Chapter 41: Farewell, Part 1
Getting out of all the cumbersome layers of his clothes had never been so damned difficult. Alrin threw it all in an untidy heap then went over to the bathtub in front of the fire, grateful for the chance to get clean. There was probably a similar bathtub in his quarters in the barracks; he hoped someone else made use of it when it became clear he would not be returning.
It felt marvelous to be clean again, to strip away dirt and blood and sweat, the reek of battle and hard travelthe sour memories of all they'd lost and everything he'd done wrong.
Climbing from the bath water, he glanced to where Raffé was sprawled on the bed, watching him with eyes that glowed from within and flickered with the reflected firelight. "You already bathed."
"Earlier, while you were still with the king," Raffé replied. "I ordered another in case I managed to convince you to join me."