After her aunt had left, Mikandra took her apprentice uniform out of her bag and went into the bathroom, or better said, the bathhouse. When she opened the door at the end of the corridor, she stepped into humid air. There were several connected rooms, each with a steaming pool. In the closest, largest pool sat two men she had seen at the meeting.
The next, smaller, room was empty. This room had no windows, and the light from lamps on the walls reflected in the mirrorlike water in the rectangular pool. Wisp of steam rose from the surface. A cabinet against the back wall was well stocked with towels and soap. She carried the soap basket and two towels to the pool, undressed and slipped into the water. It was beautifully warm. She lay back with her head on the edge.
The two men in the next
