When morning hit, both Jenna and I were pleasantly sore and full of vitality. Breakfast was a simple afair, toast with a fruit preserve. Korra's smirk was a little uncomfortable. Clearly, we hadn't been quiet during the night. After asking what part of the shore got the most sunlight throughout the year, we wandered to the north side of the village and soon found a perfect natural salt bank. So perfect that salt already crusted the perfectly smooth rock slope.

  "Oh... Look... SALT! What... A... Surprise!" I entoned with a slight hint of sarcasm.

  "Don't get smart, youngster!" Korra huffed.

  "Looks like our work will be a lot lighter than I was thinking. We need to build a trough at the top so we can spread the water evenly. Then we need a roof we can attach when we expect rain. The rain would wash the salt back into the sea, so we need to protect the rock from the rain while letting plenty of sunlight hit the rock. That's what dries the water, letting the salt form. But first... let's scrape that salt so we don't lose any of it."

  Having a clear goal, Jenna and I got to work, Korra fetched the town carpenter, and she happily built the structure to hold the roof. It was high on the seaside, while being low on the land side. We had gathered almost two cups of salt, not much, but for not having even started working on the project, it was a good windfall. Jenna and I took instructions from the carpenter as to where to dig post holes, and set to work on that, while she worked on the structure itself, only having us help with carrying the pieces as they became useful.

  While walking around, I kept getting a whiff of Sulfur smell. "Is that?!" Finally, being too distracted by the smell, I moved off the shore and towards the smell I kept smelling in the air.

  "Where are you going?!" Called Jenna.

  "Not far, I don't think, just keep smelling something. It might be rotten eggs, but if it's not!"

  "Oh, that? It always smells like that. Not sure why, but the small trickle of water that comes out tastes horrible."

  "So there is a Spring... but is it HOT?"

  Jenna cocked her head slightly. "Not that I know of; why would it be hot?"

  I found the stream, and the smell was stronger, but this wasn't the source. "We need to reach the source itself. This is far downstream. The water has cooled. I'm guessing this is just a trickle, and that the rest of the spring is dumping into another stream." Excited didn't begin to cover what was beginning to well up in my heart.

  Forcing our way through the brush, it didn't take long before the heated air started to waft the Sulfur Scent even stronger. Then we broke through into a clearing around a steaming spring with a strong stream going further north, while only the little trickle was going west to the shore. "Why is the water steaming?!" Jenna asked, as she reached up to pluck a twig from my hair.

  "It's a Hot Spring, it might smell bad, but it's great for your skin. We need to use this to make a Bathhouse for everyone to use!"

  "How exactly? It's going the wrong way."

  I smiled. "It will take work, but changing the course of a stream is totally doable. We can even cover the stream with rock so the heat isn't lost on its way to the bathhouse. Then we bring another stream of cold water to balance out with the hot, so it gets a comfy, steamy bath. That in turn means fewer sick people, and old folks can soak away the aches somewhat, especially when the weather is cold."

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  "That sounds great! We could even bathe together!" She was grinning now.

  ***

  We had a town hall meeting, during which we discussed the salt production, showed a decent progress already proving the worth of the project. Everyone was allowed to take a half cup of salt home with them from the recent production, which is probably why nobody balked at the bathhouse project. Now it was another day on, and the trenches to carry the water from both springs were nearly completed. The Sluce Gates were installed, so only the baths themselves and the house to cover them were needed. I designed the structure to have Men's and Women's baths, as well as some private bathing rooms for couples or visiting nobles to use. Changing rooms separated the two main baths, while the private baths were accessible from the lobby with their own changing areas inside the rooms. "It's a fine design, but it won't be quick! The Mason and I can do the work, but it's going to take time. Not enough hands for the work to go faster. Maybe we could get some slaves to help?"

  "I really HATE slavery! IF... If I do get slaves in here, they MUST be treated like people. Same as if they're free, despite their collars. More than likely, these people will be from families on the verge of starvation, and choosing to be sold into slavery to feed their families. If this is the case, treating them like animals is beyond cruel. Can you all promise me that much?"

  Nods all around the room told me they understood and agreed with the sentiment. "Aren't you worrying about nothing? You'd be their Mistress same as you're mine. So nobody could do wrong to them because they'd be under your protection as a Noble. Not just any Noble either, but a Duchess, second only to the Queen. You'll be saving them from a horrific fate, so try to feel better about owning them."

  Korra was distracted, pacing by the entrance. "She's right, Lass! None but you can pay for the Slave we need here, but any girls you buy will be of great help to everyone, and once this bathhouse is done, they can work on your own manor house. You can't just keep stayin in my place. Not fitting yer station an all!" She froze in her pacing as she spotted a skiff coming towards the dock. "Tonya's back!" Everyone ran out of the meeting then, including me.

  As we reached the dock, Tonya, whom I hadn't officially met, was just tying her Skiff to the dock. Hearing us tromping out to see what's up, she looked at Korra. "She's alive, but near starved and practically unable to keep water down. Not sure if'n she'll make it, but at least she can be home."

  "I need water and a pinch of salt. NOW!" I shouted, taking command. Korra, get some soft fish, mash it up in a bit of salty broth, and bring it to Donna as soon as it's ready! She can't just start eating right away; her body has essentially forgotten how to handle food, and we have to slowly remind it what it needs to do. She's alive, she'll STAY alive if I have anything to do with it. MOVE!"

  Getting into the Skiff, I lifted Donna into a sitting position, and she opened her eyes blearily. They landed on Jenna, and seeing the rose pattern on her neck, she smiled. "Least I got to see my girl in good hands afore I die." Someone handed me a cup of cold water and held their salt out to me. I took a small pinch, put it into the water, and swirled it with my finger.

  "You're not dying yet! Not on my watch! Sip this, SLOWLY. The salt replaces something in your body that you lost due to sweating. Without that thing, called an Electrolite, you can't drink water properly, and just throw it back up. Once you realize that you can keep it down, you'll want to drink it fast; RESIST that temptation, force yourself to sip it slowly, it's not going anywhere."

  Something about my tone, the confidence that I knew what was wrong and how to fix it, allowed Donna to focus. She sipped the water, and after the second sip, her hand tensed on the cup. "I feel it, I really want to drink it faster. Difficult to resist."

  "Just remember, if you rush, you throw up, you can't afford the energy. Take it slow. Then we'll take you home so you can eat a little something for now. Same as with the water, too much will make you throw it back up, your stomach has shrunk due to lack of food." Donna nodded, and nearly three minutes later, she finally finished the cup. "Ok, once you've eaten at home, so long as you still have room, you can drink regular water again. For now, we need to carry her flat, don't tip her any further upright than you absolutely must when getting her out of the skiff. Let's do this smoothly and swiftly."