He felt tense at first, but as the minutes passed he seemed to gradually relax, stretching his legs out, and letting the heat sink into his bones. The two sisters had their heads together, whispering, and Asayaga seemed to be looking everywhere in the room except at Alyssa. Dennis let his mind wander and after a moment found himself startled by the rattle of metal. He looked around in surprise to find one of Asayaga's men loading red-hot stones into a basket.

He watched as the soldier pulled out a basket on a chain, then lowered the fresh one in, the red rocks filling the room with yet more steam.

'This strikes me as a bit strange,' Dennis finally said, 'but it's not… unpleasant.'

Asayaga laughed. 'You barbarians.'

'Us barbarians?' There was a defensive note in his voice.

'Please, Hartraft. We have a custom in steam-houses.'

'Like the towels for modesty?' Dennis whispered pointedly.

Asayaga could see just the slightest flicker of a grin. 'Well, I think my men forgot about that. But as I was saying, the custom is that all arguments must be left at the door of the baths. Even the bitterest of foes will swim in the same pool and breathe the same steam and be allowed to do so in peace.'

Dennis leaned back and closed his eyes, breathing deeply.

'A good custom,' he whispered at last and Asayaga smiled.

'Tell me, Hartraft,' said Roxanne. 'Have you anyone waiting for you back at your camp?'

Dennis's eyes narrowed and he said bitterly, 'No.'

Roxanne studied his face and appeared on the verge of saying something. Her mouth turned up at the corner in a slight smirk he had seen before in advance of a caustic remark, but as it appeared she was about to speak, she sat back, remaining silent. She continued to stare at him for another minute, then softly she said, 'I'm sorry for your loss.'

Dennis didn't know what to say. He stared back at her, their eyes locking for a moment. Something about this woman irritates me, he thought, and in an attempt to put aside that irritation, he sank back against the side of the tub and closed his eyes.

Against every expectation, Dennis discovered after a few minutes of sitting there with his eyes closed that he was enjoying the hot soak. Relaxing further, he realized with a start some time later he had dozed off.

The girls had departed and Asayaga said, 'Are you rested?'

Dennis wiped his hand over his face and said, 'As it stands, yes.' He seemed surprised.

'See, there are things you can learn from us, Hartraft.'

Dennis stood up and grabbed a towel. After the hot water, the room felt chilled. 'You do this a lot?'

'Every chance I get,' said Asayaga, as he also dried himself off. The last two Tsurani soldiers were leaving and as Dennis followed, he said, 'I think I might like to try this again.'

Outside, they dressed quickly, for if the hot bath-house had felt chilled, the freezing snow was brutal to Dennis. As he donned his tunic he said, 'What's that smell?'

Asayaga laughed. 'That's the stink you carried around with you. Now that you're clean, you notice it.'

Dennis stopped putting on his tunic. 'I have another in my field kit,' he said. Refusing to acknowledge his discomfort at being bare-chested, he said, 'I guess I should have these washed.'

Asayaga nodded. 'You'll find your men take ill less often if they keep clean. I do not know why this is so, but it is.'

As he moved away from the bath-house, Dennis saw four Tsurani erecting poles in the compound, each forming the corner of a square. Others were bringing wood and piling it in the centre of the square. He glanced at Asayaga.

'The rite of Atonement is tonight.'

As if that explained it, thought Dennis, now anxious to put on his clean tunic. He hurried to the building where he housed with Sergeant Barry and a half dozen other men, and found his kit bag.

He pulled a tunic out and noticed with disappointment that it was barely cleaner than the one he wore, but he put it on anyway, and decided he would ask one of the women to wash his remaining clothing in the morning.

He thought back with some bitterness to his childhood, for clean clothing had always been provided. And despite what Asayaga said, his family bathed every week during the winter, more often in the hot months. To himself he admitted that years in the field had made him a coarse and dirty man.

Outside, he heard the sound of chanting and realized it must be the Tsurani. He decided to go and sort out his clothing now, rather than watch this rite.

Tinuva watched with interest as the Tsurani first built a small fire and then lined up for their ceremony. Asayaga, followed by Sugama and the other Tsurani were formed up in a line, weapons conspicuously absent. They watched the sun lower in the west, and chanted softly. When at last the sun was behind the western mountains, Asayaga moved forward to the first pole, which Tinuva noted was the easternmost, bowed his head, and said something softly. He moved to the northern pole and repeated the gestures.

The western and southern poles followed; then he paused before the fire. He held out his hand and let a piece of material fall into the flames. He bowed once more then came to stand next to Tinuva.

Without taking his eyes off the ceremony, Tinuva asked, 'What is it you ask your god?'

Asayaga said, 'We ask Hilio, who judges men in life, to forgive us our shortcomings. Each man will repeat the request, at each of the poles, representing the four directions, for no man knows where Hilio may be. It is hoped that when we are free of this mortal life, Hilio will intercede with Sibi, She who is Death, to look upon us with mercy. We also ask Hilio to give us the strength to forgive those who have wronged us in the past year, to let others make atonement to us.'

Tinuva said nothing for a while, then: 'A friend once said no mortal being is without flaw.'

Asayaga said, 'This is true. And there is wisdom in knowing this. It will be a quiet night, for meditation and fasting. No man may touch food or wine until the sun sets tomorrow night.'

Tinuva said, 'A feast?'

Asayaga nodded. 'Always.'

'Then come hunting with me after your Day of Atonement, Asayaga.'

'I went hunting with Hartraft today.'

'So I have been told.' With a slight smile, Tinuva said, 'I shall be a far more patient teacher, and I will show you things even Dennis doesn't know.'

Asayaga allowed himself a rare smile. 'It would be good to know some things Dennis doesn't know.'

The elf returned the smile, briefly then leaned back against the support post and watched the rest of the ceremony.

A few minutes later Alwin Barry called for parade, and the Kingdom soldiers fell into formation. There was little military ceremony associated with the Marauders, but while in camp, Dennis insisted on morning muster and evening parade in order to keep some pretence of military discipline among the men.

Asayaga had answered by having his men join the parade every night and held a separate muster every morning. As the ceremony ended, the last of his men hurried to their positions under the watchful eye of Strike Leader Tasemu.

Barry glanced at his opposite number, and the two men began inspecting their respective commands. Asayaga said to Tinuva, 'Where is Hartraft? He has never missed a parade.'

He got his answer when Dennis came striding out of his quarters, his arms heavy with clothing, marching purposefully towards the washing hut. Both the Tsurani and Tinuva stood in stunned silence, then as the Captain of the Marauders vanished from sight, both broke out in open laughter.