Free Princess of Death (Three Provinces Book 1) by Renee Travis Page B

that read: WELCOME TO NEPESTI HUIL WHERE THE GREAT ARTS ARE PREFORMED.  Underneath there was a small sign that said: CARAVAN LEAVES SIMANU UM SITTA 3. This meant the traveling show that made its way to all who could not afford or take the time to travel to Nepesti Huil , would be leaving for a tour in the month of Simanu, on the first day of the third week. Each month had three weeks; our years, 252 days long.  The Caravan would travel to every city and village until it circled back home.
    “Oh! Hopefully we’ll reach Bet Pagri before them. We haven’t seen a play or concert in forever Eshie!” Nam called to me as we went past. His face was flushed and there was a bit of little boy excitement in his eyes.
    “That’d be great Nam, something else to look forward to. Adura entertainment is always more interesting than that garbage we got at the palace.” We’d been force to watch some really dull ballets and operas, what Biri was famous for, while growing up. Some people thought they were beautiful and amazing; Nam and I tended to sleep through them.  To each their own.
    After an hour or two I knew that while we might not stop and make camp, we did need a rest and to eat something. I knew that my legs, butt and thighs would hate me if I didn’t stretch and give them a break.
    “Do you smell blood?” Nam asked, a pleasant smile on his face.
    “Kind of, more like sweet rust.”  Sniffing the air, my eyes strained a head of us. We were coming upon a bridge.
    “Oh, we’ve reached Namba River.” The Adureeds, sensing our desire, slowed and took us to the side of the road where the grass was thick and soft. Standing, I could look down the few feet to the river’s edge.
    Namba River had a peculiar smell and the water was as red as my hair. But even though it looked and smelled like blood, it was thin and drinkable. It had no real flavor and was supposed to be healthy.
    Nam had to help me down off the steed as my legs wanted to give out from under me.
    “How do you not hurt?” I asked him.
    “I rode a lot when you had Princess things to do. I’m used to it.” He shrugged.
    I gazed longingly at the water, “do you think I could take a bath?”
    “I don’t see why not, it’s a river like any other,” Nam said.
    Once when I was twelve, my father hired Adura guards to take Nam and me on a tour of Adura.  We’d been gone one week, not enough time to really see everything, but enough so that we’d know about where we had been born. I remember the guard telling us how Namba freaked people out, even Adurans, that it only looked and smelled like blood, but was basically harmless. It didn’t even have creatures that lived in it like other rivers. Just a source of good water.
    “Alright then, I’m going in.” I began to strip.

Chapter 8
     
    Naked, I slipped into the lukewarm water of Namba, quickly submerging until I was neck deep. The water felt so good on my abused and tired skin. Once in the water I realized it was not red, something else gave it the illusion; it was normal water sliding over my skin. I took a large mouthful, enjoying the refreshing taste.
    “Eshie! Catch!” I heard Nam’s voice and my hand shot up so I could catch my toiletry bag. I made my way to the shoreline and put it down. Opening it I grabbed my rose smelling soap and began to lather and wash away the dust from travel.
    “Hurry up, I wanna bathe, too! Plus, I set out clean clothes!” Nam called down to me from the top of the small embankment.
    “Hold on, I need more than five minutes, remember? I am not a guy!” I yelled, amusement, in my voice.  Dunking my head, I unbraided my hair, and came up spluttering a little. Washing my hair took about five minutes, I have a lot of hair and it is a process. I swam until it was little deeper to rinse the conditioner and just be totally under the water for a bit.
    I buried my fingers in my hair, giving my scalp a good massage, as I was about to come up for air I felt an icy touch on my