They set off from Kinleigh and traveled quite a number of miles before Victoria found what she had been looking for, a pleasant stream running through grass land. Victoria eased her mount off the trail and pointed to the clear running water.
“Take your clothes off and bathe,” she ordered Kelsie. “You are utterly filthy. It is too far for you to walk to Englred, but I will not have you ride behind me until you are clean.”
There was a moment of hesitation in which Kelsie could have disobeyed. Victoria was very glad that the girl chose not to. She watched her blush, then pull the rags that passed for clothing from her body and start edging into the shallows.
Even at a short distance, she was a pitiful sight. Victoria was not often given to pity. She found it irksome, but there was no other emotion to conjure as she watched over the wraith-thin girl who reminded her of the mange ridden hounds that hung around some of the lesser Englred establishments. Each of her ribs could easily be counted, her body was marked with bruises and some sores that seemed to be festering. She had not received even a little care in recent years, that much was obvious.
Victoria cast her glance back toward Kinleigh. It was not too late to return and enact some revenge upon the nasty little townsfolk who had ostracized the girl and let her fall into such condition.
“The water is cold, m’lady!” Kelsie's cry drew Victoria's attention. The little wretch was shivering in the glacial water that ran from the mountains not far hence. Snow melt made for pure water, but it was undeniably cold.
Victoria dismounted and moved toward Kelsie.
“No need to hide yourself from me,” she said as the girl tried to hide her body and its filth. “I will cast a charm to warm you.”
She lifted her hands and intoned a few words, making the water around Kelsie's body heat instantly. With a little sigh, Kelsie sank down into it, the stream lapping at her shoulders as a euphoric look passed over her pretty but pinched features.
“A bath,” she said. “It has been so long...”
“It will not be as long again,” Victoria said. “You will bathe regularly. At least once a week.”
“Yes ma'am,” Kelsie agreed.
While Kelsie basked in the newly heated waters, Victoria went to her saddlebags, took some herbal soap from her traveling pouch and tossed it to the young woman.
“Here,” she said. “Wash yourself thoroughly now. Every inch of you must be clean. That includes your private regions.”
Kelsie blushed but nodded and began to do as Victoria told her.
“And your hair,” Victoria added. “Wash it twice at least.”
While Kelsie bathed, Victoria set to setting up a small camp. The girl obviously needed to eat, something hot and rich.
The sorceress herself was not given to stopping for such simple things as food, but a peasant girl had animal requirements and so Victoria lifted her skirts, waded upstream of Kelsie, and caught several fish in a way that would have made the local fishermen shake their fists with envy. In relatively short order, a fire was lit and the fish were gutted and roasting over the flames on long sticks.
By the time Kelsie emerged from the river bath, Victoria had managed to magic together a simple traveling outfit for her. Soft kidskin boots for her feet and a long brown robe for her body.
“Thank you, m'lady,” Kelsie said as Victoria bade her dress, then eat. “You're too kind.”
“I'm not so much kind as I am keen not to see you starve before I get you home,” Victoria said. It would not do to be mistaken as kind. She had spent a great deal of time crafting her reputation and she would not sully it by being taken as a nice person, not even by accident.
Kelsie huddled next to the fire, her dark hair drying as she devoured all four fish and drank deep of the water Victoria had filled a skin with. She had a hunched demeanor that made her look more like an animal than ever, her shoulders bent, her head down, her fingers working food into her mouth at an incredible rate.
It was going to be no small feat to train her to be even faintly acceptable in good society. Her face was soon covered in fish grease and she let out several belches and a fart, which did not seem to concern her one bit.
Victoria stiffened her upper lip. Now was no time for etiquette lectures. Englred was quite a ride from this little village but her horse was relatively fresh and with a charm or two they could travel much faster.
“Wash your face and hands,” she said. “Then we will ride on.”
Again, Kelsie did as she was told without so much as a word. The girl was quiet, a positive attribute as far as Victoria was concerned. When all was ready, she mounted up again and reached a hand down to Kelsie.
It took no effort at all to swing her up onto the back of the horse, but a second later Victoria heard a thud. She looked over her shoulder to see Kelsie sitting on the ground, rubbing her rear quite ruefully.
“Put your arms about my waist if you must,” Victoria said, reaching out her hand to repeat the process.
This time, Kelsie did not fall off. She scooted forward and Victoria felt thin arms slide about her waist, timid and yet trusting.
A softer emotion passed through her cold sorceress heart. She pushed it away immediately.