Water splashing was an odd sound, and not just because of the sandstone it echoed off of.
Scrubbing the floor with a large brush, I listened to the faint echoes of my brush and others, and the people making small talk.
There weren't many others in this bathhouse other than myself. It was still too early in the day. Only a few women and children were here, and only half of them were enjoying the baths.
The rest of us, me included, were instead earning our rights to enjoy the baths we were cleaning.
It wasn't that bad of a job, all things considered. Especially since I got to be around, and mostly covered, in water the entire time. This was far better than working with blood, or the blasted sand.
Not to mention the rewards were astounding.
Last night's feast had been monumental. I had to go back many years to find a similar banquet in my memories. And even then, the one I remembered was one which I had not been allowed to partake. I had been there to serve, not to enjoy.
For the first time in a long time… my stomach was full.
Maybe if I was lucky... Bormor would find my work well enough to keep me for longer than a week. It was highly unlikely, since I was of a different house... but there was hope at least.
“Hey sis!”
A young girl greeted me as she entered the baths, passing me by. I greeted her and her mother in return, and wondered which house they belonged to.
Though maybe here it didn't matter. Here where everyone was naked.
“The water's hot,” I warned the girl as she hurried to get in. She didn't heed my warning, being a typical child, but I guess the water being hot was the entire reason they were here.
And compared to the heat of the sand and sun, it wasn't much I suppose.
Listening to the idle chatter of the woman and her child, I wondered if Sarn and her child would act the same way. It was odd how universal a mother and her child acted with one another, at least when the child was young enough.
I couldn't remember the time where my mother actually acted like my mother. Though that wasn't entirely her fault.
After all, all mothers in the House of Derri were...
“Telleya, would you mind swapping with Karli?” An elder asked.
She was accompanied by a younger woman, probably not much older than myself, and I could see the shame in the woman's face. The type of shame that came not from a mistake, but something beyond ones control... yet still made one feel guilty.
“Her back is injured, and you're one of the youngest here right now,” the elder explained casually.
The older woman working directly under Bormor didn't have to ask me. She could have simply ordered me to do so, but like Bormor and most in his house, she was kind and gentle.
“Of course,” I said, and handed the woman my brush.
“Thank you Sister,” the woman said, giving me a small bow of the head.
“Over here,” the elder guided me to my new station, and I was surprised to find that it was just cleaning one of the smaller baths with a towel. It was empty of water, and had already been scrubbed it seemed.
“Once you're done with this you can bathe if you want, we'll be having lunch in a few hours as well,” the elder said before leaving.
Was that her way of thanking me, possibly? Or simply giving me permission.
Not that it mattered, I guess.
Although it was one of the smaller baths, it still came up to my waist. I had to carefully clamber into it, which was probably why they had asked for me to do it instead of her. The baths were curved quite a bit, and may have been difficult to enter and exit with a pained back.
And so too it seemed, was it difficult to scrub said curved baths as well. Thanks to the shape of it, there was a lot more bending than I had first assumed.
“It's a Line!” someone screamed, nearly causing me to slip on the soapy stone.
With careful haste I stood up and stared at the young woman who was now the center of attention, and not just because she was clothed and covered in sand.
Entering the baths with so much sand like that on you was nearly a crime all in itself...
“A Line! A Line is here and is going to stop! The Elders have called a Council!” she shouted again, a giant smile on her face. Now clear that she'd relayed the news, she turned and ran out... most presumably to inform others.
“A line mommy?” a child asked, and with the tiny innocent question came a burst of excitement from the entire room.
Bathers and workers alike went into motion, to stop what they were doing. To leave, to go back to their Houses. The small children and even some of those my age were unsure of the true meaning but still hurried thanks to the way the elders were acting.
“We're closing!” the elder woman said loudly, and no one even bothered to ask why.
Climbing out of the bath, I hesitated for a moment as everyone else left. Before the elder of the House of Hombil could leave the bathhouse, I hurried over and got her attention.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“It's a Line young one, we should all return to our respective Houses,” she said to me.
“I know but... Can I keep working? Or...” I stopped myself from asking if the food was still going to be prepared, since I saw the answer on her face.
“I'm sorry Telleya. At least for today. If I can I'll make it up to you, on my house I promise,” she said sincerely.
With a small breath, I nodded. There wasn't any point in complaining... if anything, her promise on her house was the best I could ask for.
“Forgive me. May your house benefit well,” I said with a small bow.
The elder gave me a sad smile, and I knew she understood my meaning. She, who knew the status of my house, knew full well my situation compared to her own.
Hers was most likely going to profit immeasurably... while my own...
My house...
Changing back into my normal clothing, I stayed out of the way of both the customers and the other workers as they hustled and bustled. Everyone was ecstatic, and everyone was in a rush. I couldn't blame them, but I was in no mood to get my feet stepped on, or to be pushed over by a guard who wasn't paying attention as he hurried to and fro.
It took longer than normal to return home, even with me choosing to use the side-roads and the ones less traveled. Oddly, even the side roads were full. The entire city seemed to be out and about, as the news spread.
A Line had arrived.
A thing of legend.
Chances were it was the thing we all saw from the wall yesterday, approaching after the sandstorm. It made sense, even though it was so unlikely...
While I walked, I tried to listen to those I passed. Everyone’s excited chattering was full of wonder and speculation.
“Which House will get the contract?” seemed to be the most asked question... but there were plenty others.
“What if we get seeds?”
“What if they're here to create a new Line?”
“Maybe they brought food and water.”
“Medicine.”
“Magic.”
Strangely, only a spare few dared to ask dangerous questions. And those that did were all quickly hushed and ignored.
No one dared to ask if they came in peace or not, or if they came as conquerors or tyrants.
Though...
Passing the House of Derri's symbol, I noticed how there were others returning home. Not many… especially compared to the crowds on the streets, but far more than I normally saw.
Chances were the entirety of the House of Derri was going to be here tonight... and the thought worried me.
How much of the main building will get filled? How many empty rooms will we see...?
“Telleya did you hear!?” Marli ran up to me with excitement, and I hid my annoyed exhaustion with a smile.
“Yes. The whole city has,” I said.
“Isn't it exciting? I hear the last time a Line came was almost a hundred years ago!” she shouted.
Marli didn't seem bothered by her excitement, and I quickly found myself growing used to it. I couldn't blame the child for not understanding our situation.
I couldn't blame her.
“Come, we'll most likely have stuff to do,” I said to her as we headed into the main house.
“Oh, we do! I was sent to find you and the rest. There's going to be a meeting by the elders,” she said, as if just now remembering.
“Then we better hurry if we were summoned...” I said, putting some haste into my steps.
Luckily the urge of staying out of trouble quelled some of her excitement, at least for now.
Sure enough Marli had understated what was happening. Already most of the higher echelon of the House of Derri had gathered, all of them in the middle of a heated discussion.
I quickly fell into the role of serving, aiding the rest like Marli and my mother.
It's been a long time since such a gathering, and I was surprised that there were still so many of us... or at least, as many of us that were left.
Nearly fifty people had gathered in the main room, sitting around in a haphazard circle. Some on chairs, others on the floor from the lack of them.
“Do we have the Council's message yet?” someone asked in anger.
“Not yet. It should be any moment now,” a guard said sternly.
The Council? A quick glance around revealed that there was indeed an important Elder missing... alongside that older guardsman.
Even we had been summoned? Granted the Council was made of a representative from each House... but surely the whole city knew our circumstance...
A cook brought out a tray of drinks, and I quickly went into motion.
Shockingly, the drinks were cold.
If not for the feast last night, this would have been the first time in almost a year since I've felt such a thing. It most likely would have startled me enough to spill some... and I was now thankful for the feast even more.
I had to be careful not to spill any, not because people were most likely thirsty... but because we undoubtedly didn't have enough to spare.
If I dropped a drink, that was most likely someone who would now go without one.
And it would not be the Elders, but those like me who’d go without... What if a drink I spilled ended up being Marli's? I'd feel horrible.
“Elder,” I whispered to get the attention of the white haired man. The overseer of supplies gave me a heavy nod in thanks as he took one of the cups.
I made sure to hand them out in proper order. It wasn't that difficult, with there being so few elders left... though it wasn't always in the order of age.
“Thank you Telleya,” the Grandmother said as I handed her a glass.
It didn't take long for me to run out, and have to go and get another batch. Luckily, there was some to still get.
“Will we have enough?” I whispered to the cook who handed me them.
“Yes. At least, for now...” he mumbled.
Deciding to let it be, I returned to my duty.
At least for now, huh...
Glancing around the circle and the larger circle around them... made of people like myself, attending to duties or simply standing in wait, I wondered how many understood our situation.
Surely the elders did at least... But how many of the younger generation didn't? How many were like Marli, blinded by the hope and unable to see the truth.
Surprisingly, I noticed that most of the circle was quiet... and their expressions were somber. Few were drinking, even though it was seen as discourteous to allow a drink to become warm.
Even though a cold drink in the House of Derri was a luxury rarely tasted.
Passing Marli, and her stoic expression as she focused on her task, I decided to join her in focusing on the moment instead of the turmoil around me.
Since after all, it didn't matter.
There was no point in complaining over the loss of tonight's dinner. There was no point in worrying if I'd be able to return to working at the baths or not.
There was no point in worrying over the Line either.
No matter why the Line arrived... we of the House of Derri would not see a single grain of profit from it.
After all we had nothing to offer in exchange.
All we had was sand.