One's Own Shadow (The Siúil Book 2)

inn. The best looking of the lot and quiet. She liked the idea of quiet for a time. If it suited her, she may even take a few nights. The guard had mentioned a war in the south. She could imagine what had happened. Horsefolk. Ambitious, she’d afford them that much. A porch sat at the front of the inn and her horse looked at the ceiling above and the stairs with what could only be called confusion. It tested the first step with a hoof and pulled back, huffing at the obstacle. Aile watched it from near the door, wondering what it would do. The horse backed up and trotted forward again, jumping with its head low up the steps and then clattering desperately to keep upright as it landed on the creaking wood. The horse looked at her and chuffed happily when it finally regained its footing, deciding just after to walk to the end of the porch. It tore a hanging chair from the roof as though it were not bothered by the thing and turned when it was happy, sitting down calmly and finally lifting its head now that there was room. Aile stared blankly at the creature wondering what was in its mind. It stared back for a brief moment before some movement in the street caught its attention.

The door opened to a lobby with dining to either side of the entryway, a desk straight from the door. The elf at the counter, a woman with brown eyes and tight braids holding plain brown hair to her head, clapped when she saw Aile enter.

“Oh my Sisters be! A Drow, well what a delight!” She came walking over immediately and Aile felt an exhaustion sweep over her. She hesitated to leave as the dining room looked well-appointed and she was unlikely to find a much different reaction elsewhere. “Welcome, welcome. What a special day this is! Oh!” She stopped in front of Aile. “You have no bags?”

“I will retrieve them when I need them.”

“Oh! Well, do you wish for a room? We really are the most lovely inn you’ll find in Ciúinloch. Our deck at the roof even allows a view of the water. Or the forests if you’d prefer. You must just love the woods.”

“I am here for a room, yes. And meals.”

“You’ve come to the best place, then. Just the best place for someone like yourself.” She turned to move back to the counter.

“Like myself?”

“Hm?” The woman looked over her shoulder. “Oh! A discerning customer, of course. I could tell from your attire. It’s so beautiful. All of you…” She held the end of the word and bent it upward into another. “—r leather. It’s just wonderful.”

Aile walked to the counter, unsure if she’d have preferred the hostility.

The woman looked over her board. “Let’s see, one room. Easily done.”

“On the second floor.”

“Oh? Well, of course. Whatever you’d like. We have plenty, what with the war. Might I have your name?”

Aile stared at her quietly, the woman carried on unphased.

“No? Well, how about Tine, then. That will do nicely, I think.”

The name elves called the Goddess. Close enough to her own to make her feel ill at ease. A thing that bothered her more than it ought have.

“It’s two silvers a night. Meals included. You can take them in your room, but I do recommend our lovely dining room.”

Aile pulled a few cubes of gold and tossed them onto the counter. “Extra, for the trouble of their shape.” There was no strangeness in the city, aside from its overly familiar people. An explanation would be more likely expected than in desert slums.

“Oh! Oh, my! Is this Drow coin? Cubes? I’ve never seen the like!” She was practically giddy, rubbing them with her fingers and holding them close to inspect them.

“They are all I have.”

“They will do wonderfully. Just…” She stared at the cubes, her eyes close. She sniffed at them even.

“Just?”

“Oh.” The woman shook her head. “Nothing. They will do fine. Your room.” She grabbed a key attached to a small plank and handed it over. “Up the stairs, either end of the main floor. I will prepare breakfast when you are ready for it.”

Aile found her room. The middle of the second floor. Far from the stairs. She did not enjoy the distance, but there was a roof above the porch that would serve her if need be, far more open than the hallway. She inspected the bed and the rest. The room itself was nice, clean, comfortable. It had a large wash basin which had been filled that morning, most like. It was still cold, though the room was well-heated by open pipes in the wall.

The day passed peacefully enough. She was left alone in her room taking breakfast and dinner there, looking over maps of Abhainnbaile and its Bastion City. There was much open space in the Bastion City, and she still knew very little about this elf woman. It was decided that she would have dinner in the dining room and, as tiresome as it might prove, she would ask after the newfound object of her interest. The bell in the hall rang well after dark, as Aile was grinding ingredients both to clean her blades and prepare them for use among the elves. The paralytic she’d put on so many of her blades was overkill where elves were concerned. Still, a few poisoned tools were necessary. She carefully packed her half-finished work and dressed herself. Downstairs there were only two others in the dining room. A pair of men, clean-shaven with precise haircuts. Oddly uniform. She knew little of the trends of elf religion, but their clothes gave such a feel if their hair had not.

The innkeep woman clapped again when she came down. “Oh delightful! I was worried you might just live up there in your room.” She laughed. Too much and too enthusiastically.

Aile ignored her and took a seat. The woman came with a sheet of paper, a