Mica by Kate Hill Page A

said.
    “Yes. The water’s warm and very pleasant.” Mica led them to another dim, narrow staircase at the end of the hallway. “There are several bathing rooms, one for male servants, one for female, one for the Priests and private baths for the emperor and the High Advisor. Kado has given us permission to use his—unless Dame Sun would prefer the company of the other women?”
    “I’m a soldier and don’t require special treatment or segregation.”
    Blaze raised an eyebrow in her direction. “I would say using the great Holy Man’s bath is special.”
    “Very true, Sir Blaze.” Mica smiled.
    Near the end of the steep staircase, the air grew warm. At the bottom of the steps moisture beaded the tile walls and ceiling. Straw and leather mats kept their boots from slipping on the marble floor. Torches lit their way down the hall which was randomly scattered with plants in colorful pots. The tiles on the wall created pictures of the Goddess in many forms. Tall, slender, fat, short, redheaded, blonde, raven-haired,

large-breasted and small. In some she was the mother, in others an old woman. Always she wore an expression of compassion—even in her fiercest poses.
    Mica’s father and his followers had hated the Goddess and tried to crush the people’s belief in Her, but Her ways were rooted deep in the Kennas.
    “These works are lovely.” Sun paused in front of a picture of the Goddess astride a blood bay mare.
    “Most were done by an old Priest, now long dead. This palace is over a thousand years old, Dame Sun.” Chapter Three
     
    They continued down the hall. Giggling and splashing sounded from the bathhouse used by female servants. Glancing into the Priests’ bathing chamber, Mica noticed several of his friends enjoying the pool. Ahead, the hall divided. Mica guided his guests to the left. Taking a torch from the wall, he led them through an open door to a dark chamber. He lit torches around the room and at each corner of a square pool. Potted trees scattered randomly throughout the room. Several feet from the pool, the marble floor rose to a slightly higher level, accommodating a black and silver trunk, a tiny wooden table and four large satin pillows serving as chairs. A hearth only large enough for the black pot hanging over it stood beside the trunk.
    “How do you release the smoke?” Blaze nodded toward the hearth.
    “Blaze has proven smoke to be bad for breathing. He tries to spread his message to villages everywhere, but not everyone believes him.”
    “Change can be difficult to bring about,” Mica said. “However, we are not a backward land. Our houses and the palace have pipelines for smoke to escape. Look.”
    The three walked to the hearth where Mica knelt, sticking his entire arm up a hole in the wall above the hearth. “It goes all the way to a chute on the first level of the palace.
    When the palace was built, there were no pipelines or vents.”
    “Interesting engineering. I have a friend, Colt, who would love to study this.”
    “He should visit here someday. I would arrange for him to meet our architects.”
    “We’ll be sure to tell him.” Sun stared at the pool. “Do you mind if I jump in? I love swimming.”
    “So do I.” Mica stood. “I’m sure you’ll find—” His voice faded and he stared at Sun.
    She slipped off her robe and tossed it aside, revealing a leather shirt that left her arms and stomach bare and a pair of trousers cut off at mid-thigh. Firm, full breasts strained against the leather, a gold amulet dangling between them. Her abdomen was flat and sleek, and her long, tanned legs curved with muscle. Mica’s cock swelled beneath his robe. He resisted the urge to adjust the annoying erection.
    “Brightest Star, what sort of cover is that?” Blaze demanded.
    “Do you want me to go swimming in full armor?” She glanced at the men over her shoulder before dropping into the water. Surfacing, she shoved locks of wet hair from her face. “Come on in. The