that of others.”
Kanae blinked, then smiled slightly. “Indeed? Well, I’m glad you don’t like the idea. I’m trying to figure out what to do, and I don’t know. Not yet, at least. For now, all we have to do is reach my home, and we’ll have a chance to discuss further. Or more likely, you and Isalla can discuss things in depth.”
“Very well,” Rose said, then fell silent. The forest around them was quiet as Kanae continued to treat their wounds, bandaging the handful that needed it. Finally, she sighed and nodded.
“There we are. It doesn’t repair your clothing, but there’s not much to be done for that. I don’t know any spells to repair clothing, and I wouldn’t dare take it into town, not with as fine as your clothing is, Rose,” Kanae said, pulling away at last.
“That’s fine. I have enough other clothing that it isn’t much of a loss, and I’m sure I can get them repaired eventually,” Rose replied, standing up. A moment later, she smiled and added, “Thank you for the treatment, Kanae. I really do appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome,” Kanae replied, packing things up and putting them away. She finished and put her pack on, then looked up to see Isalla offering her a hand to help her up. Kanae smiled and took her hand, standing as she said, “Thank you.”
“I’m the one who should be thanking you,” Isalla said, smiling slightly. “You’ve helped me more than anyone could reasonably ask for. This is the least I can do for you.”
“I only did what I thought was right,” Kanae murmured, a faint sense of loss taking hold of her. Isalla’s words felt like a goodbye. “In any case, let’s get moving. The sooner we’re back to the house, the sooner we can get a proper bath.”
“A proper bath?” Rose asked, perking up a little. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, I didn’t tell you about that, did I? Kanae’s house has a bathing room in it, one with a bath fed by a hot spring,” Isalla said, her expression brightening. “It smells a little like sulfur, but it’s absolutely lovely.”
“That does sound like it’d be pleasant after the last couple of days. I’m afraid I got used to how nice the baths in the spire were,” Rose said, blushing slightly as she cleared her throat. “If it’s as nice as you say, I suspect I’d like to lounge in it for longer than I probably should.”
“Only if you want to roast yourself. Staying in the pool for too long is a good way to get burned, or at least to overheat,” Kanae said, amusement beginning to overcome her anxiety and melancholy. The obvious attraction Rose had for the idea of a bath was something she could sympathize with, as well as her experience in the spire. The problem with the latter was that Kanae had known what was happening beforehand, and Rose wasn’t quite convinced.
“Is that so? Well, I’ll keep it in mind,” Rose said, smiling at Kanae. “Shall we continue, then? I find that more encouraging than most of the other things we’ve discussed, frankly.”
Kanae laughed and shook her head. Then she started down the trail again, since if she delayed too much, she might have a rebellion on her hands.
Unfortunately, it also gave her plenty of time to think about what was coming, which wasn’t nearly as pleasant.
Chapter 43
Kanae’s home looked a little different as they approached it, though not much. Isalla looked around for a moment before realizing what it was. She was used to there being smoke trailing upward from the main chimneys of the house, as well as the alchemy lab. There was steam rising from the bathing room’s vent, but that wasn’t nearly as obvious as all the others would have been. The ground also looked a touch more overgrown than before, though it wasn’t much different.
Unlike Isalla, Kanae moved toward the house with a purposeful stride. The demoness didn’t look concerned by how abandoned the area looked, and Isalla started forward after a moment, feeling a bit chagrined. The dying light didn’t help how the area looked, but it wasn’t any reason to get depressed.
“You built the house under a hill?” Rose asked, sounding a bit surprised.
“That’s right. While simple dirt isn’t necessarily the best defense in the world, it can do the job quite admirably, especially when coupled with both enchantments and herbs that most pests don’t like,” Kanae replied, glancing over and smiling as she added, “Besides, I find that the roof doesn’t require nearly as much work to maintain. Some, yes, but not quite as much. My worst problem was when a tree tried to put its roots through the ceiling.”
“I don’t think that would be pleasant,” Isalla ventured, hurrying to keep up. There was something off about Kanae’s smile that she couldn’t quite place.
“It wasn’t too horrible. I caught it early, and while it took some hard work to get rid of the tree, I learned a valuable lesson,” Kanae said, then paused and admitted. “I’m going to miss the house. I’ve been here for a long time.”
“How long?” Isalla asked, wondering if it was as long as she’d been in the area.
“Um, about four and a half centuries? I spent a few decades in town, but I was interrupted a little too much, and gathering herbs took more work. Then I built the house here, and I haven’t really moved since,” Kanae said, slowing down and looking around. “I lost seven alchemy labs… more than I like to think about. None in the past fifty years, though. I’ve put a lot of work into my home, but… it’s just a place. Not something I’m truly attached to.”
Isalla looked at Rose, who raised an eyebrow skeptically. It was strange seeing her friend looking so incredibly different, but the way she’d relaxed was oddly comforting to Isalla. Even so, she had to agree with Rose’s skepticism. Four and a half centuries was longer than either of them had been alive by a good margin. It might not be more than both of them put together, but that was a long, long time to live in one place.
“I think you’re being a little unfair. Considering how long you’ve lived here, it’d be strange if you didn’t have something of an attachment,” Rose said, approaching the door as she followed Kanae.
The demoness paused, then nodded slightly. “Quite possibly. Howev
er… for now I need to air out the house and clean up. I’m certain it’s somewhat musty within.”
Isalla frowned but didn’t say anything as Kanae pulled out a key and murmured the words to unseal her home, then unlocked the door. It creaked open slowly, and the smell from inside hit them. The air was a little stale, thick with dust, and as musty as Kanae had suggested. Kanae stepped inside, and with a murmured word, Isalla saw the fire in the kitchen area ignite. She knew the fireplace had to be started normally, but at least the kitchen provided some illumination.
“Come in. Isalla, if you’ll show Rose into the bedroom, and set things down? I’ll let the pair of you bathe first while I take care of cleaning up,” Kanae said, pulling off her backpack and setting it on the table.
“Are you sure?” Isalla asked, frowning. “I’m more than willing to help.”
“She doesn’t know where everything is, while you do. You can even keep her from using my cleaning supplies, so off with you,” Kanae said, smiling as she spoke, adding, “Don’t forget another towel for her wings. I find they pick up quite a bit of water.”
“Alright, and I know,” Isalla said, unable to help a grin at Kanae’s admonishment. “I did have wings myself, after all. Unlike you.”
“Very true,” Kanae said agreeably, pulling out a dusting rag and making sure the broom was in the corner as she did so.
Isalla nodded to Rose and led the way to Kanae’s room, slightly surprised that Kanae had directed her to take Rose there. She opened the door and glanced back, explaining, “This is Kanae’s room. While there are other bedrooms, I’m not sure that you’d be comfortable in them. They’re pretty small.”
“Ah. I can’t say I see, but… this seems like a nice room,” Rose said, looking around the bedroom curiously as she unslung her pack. “I can tell it’s been lived in, too.”
“Agreed. I was relieved when I came in here the first time, because the rest of the house was always so clean and… sterile, maybe? This felt more like the place that a person lived to me,” Isalla said, quickly shedding her pack and cloak, then considered before blushing and continuing to undress. “Before coming to the hells, I never thought of demons as people.”
“Nor had I,” Rose admitted, then hesitated before beginning to disrobe herself, her wings reappearing as she removed the choker. “That said… I think that Kanae is going to be harder hit by leaving here than she claims. If we’re going to be gone within a few days, why would she bother going through the effort of dusting properly? Or sweeping everything out, for that matter? Don’t get me wrong, I like living in a clean space as much as anyone else, but it strikes me as odd.”
“That… is a good point,” Isalla admitted, and her mood dimmed slightly. She hesitated as she saw Rose was wearing a corset beneath her clothing, a little surprised. It did explain why Rose had been consistently standing so straight, as well as how narrow her waist was… or maybe not, as she saw Rose remove the corset and reveal that it fit her waist perfectly. Isalla shook off her surprise and continued, slipping entirely out of her clothing as she blushed at Rose’s beauty. She hesitated before taking out the bathrobe that Kanae had gotten for her and offering it to Rose. “Here, use this. It’s mine, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Thank you,” Rose said, taking it, and watched as Isalla pulled out several towels. There were more, fortunately, though Isalla knew that Kanae kept them on hand for injuries. Five of them still put a significant dent into the number waiting for her, though. Rose hesitated, then put the choker back on so she’d fit into the robe, which made Isalla blush in embarrassment. She’d forgotten the robe didn’t have wing slits.
While Isalla didn’t like the idea of parading through the house naked, she was willing to since it was necessary. A moment later, she led the way out through the common room and quickly darted toward the bathing room, since the outside door was still open. As she did so, she saw Kanae was briskly cleaning the mantle over the fireplace, and it looked like she was preparing to start a fire as well. Leading the way into the bathing room, Isalla gasped as the wave of warm air hit her, and she was startled at just how much she’d missed it.
“This is rather nice. When I saw the house was underground, I was expecting more dirt, not for it to be so well-made,” Rose murmured, closing the door behind her. “I shouldn’t have thought that, but I did.”
“I don’t blame you. I was afraid that it was all dark on purpose for a little while, then I realized that all the trees in the area have black wood,” Isalla said, setting the towels down and opening the cabinet to pull out her bathing supplies. “I’m more surprised that this room isn’t covered with a layer of mold, since we were gone for so long.”
“I’m sensing magic around us. Since I’m not seeing any runes, I’m guessing they’re on the other side of the panels.” Rose said, stripping again, without the modesty that Isalla had half-expected, then slipped into the pool with a sigh. The angel’s eyes half closed as she murmured, “Oh, that’s very nice. I see why she said you could cook yourself if you stayed too long, though.”
“Yeah,” Isalla said, sliding into the pool after Rose. After the last few days, the warm water was welcome, and so much better than any bath she’d had since Silken Veils. She felt her muscles unknotting, and she smiled happily. For the moment, she was able to forget most of her worries. “Heavens… I almost forgot what this was like. I understand why she’ll miss it.”
“Mmhm,” Rose said, adjusting her position so her wings could dip into the pool more comfortably.
For a long minute, the room was silent except for the burbling of water, each of them relaxing quietly. Isalla made a few halfhearted attempts to wash herself, but she wasn’t really trying yet. For the moment, she just wanted to soak.
“What do you want to do, Isalla?” Rose asked softly, startling Isalla when she did so.
“Hm?” Isalla murmured, looking over at Rose in surprise. The other angel was looking at her thoughtfully, which made Isalla’s pulse quicken slightly.
“This is the closest thing to true privacy that we’re going to get, I think. Perhaps we’ll get a little more if Kanae goes into town, but for the moment this is the best time to talk,” Rose explained, settling back. “You’ve heard her; we only have a couple of days to make decisions about our lives. What do you want to do?”
“That’s the question, isn’t it?” Isalla said, frowning and pulling her legs in close. She didn’t like having this conversation in the bath, but Rose had a point. After a few moments, she admitted, “I don’t think I’d be accepted back into the Order, even if Haral didn’t try to arrange for my death. Queen Estalia… the stories about her scare me. It’s not that I think she’d be frightening or mean, but how much you’ve changed… having that happen scares me, too. At the same time, I like Kanae, and… I just don’t know.”
“Mm… Her Majesty isn’t nearly as bad as you’re thinking she is, but I can see your point, and Kanae’s, for that matter,” Rose said, then her smile faded as her gaze hardened. “As for Haral… letting her get away with what she did to you is almost intolerable to me. From what you’ve said about what they were talking about… I’m concerned about what their goals might be. To throw you off the continent and have you fall into the hells, along with the rumors you were hearing…”
“That was a concern of mine. They might be trying to restart the war in truth,” Isalla admitted, shivering slightly as her sense of worry grew stronger. “If they’re trying to do something like that, there’s no telling what lengths they’ll go to in order to achieve their goals.”
“Indeed,” Rose agreed, then fell silent. Isalla didn’t say anything, mulling over the situation unhappily.
A minute later, Rose sighed and said, “I think we need to try to reach Firewatch, Isalla. We can try to find out what’s happened, then determine what to do from there. I don’t want to rejoin the Order, I might add, but simply abandoning all those who depended on me… that seems wrong. So does allowing someone to poten
tially frame Queen Estalia for your murder, or murder attempt.”
“That seems like a reasonable plan. I’m not happy about your armor being missing, or Ember, but it’s at least doable. Especially with that choker,” Isalla agreed, relaxing a little more. She paused for a moment, then admitted one of her other concerns. “I’m worried about Kanae, though.”
“For good reason, I think. I’m a little surprised at just how terrified she seems of Her Majesty, but… it’s her choice,” Rose said, shaking her head, then smiling. “Even if she is rather attractive.”
Isalla blushed brightly at the suggestive tone to Rose’s voice, giggling before replying. “You really have changed, haven’t you? I saw her first, you know.”
“I know you did,” Rose replied and splashed water at Isalla as she smiled. “What does that matter?”
“It… it just does, alright?” Isalla said, blushing even more as she squirmed. “I’m not even sure how things are going between us, you know.”
“Oh, Isalla…” Rose paused for a moment, then smiled as she stood up, walking across the pool’s bottom toward Isalla. Isalla’s heartbeat quickened as Rose leaned down until her nose was only an inch away, and then murmured, “What you want is up to you. As for me… I’ve simply learned to be true to my feelings, instead of hiding them away.”
And with that, Rose leaned in and kissed Isalla, firmly and passionately. Isalla stiffened with surprise for a moment, then slowly melted into the kiss, reaching out to embrace Rose passionately, relief rushing through her.
As Rose kissed her, Isalla felt most of her worry and tension simply melt away. She truly loved Rose, and was delighted to have her back.
Kanae finished rinsing out her hair, sighing softly as she did so. Her two guests had spent rather more time in the bath than she’d expected them to, almost enough time that she was worried they might hurt themselves, but they’d emerged without any injuries. At least it’d given her enough time to clean up the main room of the house. The floor didn’t gleam the way Kanae liked it to, but it’d suffice for the time being.
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