GEEK

She settled back in her chair, the humid air warm around her. To her left, Jasnah Kholin

floated quietly in the pool inset in the floor of the bathing chamber. Jasnah liked to soak in

the bath, and Shallan couldn't blame her. During most of Shallan's life, bathing had been an

ordeal involving dozens of parshmen carting heated buckets of water, followed by a quick

scrub in the brass tub before the water cooled.

Kharbranth's palace offered far more luxury. The stone pool in the ground resembled a

small personal lake, luxuriously warmed by clever fabrials that produced heat. Shallan

didn't know much about fabrials yet, though part of her was very intrigued. This type was

becoming increasingly common. Just the other day, the Conclave staff had sent Jasnah one to

heat her chambers.

The water didn't have to be carried in but came out of pipes. At the turn of a lever,