Settling in at the Spring

"It's incredible, ma'am." You manage, with the due respect. "Truly, there is nothing like this in Itheria."

"Jana here is Warmistress of these fine fighters." Donald explains. "This band's one of Beatha's most formidable. And definitely it's most beautiful."

A ripple of appreciative laughter goes through the massed warrior women.

"You must be weary from the road, love." Jana says to her prince. "Come, we have food, drink and a fire."

"I wouldn't say no to a drink and a bit of meat! Edward?" Donald roars. Nodding, you move to a firepit in the midst of the camp, most the huntresses gradually resuming their duties.

Sitting between Donald and Daena, you accept an ale and a scrap of roasted meat, setting the meat on your knee so you can alternate between food and drink.

"How did you fare on the road?" the blonde asks. "We've had reports of marauders in the area. I sent a party out to hunt them down, but..."

"I think we may have done the work for you." Donald laughs. "Five of them ambushed us last night. Didn't turn out too well for them though."

Her eyes darting from Donald to you, Jana puts the details together, noting Donald's slightly faded bloody handprint on your face.

"And you... brought down one of the brigands, your majesty?" Jana asks you in a respectful tone.

"Aye, that he did!" Donald interrupts. "Was a heroic sight, too! He stabbed a blade right into the scum's leader, seconds before he would've ended me!"

You note to yourself that isn't strictly how it went down, but you make no effort to challenge Donald's embellishment of your role in the skirmish. Some of the remaining warrior women are cooing appreciatively and giving you a second look, after all.

"We should prepare a... celebration later." Jana suggests. "It's a sacred thing, a warrior's first blood."

"That sounds wonderful." You respond. "Speaking of which, how did this place get it's name. It's a little... unusual."

"The Unholy Spring?" Jana asks. "Ah, that's just a wee joke. Have you heard of the Order o' the White Torch?"

You shake your head.

"They're a group dedicated to tracking down demon worshippers and other practitioners of black magic, putting them to the sword, or the flame." Jana explains.

"My little sister sometimes rides with them." Donald chimes in.

"Anyway, they've got these hot springs, four of them in fact, they base themselves out of. Because their waters are said to burn away anything contaminated with dark magic, they started calling them the Holy Springs."

You can't help but gulp.

"And er, the springs here?"

"Aren't likely to give evil anything more than a nice hot bath." Jana concludes. "Hence we got to calling this place the Unholy Spring." Jana assures you.

Nonchalantly, you try and circle the conversation away from that particular subject. Eventually, after a few other unrelated topics, you ask Jana about the women stationed here.

"We're from all parts of the kingdom, really. Beyond, even. As long as you're a woman of excellent martial prowess, you're welcome at the Spring. Mirra, one of our lead scouts, is a beastfolk. My right hand, Solla here is from one of the southern continent's tribes."

Jana points out a striking woman of mahogany skin tone and voluminous curls near her. She's definitely an unusual sight this far north.

"I like to think we've made her welcome in Beatha." Donald smirks, earning a quick ripple of laughter from the women nearby, Solla included.

"You've definitely helped her keep warm, love." Jana says slyly.

"If there are women from all over here, are there any warriors from Itheria?" You ask. Your question wins another burst of laughter from everyone present, save the elf, before they realise it wasn't intended as a joke.