27 Relaxation (1/2)
Dong!The bell tolled four times.Oh, goody!I still had time to walk around the town and bathe before I returned home for the evening.I saw that Maisen was waiting for me at the exit and I quickly walked over to join her.
”Let's celebrate your enrollment in our dojo by going to the bathhouse first,” she suggested.
I nodded.”Please show me the way,” I requested and started walking.
My bodyguard looked at me and raised her hand to stop me from walking ahead of her.”I know you're used to walking in front of me.But for now, I need you to walk next to me, preferably to my left,” she suggested.
”To your left?” I asked in puzzlement as I looked at her.Ah!”That would allow you to draw your sword free from the scabbard on your left hip,” I answered my own question.
”Yes,” Maisen nodded.”We'll need to walk north and then east toward the river.Our dojo is actually in the southern most part of town,” she said and started walking.
We walked two blocks north and four blocks east.When we stopped, I saw that we standing in front of a large wooden building.I saw a few smokestacks on the building's roof with smoke being discharged into the air.In the middle of the building was a large opening; further inside was a booth with an old lady standing in front of a large shelf filled with white towels.Also, there were two members of the Watch standing at the entrance.Above the entrance was an old, worn wooden sign with ”Bathhouse” written on it.
I looked east and saw a river with a stone bridge over it.The bath house was probably built near the river for easy access to the water needed for the baths.I noticed a few common folk washing their clothes in the river.There were also a few people holding fishing rods over the bridge.
Suddenly, a pop-up appeared and it read, ”Location ADDED: Bathhouse.+50 XP.”I dismissed the message and pointed at the river.”Where does this river lead to?”I asked.
”Oh, this is the Avonne River and it connects to the central part of the kingdom,” Maisen said.”This river moves from east to west and is used by merchants to transport goods and food to the western part of the kingdom.We don't have room for farms within the walls of this market town and therefore, we rely on food from the farmlands located to our east.”
”If the river is moving in a westerly direction, how do our merchants send goods back to the eastern regions?” I asked.
”Oh, the ships can still go back.But they rely on sailors rowing against the current, which doesn't move too fast, thankfully.Merchants can also move goods by land via horse-drawn wagons.From that bridge over the river, there are roads that continue eastward to the eastern border of Merlin,” she explained.
”What kind of ship sail in this river?Do you have steamboats?” I asked as my mind started churning with ideas.
”What's a steamboat?” my bodyguard frowned.
”Nevermind,” I shook my head and smiled.I added making steamboats to my growing list of money-making ideas.”Let's go to the bath house.”
Before we entered, Maisen turned toward me.”Okay, I need to give you some instructions.It costs one silver piece to use the public bath.When you pay old Jenga your fee, she will provide you with a towel to bring into the bath.Your clothes and other belongings are to be stored in the lock boxes.You press your finger against the white identifier stone to lock it and then press against the stone again to unlock it.A button next to the stone will show blue if it is available for use and turn red when something is placed into the lockbox.The bath is separated by gender and if you are caught entering the wrong bath, you will be sent to the town jail for a week and given ten lashes as punishment.Off-duty members of the Watch use the bathhouse, too, and will be there to enforce the law. So, I want you to be on your best behavior and avoid arguing with the other patrons,” she lectured.”Remember, now that you are officially a student in our dojo, your dishonor is our dishonor,” she added.