turned out to be a rather clean four seater and Herzer quickly dumped his bladder, heading back to the bath. He noticed as he did that the room was not particularly steamy, then saw that there were openings in the wall at the top and bottom.
"Whose idea was this? Nick's?"
"No," June said. "And he doesn't own it, although sometimes he acts like it. It was Edmund's idea and the town built it and maintains it. The construction up the hill is where we're building a larger one, more ornate. We need to get rid of the logs and get some tile in; people keep slipping on the wood."
"It's very nice," Courtney said, easing into the water as Mike walked back. "Whose idea did you say it was?"
"Mine," Edmund said, pushing aside the flap. "Hello, June, mind if I join you?"
"Not at all, Edmund, plenty of room."
All three of the apprentices were wide-eyed as the mayor lowered himself into the water. They were amazed to see the already semilegendary leader simply joining people in the bath.
Herzer was covert in his study but he had heard so much about Edmund Talbot that he knew he had a case of hero worship going. The smith's body was unusually hirsute; most people inhibited hair growth to a much greater degree. It also was immensely muscular, not like a bodybuilder but like a person who used a wide variety of his muscles every day for hard physical labor. He also had a full beard and mustache, which was unusual. Herzer had had all the hair on his face and most of his body inhibited except for a straggling mustache and he knew very few people who even had one of those.
"I'm surprised to see you," June said.
"Think I'm too good to hang out in the bath?" Edmund chuckled.
"Not that. I just thought you'd be too busy," June replied.
"I've got a couple of hours between meetings and for a wonder nothing was coming apart. So I thought I'd catch a quick bath. I can't stay long though."
"Sir, can I ask a question?" Herzer said.
"Ask