Chapter 15: Chapter Fourteen

Albaran did indeed hate the idea. He argued against it as a trap and a waste of precious daylight. Del tried to reason with him, but in the end had to put her foot down and tell him they were staying, despite his objections. She felt a little bad about it as he stomped into the stable yard.

“You want us to stay here?” Wymar asked as they walked into the small garden in front of the inn. “There must be nicer places in the city.”

“We are trying to avoid attention, remember?” Maug asked. She was glad he didn’t mention they likely didn’t have the coin to stay in one of the bigger inns.

“Well, I am tired of living like a beggar. It isn’t befitting…”

“Shut up. Now,” Del hissed. “And stay that way.”

The inside of Jac Andres’ inn was as unimpressive as the outside. A small entry room led into a dining area with one long table and a stone fireplace along the wall. A set of well polished wooden steps in the back of the room must have led to the second floor. A tall, thin woman was dicing carrots and throwing them in a pot over the fire. A red scarf that matched her wooden beads held up her dark hair. She looked up when they came in.

“Jac is preparing your rooms. You can rest there until the food is ready, my lady.” She put an emphasis on the title that clearly said she didn’t think it a deserved title.

“Thank you, Ms. Andres,” Del said. The woman blinked at her but said nothing. Thankfully, Jac came down the stairs and broke the uncomfortable silence.

“Ah, you’re here. Of course you are. I have everything ready, my lady. Everything is nice and tidy.” He nervously bowed to them all in turn. His look lingered on Albaran for a moment longer than the rest.

“I’m sure we will find everything in order. Thank you,” she said. Wymar huffed beside her, but a look was enough to quiet him. They followed Jac up the stairs to a small landing. Five of the six doors that lined the single hallway were open. Jac led her into the first and obviously largest room. As far as inns went, it was not the worst she’d seen.

A plump mattress sat on a painted iron frame along one side of the room opposite a small fireplace. A desk set against the far wall under a small window. A wardrobe and only slightly chipped wash basin completed the furniture.

“It looks quite comfortable, Mr. Andres.” The relief on the stout man's face made her wither inside a little. What treatment had his few previous guests had given him, she wondered? Maug deposited her bag in a corner and turned to leave with the others. She grabbed his arm and pulled him near. “Stay with Wymar, would you? I don’t want him causing a scene.” He nodded before leaving her alone.

As soon as she heard the innkeeper descending the stairs, she left her room to find the others. She wouldn’t be completely comfortable until this night was over and they were on their way. Maug and Wymar were in the room next to hers. It looked almost identical but lacked a window. Wymar perched on the bed, looking like a thunderhead.

“Any problems?” Del asked. Maug just rolled his eyes. Shorgus strolled in, followed closely by the ranger.

“Lovely little place, isn’t it?” the mage said cheerily.

“I do not think we should sleep in the room with the window,” Albaran announced to no one in particular. “And I think we should have a watch through the night. I still do not trust this isn’t a trap.”

“Come now,” Shorgus said. “We may be sleeping under the stars for days after this. At least we should try to get a good night's sleep.”

“No.” Albaran said.

“Al is right,” Maug said, taking a place on the bed next to Wymar. Del raised an eyebrow at him. “What? I can admit when an idea is good, even if it’s not mine.” She smiled at him.

“Alright, we’ll set up a watch after dinner.”

“I would like to discuss the details of my escort,” Wymar said sternly. When no one told him to shut up again, he gained confidence. “And my treatment thus far. It has been unacceptable…”

“Shut up.” Maug said. “And you should consider this stop a good opportunity to take a bath as well.” The other man’s face turned red and his eyes bulged.

“You can not speak to me like that. I will have you and every dirtpaw hanged when I take my throne.” He roared. Del slapped him across the face. He fell sideways across the bed. Everyone was suddenly very silent.

“Albaran, would you mind staying with him to make sure he doesn’t cause trouble?” Del asked, as if nothing had happened. “I’m not sure your disguise would work at dinner, anyway.”

“I do not mind.” The ranger began unwrapping the kaffa.

“Thanks. I’ll bring you both a plate.”

“I should probably do that, my dear,” Shorgus said. “Remember, no matter how delightful our hosts, we are still in Aurelia and you are still playing the lady.”

Wymar struggled to a seated position again and looked to be about to speak, but Del raised a hand and he snapped his mouth shut.

“Right. Someone will bring you some food then. We should go. The quicker this night is over, the better.”

They found the long table sat with five places when they arrived. Maug informed Ms. Andres that they would require two services to the rooms later. He smiled his best smile for her and said he would be happy to take them himself for the trouble. She blushed and actually patted his check before assuring him it was no problem at all. It seemed she was as unusual an Aurelian as her husband.

Ada served them stew with beef and vegetables, warm apples in a spicy cheese sauce, and hot crusty rolls. Jac disappeared through a door off the kitchen area and came back with a mug of brown ale for each of them. Del couldn’t remember the last time she had eaten so well.

They ate in silence while Jac and his wife, who he introduced as Ada, moved in and out of the dining area, clearing plates and refiling mugs. Ada offered Maug and Shorgus a second helping of apples and only grudgingly included Del when her husband made a fuss.

“No, it’s fine. Really,” she said to them. “It was all wonderful, but I don’t think I could eat another bite.” That wasn’t entirely true, but she wanted to be back in her room and away from these people whose strange behavior made her uncomfortable.

Maug took the extra bowls from Ada, and Shorgus finished off one more mug of ale before they all excused themselves and went back upstairs. They found Wymar lying on the bed asleep and Albaran pacing the room. It was still early in the evening and none of them were tired, so they crowded in the little room together while the ranger ate. Del placed Tafa on the floor next to her with an extra bowl of apples Maug had smuggled in his coat for her. Shorgus pulled out his little pink cup again. He drank deeply while watching Tafa eat.

“What is that?” Maug asked, watching the mage refill the cup with water that turned amber when the cup was full.

“I would be delighted to tell you, and it is a wondrous thing I assure you, but I believe it is not my story time, but our dear Del’s. Yes?” He looked at her expectantly.

“Yes. I guess I did promise answers, didn’t I?” The mage nodded and sat down on the desk where Albaran was eating. The ranger stared up at him coolly.

“Right, well…,” she shifted to lean against the wardrobe. “It’s hard to know where to start, but I’ll hit the high points and you can ask questions if you have them.” She spent the next half an hour telling her story, in broad strokes, with Maug adding flair to the parts where he came in and Albaran grunting occasionally at parts he particularly disagreed with. Shorgus remained attentive and quiet except for a few dramatic gasps at the exciting bits and when he refilled his little pink cup. When she finished, he just nodded thoughtfully.

“That is quite a story. Seems my decision to follow that guard was right on all points! I do wish I had been there for the beginning bit, especially Bellon. I’ve always wanted to visit.” He motioned to the unconscious Wymar. “So this is to be our new king,” he said. “Well, he can’t be much worse than the last few. The quality of royalty has lessened since your father.” He gave her a little bow. “I have to admit, I agree with the Velli there. You would be a much better choice.”

“I…,” she had intended to say she didn’t want it, but that sounded childish to her, no different from Wymar’s ‘give it to me now’ attitude. “I would not be a good queen,” she said instead. And she found she did still believe that. Wymar was horrible, but that didn’t mean she had suddenly become a better option.

“Well, I am just delighted to be a part of such a grand adventure,” he said, jumping down from the desk and bowing dramatically to her. He stumbled a bit at the end and nearly fell over. “Oh, my. One too many cups, I think,” he said when he recovered. “I think it is best if I find my bed. Just let me know if you need me to keep watch in the night.” He put a finger on one side of his nose and winked before leaving.

Del stood up. Her bottom hurt from sitting on the floor, but she didn’t feel tired. She scooped Tafa up and returned the bowl to the pile on the desk.

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“I’ll take first watch. I don’t feel much like sleeping just yet,” she said.

“I will remain here and watch Wymar,” Albaran said.

“Probably a good idea. He’s likely to throw a fit when he wakes up. Maybe I’ll see if the mage has anything to make him a little more docile for the trip.”

“You would not,” the ranger protested.

“No, but it is pleasant to think about.” She left them to return to her own room.

After depositing Tafa onto her bed, she shut the door and tried to decide the best place to keep her watch. She didn’t relish the idea of sitting on the hard wood floor for a few more hours, so she paced the hall instead. Hopefully, they would leave on horseback tomorrow, so her legs would not need to be rested.

The night was quiet. She occasionally heard the muffled voices of Jac and Ada from downstairs and loud snoring came from Shorgus’ room. Maug had retired to his own room some time before. So she paced the short hallway in silence. After a few hours, the monotony was catching up to her and she was considering peaking in on Wymar when she heard a noise from downstairs.

It sounded like pots being shuffled about. Bit late for a cleaning, Del thought, but it was their inn to run. A moment later, she heard a door open and Jac’s voice in an urgent whisper from the bottom of the steps.

“Hush, woman, you will wake them.”

“I don’t care,” came Ada’s voice, although she too was whispering. “I’m continuing on. I know you think I shouldn’t, but people are counting on me.”

“If they wake early…if they see you. Ada, please now, stop this.”

“No hopped up lady with glass in her hair is going to stop me, Jac Andres. Go back to bed and let me handle my business.” Del could hear Jac’s sigh, but he spoke no more.

Someone must have gotten to Ada, Del thought. The guard, most likely, or a mercenary that had a little sense. Poor Jac. It seemed the innkeeper had little to do with this plan, but would probably still suffer the consequences. She considered waking the others, but thought better of it. She didn’t think Ada had much of a chance without the element of surprise. Del found a shadowy corner of the landing at the top of the stairs and waited for the woman to spring her trap. And she waited. And waited some more.

There was little sound from the house below. She heard the back door of the inn open and close once and the pots again a couple of times, but nothing else. It had been so long since the overheard discussion that she was growing restless again. She returned to her room and checked the window there. But it remained shut tight and the alley below was dark and empty. Had Ada changed her mind? Was she waiting until just before dawn? Del huffed. She was growing tired and impatient. Maybe it would be best if she confronted the woman before things got out of hand.

The common room was dark except for the low burning fire that cast shadows on the walls. The plates from their dinner had been cleared away and neatly stored, but the pot of stew still hung over the fire. Del walked over and peered in, surprised to see it was still full and bubbling.

Just then, the small door beside the stairs opened and Ada walked through, carrying a tray stacked high with empty bowls. She saw Del standing by the fire and froze.

“Whatever are you doing up? Did you need something, my lady?” Her face was pale but her voice was calm and she went about laying the bowls out on the work board by the fire with steady hands.

“Ada, I know you are planning something.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” She went to the stew pot and began ladling some into each of the bowls, then placing them back on the tray.

“I heard you talking with Jac earlier about the thing he didn’t want you to do. I don’t know if it’s the guard or someone else that’s gotten to you, but you don’t have to do it, Ada. Just let me and my friends leave tonight and we won’t trouble you again.” Ada looked at her with wide eyes.

“I ain’t planning anything, with the guard or nobody else. I swear to it. Noone is going to bother you this night.”

“Ada, I heard…”

“You heard,” Ada huffed and shook her head. “You heard my idiot husband worrying when he should not.” She began filling the bowls again.

“But, then what is it you are doing that has him so worried?” Ada stopped and stared at her again, this time more intently.

“Where are you from, my lady?” She asked suddenly.

“I…um. I am not from any particular place,” she said lamely. Ada smiled and nodded knowingly.

“You seem different from most ladies I have met. You have the face and the glass, but,” she reached out and grabbed one of Del’s hands. “These are working hands and that is something no lady has.” Del snatched her hands back.

“What does that have to do with what you are planning?”

“Nothing.” She shook her head. “Here.” She held out two of the full bowls of stew. Del just looked at her. “I promise you I am not planning anything that would harm you or yours. Do you believe me?”

“I don’t know.” Del answered honestly.

“Then let me show you what I am doing to ease your mind.” She held out the bowls again. Del took them reluctantly.

“Follow me.” She picked up the full tray and headed for the back of the room.

Del followed her through the small door thinking how Maug would never let her live it down if she got jumped with only stew to defend herself. To her relief, no one was waiting behind the door. It opened into a storage room full of barrels and shelves of food. There was a smaller stair to one side that must have led to the Andres’ sleeping room because she could hear faint snoring from that direction.

“Come on,” Ada said, as she sat the tray on a barrel and opened another door at the back of the room. Del could feel a cool breeze. Ada picked up the tray again and disappeared into the dark.

“Well, in for a penny, I guess,” Del murmured.

Outside and down a few stone steps was a dirt path lined with lanterns. The path led to a three walled stable that had been swept clean and now housed two rough tables. Around the tables sat the strangest group of people Del had ever seen.

“What…?” Del began, but Ada interrupted.

“I have a helper tonight. Please don’t be alarmed. She is discreet.” The thin woman motioned Del closer as she sat down the tray and began passing out bowls. “You can start over there,” she pointed to the other table.

Del sat the first bowl of stew in front of an old man who looked Giduran. He had wisps of brown hair and only a few teeth. He grinned at her before he began his meal. The other bowl she sat in front of an Aurelian woman who was missing her left arm. Her dress was thread bear and she wouldn’t look at Del. Ada came over with more bowls for the table.

“Come on then,” she said. “Help me with the bread.” Del followed her back into the kitchen.

“I don’t understand,” Del said as Ada placed the same crusty rolls they’d been served for dinner on her tray.

“What don’t you understand, my lady?”

“Who are those people? Why are they here? Why are you hiding them?”

“Aurelians,” Ada snorted. It sounded like an accusation.

“You’re Aurelian,” Del said defensively. Ada just snorted again.

“Those people are here because they’ve got nowhere else to go. They are the poor, the put off, the undesirable of the city.” She stopped to look at Del. “Have you really never seen them?”

“I…no. I don’t think so,” she said. “I still don’t understand.”

Ada persevered her lips. “A dismissed servant. A maid left behind when a business went under. Travelers who ran out of coin or health to go farther. They have nothing, or close enough to it.” She shook her head sadly. “We aren’t supposed to see them, are we? Oh there’s no laws about being poor but there are rules. The unwritten kind. Treat them like they don’t exist and maybe they will go away. Spit on them in the street and maybe they will die quietly out of sight.”

“I haven’t been to many cities, it’s true,” Del said. “But I’ve never seen those things. These people.”

"Of course you haven't," she scoffed, rolling her eyes. If people would rather see you dead than catch a glimpse of your face, would you dare to show yourself?”

Del thought about that. She considered the times she and Maug had left a city or town by the back ways. The random stranger sitting in an alley at night they’d had to avoid. Or the barefoot child running from doorway to doorway that nearly saw them. Maybe she had seen people like this, but was too naïve to understand.

“You are feeding them in secret?”

“Yes, every night. I make Jac go to bed so he can say he never saw a thing if we are found out. I don’t think he would say that, but it makes me feel better.”

“Surely they wouldn’t arrest you for feeding hungry people!”

“Arrest,” she laughed. “No. Of course not. But we would never see another patron to this inn again. We would become two more starving faces on the street.”

“I’m sorry,” Del said softly. “I accused you of plotting something terrible…” Ada waved a hand.

“Here,” she handed Del four rolls. “Give those to Decrian. Little boy at the end of the second table. His parents let him come here because he’s hungry, but they are too proud to come themselves. If he gets extra, he’ll take it home to them. Stings a little less if it’s coming from their boy, I guess.”

Del followed her through the storage room and back outside. She saw the boy at the end of the table. He was wearing a straw hat and had his head down eating the last of his stew. He looked painfully thin.

“Decrian?” She asked as she approached him. She stopped when he raised his head to look at her. He was a Larchpaw. His ears peaked up from under his hat and he had the distinctive red tattoos down his cheeks and over his eyes. His big golden eyes looked out from a drawn face. He smiled shyly when she handed him the rolls.

“Thank ya, lady,” he said. Del felt tears in her eyes as the boy shoved the rolls in his coat pockets. ‘This could have been Maug,’ she thought. He couldn’t have been much older when he left his home. Had he spent time in a secret stable staving off hunger before she had met him, before he had learned how to fend for himself? What would have happened to him if he never had? How many other Decrians were there in the cities all over Aurelia? She tried to give the boy a friendly smile when he looked up again.

“Come on then,” Ada took her arm gently. “We’ve done all there is to do tonight.” She led Del back into the inn.

“How long have you been doing this?” They sat at the dining table now. The low fire was still burning and Ada had gotten them both a mug of ale.

“Oh, I’d guess twenty years now.”

“How…,” Del tried to find the words. She felt wrong inside, like she could still feel the people just on the other side of the door, and they pulled at her. “How can you keep doing it?”

“How can I not? Would you have them starve?”

“No, of course not. It’s just…” she sighed.

“I admit,” Ada said, “I have considered stopping at times. It’s hard on the old bones some nights. And I worry what will happen when I’m gone.” She waved a hand dismissively. “But, for today, the deed is done.”

“You are a better person than me, Ada Andres.”

“Nonsense. I don’t know who you are. Certainly not who you claim to be, that’s for sure.” She held up a hand to stop Del’s argument. “I don’t care and I don’t intend to pry. But I saw the way you looked at those folks out there. No proper lady of this godsforsaken place would look at them with pity. Anger, maybe. Disgust, definitely. But not pity. Hell, no proper lady would have let my poor Jac off as easily, either. I think you are a better person than you think you are.”

“Thank you,” was all she could say.

“Now you get yourself to bed. And I’ll be locking up tight so there’s no need to be wandering around looking for boogeyman, yes?” She chuckled as Del went back upstairs.