The only time Navia paused in her efforts to leave the springs was when she was finally on the female side of the room, nearing the steps to exit the water. It was then Théadan’s voice carried over and he told the nobleman they had run into that she was unruly and stumbling around. Navia scoffed at such a lie, swinging around to glare at Théadan through the rock wall that separated them. The entire time she rose from the springs to dry off with one of the towels neatly stacked on a table, she bounced back and forth between grumbling and trying to devise how to retaliate. Toweling her body was easy enough; it was her hair that took some time. She dried it as best as she could with the towel until it hung around her shoulders, gleaming in its wetness but not dripping. Once she was satisfied and able to pull her robe back on, Navia found Théadan waiting at the impressive doors leading to the springs.<br/><br/>Her expression was one of mock offense after how he had treated her during the last few minutes of their time in the springs. “I am not unruly,” she announced primly instead of greeting him, her chin high, “And I certainly do not stumble into places I shouldn’t.” Keeping up with her air of haughtiness, Navia gave the door a dramatic push before glancing back at Théadan with a smirk, “I’d prefer you use the word<i>stride.</i>” And to show him as much, she did just that, entering the elaborate hall of white they had taken to reach the springs, only it was not empty like it had been before. The proud smirk was wiped from her face the instant the group of women a few meters ahead all turned to face them, curious to see who had entered the hall.<br/><br/>Baiza was amongst them, as well as several women dressed similarly to her in white, but then there were two other women with them, far older. One was tall and dressed in brilliant red from head to toe, her aged face surprised when it landed on Navia. The other woman, the shortest and smallest of them all, her face wrinkled and skin far darker than Navia’s or anyone else’s in the room, abruptly pushed one of the spa attendants out of her way to step forward. The jewelry draped around her neck and wrists jingled around her wrists, her deep-set eyes shrewd with an expression that could slice just as efficiently as any sword.<br/><br/>“Navia Lahkimpur,” her voice nearly sounded disappointed as the other women looked on in bewilderment that she would address a duchess so plainly. The elder woman took a few steps forward, her gait slow and plagued with a limp. A teardrop jewel between her eyebrows glinted in the light, as did the jewel piercing her nostril. Her dress and shawl were black, embroidered with silver, and clearly expensive.<br/><br/>“Osa,” Navia answered in shock, having no other words to say other than the woman’s name. She had only ever seen the woman in her home, after a day’s travel southeast from Vanam. More than that, to see the woman there with Théadan in the same room brought forth emotions she did not quite understand and she glanced his way before weakly reaching for his hand.<br/><br/>“Ah-ah!” The woman shook her head in warning and Navia obediently dropped her hand away from him. Osa neared them both, her eyes unsettlingly piercing and scrutinizing, though as she came closer, it was obvious she could not see out of the right eye. It was graying over, turning the same color as the thick braid of hair that rested over her shoulder. Silent in her movements, she went to circle Navia, even going so far as pushing between her and Théadan, the chains and bells she wore cheerfully singing. Once she had circled Navia once, she turned her attention on Théadan, but only studied his face curiously before announcing, “We must speak.”<br/><br/>Navia knew what that meant and nodded immediately. Her gaze shifted from Osa to Baiza, who looked upon them with owlish eyes. “My companion—“<br/><br/>“Do not lessen his worth to you, child,” Osa barked at her, turning away to slowly sweep toward a door across the hall.<br/><br/>Navia pursed her lips together to keep from rolling her eyes, took a breath, and started again, “The man I love is not as equipped for the sun as we are. His shoulders have suffered.”<br/><br/>“Then we shall have to treat them,” Baiza answered graciously, stepping forward with two of the spa attendants to gesture toward a door, “If you would please come with us, Théadan.”<br/><br/>With Osa’s back to her, Navia quickly spun back to Théadan, “Everything is fine.” He was likely confused; she would owe him an explanation later. A smirk flitted across her lips and she leaned forward to whisper to him, her expression victorious, “Consider Baiza’s treatment for your shoulders payback for dunking me.”<br/><br/>“Child, you survived a week in Mes’Mo’Tan without that man by your side, you can survive an hour in your own country,” Osa suddenly called out caustically, causing Navia to jump. She could barely spare a moment wondering how Osa knew before she had to spin to follow the elder woman into the room opposite of the one Baiza was gesturing for Théadan to enter.