CHAPTER 8–RELAXATION – page 34
Hans caught a flash of displeasure. "Is that all this is to you then? Sport?"
Hans replied, somberly and shrugging his shoulders, "I can't answer that. I've never been in a real fight until I found myself face to face with Fenrir. That sure wasn't sport. If it weren't for Hasaki's constant training, I wouldn't have stood a chance."
Za came at him again. Hans sidestepped, sending Za off balance. He smacked the wooden blade against the back of her armor. It was Za's turn to straighten.
She gave Hans a wry, half smile. "I shall hope to meet your Friend Hasaki someday. To thank him for sending us such a champion, as well as to see who becomes who's 'punching bag.' Defend yourself!"
Za renewed her attack with added ferocity. Her sword kept coming from her right, but if he paid too much attention to it, the shield would come from the left. The legs seemed fair game, but by unspoken agreement neither went for the face. Hans ducked a high blow and tried to sweep her legs with his sword. She sprang out of the way. Her next blow came down and he barely got his blade up in time to block it. As he rose, he cut low, to get under her shield, but she whirled out of the way. Before he even finished his swing, he found the tip of Za's weapon against his chest.
The elves cheered. The raven flew off crowing as if in disgust.
"I can't win 'em all, bird," Hans muttered in its direction.
That seemed to be the end of the match. Someone collected the wooden swords and Tiek took him by the hand, heading for one of the larger buildings.
* * *
Hans and Za, led by Tiek stepped into the bathhouse. Its occupants all looked up. Hans noticed that they were all women, elf women, naked elf women.
"Eek. I'm sorry." Hans turned to leave, quickly, but Za caught his shoulder.
"Is there a problem, Lord Madison?" she asked.
"I didn't mean to walk into the Ladies Bathhouse."
Za shook her head. "There is only one bathhouse, Lord Madison. And trust me, you do need a bath. In addition to smelling of meat and sweat . . ." Za pulled Hans back to her and whispered in his ear. "You practically reek of sex. And that is most unfair to the rest of us."
She turned Hans back into the bathhouse.
"You should know that it is an insult to refuse to bathe with someone."
"But they're all women. I, I might, um, notice."
Za laughed. "Not noticing can be taken as an insult as well. If you undress quickly maybe everyone will pretend to not notice your noticing."
Hans decided to go with that fiction. Jinsoku had once told him the etiquette of public baths. He would do his best to be polite and not stare.
"Um, OK," was all he could say.
Without looking up Hans removed his robe and armor. The last piece to go was the tartan, which he practically dropped, planning to hit the tub right off. He was intercepted and guided, by many hands, to a low bench. Someone handed him a soapy cloth. Other soapy cloths were being worked on his back.