Chapter Forty-nine

Libelle handed the reins of both horses to the stable boy who hurriedly led them to the large barn, running through the mud and deep puddles as heavy rain beat down on them. She led Eskil, still hooded beneath her cloak, up the stairs and to the door of the inn. She opened the oak door and they both stepped into the warm inn.

Patting down her pants, they looked around the half-full inn. Several men and women sat at the tables around the dining area, a large fire was built at the head of the room, and a delicious smelling stew was cooking in a large kettle. A few of the men turned to stare at the new arrivals before returning to their conversation and their drinks. Libelle gestured for Eskil to follow her as she walked across the room to the counter at the far end of the inn.

The burly looking man at the counter was polishing plates while talking to a younger, attractive woman. "I need you to fetch clean water and some food from the cellar. We only have one more room available for the night, and by the look of this weather, we are bound to have some wet rat scurrying in to purchase it. Clean up the room for me alright, Amelia?"

She nodded at him, took a large pitcher from beneath the counter and shuffled away down the stairs. Libelle approached the counter, lightly tapping the wood to get the man's attention. He turned to look at her with a round but well-shaped face. His brown eyes narrowed and his rough voice came out as a grumble when he spoke.

"What do you want, elf?"

She smiled at him, the expression forced. "I'd like to purchase that last room for the night. My companion and I would like to stay dry this evening."

He grunted. "You have the coin?"

"I do."

He stared at her for a moment, never pausing as he cleaned another dish, then he glanced at Eskil who looked incredibly suspicious with the hood shadowing half of his face. He seemed to be thinking it over. His expression was tense and he seemed like he was going to tell them to leave. Libelle pulled several gold coins from her coin purse and set them on the counter before the man. He smiled and happily collected the coin in his hands.

"Alright, the room is yours. Up those stairs, second door on the right. There is stew by the fire if you get hungry." He handed her a small bronze key for the room.

"Thank you." She nodded at the man and took the key he offered. "I'd be willing to give you more coin if you have someone who wouldn't mind jogging to the store for some dry clothing for my companion and me? We had a run in with a few bandits, so our clothes are not in a very pleasant condition."

He looked her up and down, noting the various holes in her pants and the torn cotton shirt beneath her leather coat. He also looked at Eskil, whose wool pants were filled with holes and covered in dirt. "How much coin are you offering?"

She collected more coin from her purse and placed them in his open palm. He looked down at them and chuckled. "I'll have the stable boy come find you to get a list of what you need."

"Thank you."

She turned and guided Eskil up the stairs, around a corner and down a narrow hallway with one side displaying a weak looking railing. She inserted the key into the door, twisted it, and opened it up into a fairly spacious room. She stepped in and closed the door behind them. Sighing, she stretched her arms upwards.

She pulled off her boots and jacket and hung them up on a coat rack near the door to dry. Eskil stood in the corner of the room, silently watching her as she rubbed her stiff neck. There was a knock at the door and she turned to answer it, finding the young stable boy stood on the other side, drenched by the rain.

"Excuse me, miss, the innkeeper sent me. He said you need me to run an errand for you?"

"Ah, yes. I need you to run to the general store and fetch me a few things. Do you have paper, some ink, and a quill?"

He nodded at her, rushed down the hallway and returned with what she asked. She took a moment to scribble out a long list of supplies, he read them back to her and then darted down the stairs. Libelle shut the door again and turned around to Eskil who was staring out of the window.

"You can take off that cloak now. As long as you're in the room you don't need it on."

She sat down on the bed and ran her fingers through her long, wet hair to try and detangle the knots. Eskil remained at the window, staring out at the dirt street in front of the inn. He watched the young stable boy dart from the inn and across the street to a smaller building he assumed was the general store.

They sat silently in the room for several minutes, Libelle combing through her hair and Eskil staring at nothing through the window. He watched as the boy darted back out across the street, now carrying a large sack that he shielded from the rain. When he ran out of his line of vision, within a matter of seconds they heard another knock at their door. Libelle stood up again, opened the door and allowed the stable boy to enter the room. He set the large sack down on the bed.

"I got everything on your list, miss! Is there anything else I can do for you?" he panted.

Libelle smiled gently, shaking her head. "No, thank you. Please take this, it's for you."

She handed him a small leather pouch filled with coin, and his face beamed into a smile.

"Thank you, miss! Thank you!"