“Trademeet,” Miko says.
“Looks like it,” James agrees. “We should make it before nightfall.”
“Hope we can find an inn and are able to get a bath,” Miko says.
James starts laughing, Miko looks at him and he just laughs harder.
“What’s so funny?” Miko asks, not getting the joke.
When he finally calms himself enough to talk, he explains, “I was just remembering how you used to view baths that first time. I practically had to force you into one,” and then he starts laughing all over again.
Smiling too, Miko said, “I’m just hoping it will help my poor legs and butt.” Then he starts laughing as well, though not as hard as James.
“I am sure we can get a room and have a bath,” James assures him. “I would like one too.”
They hurry toward the city and the wall gradually grows before them as they draw closer. At the gate they are waved through by a couple of bored looking guards and enter the city.
Several blocks into the city they come across an inn that James considers acceptable. The sign outside depicts an ocean shoreline with a sun dropping below the horizon. James leaves Miko outside with the horses and mule and sees about getting a room.
“Welcome to the Setting Sun,” a man says as James enters. “What can we do for you this evening?”
“A room for the night and a place to stable two horses and a mule,” replies James.
The man, thin and gangly with a cheerful presence replies, “Not a problem sir, we have several available and plenty of room in our stable out back to accommodate your steeds. It’s only a silver a night, but that also includes dinner.”
“We’ll take it. I have a traveling companion,” James replies. “Can I get a room with two beds maybe?”
“Certainly sir, many of our rooms come with two beds anyway so that will be no problem,” assures the man. Extending his hand the man says, “My name is Porlen, I own and operate the Setting Sun. Go ahead and get your steeds settled in out back and then come back in and I’ll get you set up with your room.”
James shakes his hand and says, “Thank you, I’ll do that.” He then returns back out front, telling Miko that they have a room for the night and that they should take the steeds out back. They lead the horses around the side of the inn to the courtyard where several people are hanging around. One a boy of about ten or eleven, disengages from the group and comes over to help them find a couple of stalls and get their horses and mule settled in. Once all are taken care of for the night, they take their travel bags and go inside the inn through the back door. They find Porlen behind the counter, straightening up.
He looks up as they enter the inn and come toward him. “Got em settled in, then?” he asks.
“Yep,” James replies.
“Good, good.” Handing him a key he signals to a boy who comes over and takes their bags from them. “Ritchie here will show you to your room. Dinner will be served in about an hour. You might want to come down early, we sometimes get pretty crowded and it may be hard to find a table once we start serving dinner.”
“Thank you,” James says, “but is it possible to have dinner in our rooms?”
“Not a problem,” Porlen assures them. “I’ll send Ritchie to your room when it’s time and he can get you what you need.” Turning to Ritchie, he says, “They are staying in number seven.”
Ritchie says, “Follow me,” then proceeds to lead them to their room which is on the ground floor, down the hall off the main dining area.
Once at their room, Ritchie holds the door open, allowing them to enter first. He places their bags on one of the beds and then stands there waiting. James fishes a copper out of his pouch and gives it to the boy.
Ritchie takes it and looks at it, not entirely happy with the color, and then leaves the room.
“Guess he wanted more?” suggests Miko.
“Probably,” agrees James. “Maybe they get more here. I’ll give him a little more next time.”
In no time at all, Miko is stretched out on a bed, “Not as comfortable as the ones in Inius’ place, but it’ll do.”
James sits on his bed and sees what he means. It’s firmer and you don’t sink down very far, though it’s still comfortable.
“This place doesn’t cost as much as his did either,” James explains. “You generally get what you pay for.”
“I suppose,” Miko answers, then breaks into a big yawn.
James takes out his travel case and puts it on the table. He then opens it and removes several sheets of paper, a quill and a bottle of ink.
From the bed he hears Miko ask, “Gonna do some writing?”
“Yeah, just want to jot down some notes of what’s been happening,” he replies from the table. “You just lay there and rest yourself before dinner, okay?”
When no answer is forthcoming from Miko, he looks over and realizes that the boy has already fallen asleep. Smiling at his friend’s expense, James uncorks the bottle of ink and dips his quill in then begins to make notes about the last couple of days.
He writes down some of the high points on the conversation between himself and the leader of the band of men he had talked to the day before. Once he has that written down to his satisfaction, he takes a separate sheet and makes some notes about magic.
… during the battle when we rescued the girls, Miko offered to let me use the power in him to augment my own depleted magical powers. It worked fine, however there arose in me a moral dilemma. I feel it to be wrong to do this without asking, that it would be an aberration or evil if it was to be done against someone’s will…
… the tornado I brought down almost killed me. I understood what to do, or thought I did. Having seen documentaries on television helped me to shape and control it. If I keep doing over the top magic like that it’s going to end up killing me…
… I have found that the more I do magic, the easier it is to get the desired results, and the less weakened I become afterward. Maybe it’s like building up muscle and endurance, the more often you do it, the better you can handle it…
… still don’t know why the book told me that spells had to be in rhyme form and spoken. Maybe it’s just the easiest way, and once you get used to the process, are able to evolve beyond it…
A knock at the door interrupts his writing. He lays the pen down and then gets up to see who it is. Ritchie is there, telling him that dinner is being served and would like to know what they will want. James goes ahead and orders for himself and his sleeping friend. Ritchie then tells him that he’ll have it up to the room in just a few minutes.
When Ritchie has left, he goes over to the bed where Miko is sleeping. “Wake up,” he says as he shakes his shoulder, startling him awake. “Dinner’s going to be up in a few minutes.”
Miko yawns, gets up and goes over to the table where he sits down to await the arrival of the meal. James removes his writing implements and moves the notes over to a side table where they can dry undisturbed. It doesn’t take long before there is another knock on the door.
James opens the door and lets Ritchie in who sets the platter of food on the table. Another boy is with him with a pitcher of ale and two mugs. James gives Ritchie two coppers and the boy seems more satisfied this time.
Before they leave, James asks, “Is there a chance we could have two baths here in our room after dinner?”
Nodding, Ritchie replies, “We can do that, though it will be another four coppers for each of the baths.”
“Very well,” James says. “After you have taken the plates when we’re done, bring ‘em on in.”
“Very well sir,” Ritchie replies. “I’ll let Porlen know.” Ritchie and the other boy exit the room, closing the door behind them.
James ordered the roasted duck with steamed potatoes. It’s very good and Miko definitely enjoys it, going through it in his usual ravenous way. James makes sure to take an extra helping before he’s even done with his first, before Miko eats it all.
No more than five minutes after the last bite was eaten, Ritchie again comes to the door and takes away the dirty plates and mugs. Shortly after that, two medium size tubs are brought in and filled with hot, steaming water. One of the girls asks if they would like her to stay to ‘help’ them.
“No, thanks,” James says. “I think we can manage on our own.”
