The Bathhouse

[Yseult Rivers]

'How soon do I need to have your things ready for the trip to Lord Tully's?'

[Barley]

"We will be leaving in a few days, it should not take you long." She confirmed

[Yseult Rivers]

Yseult looks thoughtful 'do you think there is anything that we need to be aware about at the Lords sons home? Or could it get.. Messy?' She pulls a bit of a tired face at the recent upheavals and problems.

[Barley]

"Not so long as everything goes according to plan. As you'll know we will not be warmly recieved, but Lord Tully cannot really afford to cause much trouble with us." Saesha explained,

[Yseult Rivers]

Yseult nods slightly, 'i will keep my eyes and ears open for trouble.. Just incase.. You probably have better spies but sometimes I find things aren't always as they have seemed and sadly it's the least likely suspects that cause the most problems.' Yseult looks momentarily sad but tries to school her face to a better expression, it might not be that successful since the betrayal of those she worked with is still a little raw in places.

[Barley]

"What was that look for?" Saesha asked, rubbing her leg under the water to get some provisional dirt off before she washed properly.

[Yseult Rivers]

'when we struggled to make sure the children were fed enough so they grew right and so the rest of us did not starve.. I found what was believed to be loyal folk were really pocketing coins and fattening their bellies at Lord Roote's expense and taking liberties with the fact the storerooms were not locked to the kitchen and upper household staff. The inventorys did not tally. I did mention it to father but the discrepancy's were so small to begin with that it could easily have been a count error or vermin.. Over a few years quite a lot of goods vanished in total, when we all began to feel the pinch, certain people did not look at all different..'

[Barley]

"And what did Lord Roote do?" She asked, clearly interested in her reply.

[Yseult Rivers]

(if its not plausible i'll change it, but i figure its justifiable enough given the shortages of war)

Yseult looked uncomfortable though the look on her face says it was deserved. 'Once i had found enough evidence.. Father had them stripped, harshly lashed, their thieving hands smashed on the anvil, their lying tongues cut out and left them each tied to a post for the small folk to do with as they wished.. The small folk were not pleased as they and all their children had ribs and shrunken bellies while the staff were pink and healthy, clearly not suffering as everyone else had.' Yseult looked ashamed, 'Everyone had to watch.. I couldn't hold my belly in, I tried very hard, but..' She sighed a little, 'I wasn't the only one either.. But I will not tell who. It was shameful enough that we did.'

[Barley]

"You don't need towery about me lashing abd dashing people's hands, I would just have had them hanged," Saesha replied. "That just have been hard on your family though, losing a lot of their servers." To be honest that is the price you pay for being foolish enough to leave the granary open.

[Yseult Rivers]

Yseult shakes her head, obviously in disappointment. 'the stores were promptly put under better guard, the usual guard got put on the boring tedious details for their lack of judgement and attention, they were trusted and abused their position of trust, hanging would have been too quick I think.' She picks up the soap and offers it to Saesha, to see if she wants it first or would prefer to be washed. 'what are your expectations of me? I can only clean your rooms so many times' she smiles

[Barley]

"You don't know if I am untidy or not. I expect you to attend me. Whatever I need, I expect it not only to be done, but to have already be done." She explained. "There may be opportunity for more interesting tasks."

[Yseult Rivers]

Yseult nods with a smile 'Would M'Lady like to be washed when you've finished your respite?'

[Barley]

"I can wash myself, I spent the last five years on campaign. Your duties do not start until tomorrow, enjoy yourself and your freedom whilst you can." Saesha offered magnanimously

[Yseult Rivers]

Yseult nods once, and washed herself before leaning back in the hot water, luxuriating in it. 'what does M'Lady like to do in your leisure time except bathe?'