At this time of the afternoon, Sura and Chiri had the entire bath house to themselves. They seethed in the hot water with towels draped over their heads. Even the two little elementals were there – each with its own small cloth. They all floated and steamed, stung by embarrassment, brooding over the events out in the castle yards. Sura floated like a frog, with just her furry head and muzzle breaking the surface. She squirted water out of her hands, greatly irritating Daitanishi the rock elemental. She rose higher out of the water and gave a frown. “I still say its good information! See? We know there’s a rift in the sword school’s ranks.” Chiri wrinkled her nose. “But is it useful information?” “Could be. Who knows…?” Both women sighed and pondered. Chiri wrung out her long white hair, coiling it to lie in a great silken rope between her dainty breasts as she leaned back against the rim.
