In the damp twilight of the bath, clouds of steam obscured the outlines of the two tall figures currently occupying it, turning them into ghastly blurs. This was exactly what Noah needed right now. While Neli was humming a small tune and tinkering with the lanterns hanging from the walls in an attempt to brighten the room, he quickly went to a large barrel in one of the corners. Without hesitation, he dipped his head in the cold water and kept it there for a bit.

He had almost given himself away just now. Had anyone noticed it? More importantly, had Neli noticed something when he kissed her? Controlling his actions and emotions in front of the Shadows, and especially under his mother's sharp gaze, had been nearly impossible. The sudden encounter with Lorelei had ended short of a disastrous and utterly shameful mess, and Noah gave silent thanks to the Gods for their mercy.

Her body pressing onto his had been almost too much of a stimulus to rein in. His fingers still remembered the shape of that frail waist in their grasp, the warmth of the skin hidden beneath the thin gown. He swallowed hard. The lingering feeling of her silky hair on his chest made the blood in his veins churn. At that moment, as their bodies touched almost unobstructed, every fiber of his being, every instinct, had burned with a single focus. He had wanted her. He still wanted her right now; so much that it hurt!

Taking a deep breath, Noah dove his head in the water again, keeping it down even longer. Unfortunately, this did little good against the images filling his mind. Lorelei’s deep eyes were drawing him in, condemning him, burning him. Her trembling lips had looked so soft in the faint glow of the lantern. He wanted to kiss them, bite them, test whether they were really how they looked like – sweet and plump.

Cold drops ran down Noah’s face as he pulled out of the water. His nails scraped at the sides of the barrel and his jaw clenched even tighter. He was losing the fight. The liquid fire in his body made his spine tingle as he took few more deep breaths. But every time he inhaled, the soft fabric of his robe rubbed against his sensitive skin. Noah’s brows drew together as he squeezed his eyes shut, but again, this only resulted in another vivid image slithering its way into his mind.

The nightgown had been falling loosely around her body, hiding its curves from prying eyes. But not all of them. Even if he wanted to, Noah could never forget the two pert breasts budding from beneath the thin cloth; rising and falling with every sip of air she took. He licked his lips as his fingers dug even harder into the barrel, his imagination painting one image after the other. Were they soft or firm? Perfectly round or slightly tear-shaped? He wanted to discover them, touch them, taste them. And more. He wanted to see and taste the rest of her. All of her. Without the veil of clothing obscuring her shape. He longed to trace her curves with his hands; draw fingers through her hair. He wanted her so much that it hurt!

With a low groan, Noah relinquished the fight. All the pent-up pressure and desire were released as his body shuddered. Heaving a couple of jagged breaths, he started calming down, the rush from before giving way to reproach. He was behaving like an adolescent boy! Everything – the guilt, the shame, the lust, the yearning – it was just like the first time Duncan had brought him to the Night-flower District. Back then, his young self had been both terrified and excited at the new experience; shaken but immensely proud at the end for finally becoming a man. However, right now, Noah felt disgusted with himself. He was lusting at the one person he could never have; whom he promised freedom, swore to never touch in a way a man touches a woman. Yet the reactions of his body, his thoughts, even his dreams were violating the oaths he had given.

The man’s lips curved in a self-deprecating smirk. The seed of a beast could only sprout another beast. He was definitely his father’s son. How long until he loses himself? How long until fantasies turn into actions? The very thought made his blood chill.

A sudden change in the air attracted the man's attention. The humming had stopped. A subtle movement behind his back pulled Noah out of the dark abyss of qualms and fears he was drowning in. He exhaled, trying to put a lid on his confused emotions.

“Have you calmed down?” Neli’s voice echoed under the low ceiling.

“Somewhat.” Noah drew a hand through his wet hair while the other hid in the folds of his robe.

The attack was swift and deadly but not unexpected. Noah spun around, the dagger – an extension of his right hand. Two blades collided with a clang, as two pairs of eyes crossed.

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“So, you were paying attention after all.” The corner of Neli’s lips jumped up. Her dagger trembled slightly under the man’s pressure.

“Come on, mother, did you have to do it now of all times?” With a flick of his wrist, Noah deflected the blade only to have to parry a second attack.

“Do you think that an assassin would wait for you to be ready and in peak condition?” The dagger flashed in a series of quick stabs, each one targeting his vitals with extreme precision. Noah hurriedly deflected them, knowing painfully well that a single mistake might cost him a deep bleeding gash. Neli had never been soft when it came to this. Even now, she was mainly attacking from the left, knowing fully well that the vision in his left eye was a bit weaker than in the right one.

“I see your point,” putting even more force into his blade, he managed to knock the dagger out of the old woman’s hand and send it clattering on the stone floor, “but if you had attacked me earlier, it might have worked better.”

“Tch, even I am not so heartless as to interrupt you at that moment!” Neli clicked her tongue and another knife appeared in her left hand like it materialized out of thin air.

Her smirk and the sparkle in her eyes infuriated Noah and made his cheeks burn at the same time. She knew what he… Oh, darn it! Very well then, if she wanted to play with him, he would gladly comply.

Gripping his weapon tighter, Noah swung in a wide arch, aiming at the woman’s neck. And then came the pain. His right shoulder flared up, unhappy with the constant overexertion it had been submitted to recently. Noah’s fingers loosened their grip. The dagger flew past Neli’s head, hitting the wall with a loud clang.

“Mother!” Noah squeezed through his teeth while clutching his shoulder. “Are you alright? Did it hit you?”

“Close call.” Neli blinked a couple of times before turning all her attention to the panting man. “But I’m not the one who’s injured, child. You should have told me.”

“Would an assassin show mercy to an injured person?”

“No, they wouldn't.”

The dagger disappeared in the folds of Neli’s clothes as she rushed to him. Her fingers gently felt his shoulder.

“In his last message Duncan only mentioned about an arrow wound and it should have healed by now.”

“The arrow wound healed. This is just a sprain. Since it happened last week you were probably well on your way here by then so the old man had no chance to tell you.”

“I see.” One of Neli’s brows flew up as she gave him an inquiring look. “We have serious catching up to do. You can tell me about it while I wash your back.”

Noah sighed and leaned forward, giving the old woman a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“As you wish, mother.”

He motioned to take off his robes but then froze. His eyes darted around. There was a bench where his folded clothes were. Some shelves with ointments on one of the walls. The very unhelpful barrel of cold water in the corner. A cascade of five large steaming-hot pools sunken in the stone floor. A low stool and a small bucket near the lion-shaped faucet on the far wall that was spewing water in the top-most pool. There was a table, some colorful lanterns hanging around, and not a sign of a towel to be seen anywhere.

Noah cleared his throat, trying not to meet the woman’s eyes.

“Ahem, mother, would you mind turning around? I think I'll just soak in the pool.”

"And what about washing first?"

"I prefer the pool. Now, turn around, please."

“What for?” She pursed her lips. “I have been taking care of you ever since you left your lady mother’s womb. So, unless you’ve grown a second pair, there is nothing I haven’t seen already.”

“Mother!”

“Oh, fine. Here.” With a smirk, Neli shoved in his hands the missing towel he was looking for.

“Wha-?”

“A sleight of hand, child. You need to sharpen your senses a bit more. Your life might depend on it one day. Now, take a seat. No more arguments.”

With that, the old woman rolled up her sleeves and started arranging some salves she took from the shelf on the small table, ignoring him completely and demonstratively. All Noah could do was shake his head. When she wanted to, this second mother of his could move stealthier than Gregor’s Shadows and rival Karusa’s warriors. Well, if it wasn't for that, his childhood would have been very, very short.

Securing the towel around his hips, Noah sat on the low stool feeling like a little boy once again. Soon, Neli’s familiar rough fingers started rubbing soap on his skin.

“So, what’s going on, Noah? What’s with the sprain and all these fabulous fading bruises? And don't try to lie, this does not look like a training accident.”

“How much has Duncan told you?”

“His last message was about your rather unfortunate marriage and departure to Norden. Since then, the old badger hasn’t sent me even a line.”

“The situation was… rather chaotic.” Noah’s elbows rested on his knees. “A lot happened in the past two months.”

"It's a good thing you have a large back then."