A Brother's Price

boiler, and had the fire built up. As the water heated, he sent the little ones up to their rooms to strip down and to troop back for the cold-water scrub and hot-water communal soak.
    He went up to his quarters, undressed, and realized there was a good chance Ren and her women would return before he finished bathing. He couldn’t go out in just a towel as usual. He opened his wedding chest and found his grandfather’s silk bathing gown. It slid on like a cool, soft hand. Just in case Ren saw him, he also put on his only piece of jewelry, a small golden deer encrusted with green stones strung on a gold chain.
     
    Eldest had told Jerin once that most neighboring families found the Whistlers’ bathhouse a source of mystery. Apparently most families bathed less frequently, in laundry tubs set up in the kitchen. It seemed an uncomfortable way of bathing. Mother Elder often told them what her mothers went through trying to build the bathhouse. Grandfather had wanted one, so Grandfather got one, despite the fact his wives were clueless on how to build one. Apparently it was just one more of the many traditions Jerin’s grandmothers had bent themselves into pretzels over for his grandfather’s sake. Grandpa wanted all the menfolk to read and write? They were educated. Grandpa wanted the boys to play alongside their sisters, learning to run, climb, ride, shoot, and defend themselves? They were taught.
    Jerin was going to miss the bathhouse. He was going to miss his freedom even more. He continued to soak even as his sisters turned to prunes, got out, and trooped back to the house. How had his grandfather convinced his grandmothers to build the bathhouse? He could not imagine his grandmothers giving in to childish displays of temper. Nor could he imagine his grandfather throwing a fit—he had been a quiet-spoken, dignified man.
    Perhaps wives were like sisters. You chose your battles instead of engaging in every skirmish, negotiated terms whenever possible, and fought as cleanly as possible in hopes that the other person would react in kind. He would know soon, whatever the case. Within the next few months, his sisters would choose a betrothal offer that suited them, and he would marry on or shortly after his birthday.
    He climbed out of the lukewarm water, finding comfort in being clean and warmed to the core. If nothing else, he would have to insist his wives build him a bathhouse.
    It was full night when he stepped out of the bathhouse. Stars studded the sky and the crickets were in full voice.
    “I’ve caught you again.” A woman’s voice made him start. Princess Rennsellaer came out of the night.
    Jerin pulled the silk wrap tight about him. “How is it. Princess, you keep catching me with next to nothing on?”
    “Luck, I guess.” Ren reached out to finger his wrap. “This is beautiful.”
    “It was my grandfather’s.” Feeling naked, he stepped back into the shadows of the bathhouse door.
    “The kidnapped one during the war?” Ren followed him into the shadows.
    “Yes.” He blushed. “It was all he was wearing when my grandmother Tea snatched him.”
    Ren laughed, running hands over the silk gown. “I suppose he wasn’t very happy.”
    “No, he wasn’t. My grandmothers were common line soldiers, unspeakably low for a prince to marry. After his entire family was put to death for Queen Bea’s murder, though, he became more philosophical about life.”
    Ren took a sharp gasp inward. “What? Your grandfather was part of the False Eldest’s family?”
    “Prince Alannon. General Wellsbury had slipped my grandmothers into Castle Tastledae to break the siege.
    Grandmother Tea found Grandpa alone and unguarded, so of course she took him.“
    “Of course,” Ren murmured, pulling him out of the shadows to eye the bathing gown closely. “This is the only thing he had?”
    Jerin glanced nervously about for his sisters. They wouldn’t be happy about his talking to Ren with next to nothing on. “A necklace. And some hair combs.”
    “Does your family still have them?”
    Jerin fumbled the green deer out of his gown. “Grandpa gave the necklace to me before he died. Doric has the hair combs. Liam and Kai weren’t born yet. He said we should never forget our blood is royal.”
    Ren looked aghast. “Commoners can’t marry royals.”
    “My grandmothers didn’t marry him until they were knighted.”
    Ren laughed, caught between amusement and shock. She cupped the deer in her hand and gazed at it.