Chapter Twenty-Five - The Hop On Inn

Chapter Twenty-Five - The Hop On Inn

I knew that staring was rude, but I couldnt help myself. There were just so many people, and no two were the same. I didnt mean that the people within were all dressed in strange ways, though there was certainly some of that, I meant that at a glance I counted five different species of people all sitting at different tables and doing... whatever it was adventurers did in an inn.

There was a table with three small people that had translucent wings, all sitting on stools which were taller to accommodate their height. They wore tight-fitting uniforms in dark blues that looked like dress uniforms for officers back home, with medals and tassels on their shoulders and cute little caps.

A bigger table off to one side had a mixed group. Grenoils and a human and a large person with a hunched back and legs that bent the wrong way. They had long, long arms tucked against their side, and their entire body was covered in beige wraps of cloth that did nothing to hide their strange proportions. They even had goggles on.

Someone squawked. Look at the newbie, and I realised they were talking about me.

It had come from a table with four bird people at it. Their arms were actual wings that ended in taloned hands and their uncovered legs were covered in fine feathers.

Sorry, I said with a sheepish smile before I skipped over to the counter.

Behind the bar was a large grenoil who stood like a queen surveilling her people, hands carefully cleaning out a mug with a corner of her apron until she caught sight of me and looked me up and down. You look lost, girlie, she said.

Ah, I was, I think, until now. I gestured to one of the stools near her. Can I sit here?

She croaked. Go ahead.

I smiled at her and plopped myself down. Um, Im looking for a miss Julliette. Do you know her?

Its Misses, and I know her better zan anyone. Whos asking? She filled up a mug with something from a tap and sent it sliding across the counter just as a barmaid passed to pick it up.

Eh, I am? I met a team from the Exploration Guild in the woods. Emeric said that I should ask you about a place to stay, and maybe work. I smiled hopefully.

She eyed me up and down. Im not a charity, no matter what zat idiot Emeric thinks.

I shook my head. No, no, thats okay. If you dont have work then Ill find something. Um, do you sell food?

Oh course we sell food! she roared. Nine cop for ze best meal youve ever eaten.

Are there bugs in it? I asked as I started reaching into my bag. I had three little pouches made from some cloth Id knotted together. One for each sort of coin Id found. I pulled out the copper pouch and emptied it on the counter, then counted them out. Ah, I only have eight, I said.

Julliette eyed my meager copper coin supply, then snapped a hand out and stuffed them somewhere so fast that I couldnt see where they went. Youre too zin, she said before moving back. There was an opening at the back in the wall, a window into a busy kitchen where a couple of grenoil and one of those cloth-wrapped people were cooking up a storm. Juliette screamed a few numbers at them before returning to me. You said you were looking for work? she asked.

Um, yeah! Im just level four though, so I cant do too much.

Julliette shook her big head. What is someone like you doing out here? Trying to get yourself killed?

No, I got lost. Sorry?

Tch. Fine. What can you do?

I beamed at her. I can clean, and I can cook and bake a little, and Ive got the Gardening skill.

You have ze cooking or baking skills? she asked.

No, I said with a shake.

Zen youre useless in my kitchen. Go ask Dylan if he needs the help. At my confused look she elaborated. Hes ze alchemist. If you cant find him in zis pisshole zen youre hopeless.

That sounds great! I said. Um, do you have rooms here? With showers?

She snorted. I always do. You could stay in ze tents if you want. Zey cost two cop a night. But if you wake up naked and wizout anyzing to your name, zats your problem.

Right, your inn seems much nicer, I said. I have some things to sell. I should go do that soon to afford a room.

Juliette grabbed a rag and started rubbing at her counter absentmindedly. Ze first room down zat corridor, she said with a nod to the side. Go clean it. Ill give you a cop if its to my liking.

A copper, which was a tenth of the value of a small room. How many rooms does your inn have? I asked.

Forty, she said with a growing smile. But I wouldnt pay you more for caring for ze bigger rooms.

Right, I said. I looked down and was disappointed to find that all of my food was gone. I shoved the sadness aside by reminding myself that I could afford hundreds of these meals now thanks to Leonard. Um, Im supposed to go to Port Royal, are there ways to get there?

Yes. You walk. You ride wiz a caravan. You hire a mage to teleport you, Juliette said.

Teleport? I asked with wonder.

Zats usually a few lesser gold for ze distance between here and Port Royal. Triple it here because no mage will want to take you.

I winced. Okay. How about the caravan option?

Ze last caravan arrived yesterday morning. Ze next one arrives in a week. Ze guards for it have all been hired already from ze local adventurers, so youd need to buy passage to go wiz zem. A few sil. More for food.

A week then. A week to gather things and make some money to be able to live in a proper city. A week to explore and meet people and make friends. I grinned at Juliette. Brilliant!

I hopped off the stool and moved over to the side towards the room she had pointed out. Ill get to cleaning then, I said as I held my bag to the side. Can I put this somewhere?

She took the bag and stuffed it behind the bar. Cleaning zings are in the cupboard under ze stairs.

Got it! I said.

I found the room and slid in with a broom and some rags. It was a small space, with a simple undecorated bed to one side, a chair and desk at the far end and a tiny window overlooking the back of the inn.

I could see the tents she had mentioned. They werent actual tents, but small squat buildings with cloth walls and roofs. Some had the sides rolled up to reveal hammocks all in a row within. There was what I suspected was a latrine at the far end, a human man coming out and hopping around as he buckled his belt. Not very fancy. A room would be much nicer, even if it was simple.

My plan so far was pretty simple, but I could go over it again and again as I broomed the floor and did the bed and rubbed the top of the desk free of dust. Get a room, then spend the night. In the morning try to sell all of my loot. Then maybe I could work in the inn. That did sound kind of cool.

But I also wanted to see the world around the outpost and maybe find more cool stuff! The adventurers here had to be around for something. Maybe I could help?

I wiped my brow and looked over my work. It was good enough.

I set aside all of the cleaning stuff and went to fetch Juliette. Problem? she asked. Dont tell me you dont know how to do ze bed. I swear children zese days are... she stopped when she stood by the door. Did... did you polish ze floor?

The floor looked clean, nice and well cared for and just a little sparkly. I just cleaned it, I said.

And ze bed?

The bed looked fresh and welcoming. It even smelled nice, like fresh hay. Probably because thats what was in the mattress. I made it right, right? I asked. Um, I can try harder, if you want.

Juliette eyed me. You have the Cleaning skill zen. Good. One cop a room, she said.

I grinned. Okay!