Chapter 1965: Curiosity
Vex pressed closer to him, her red eyes narrowing at the dragonkin.
"Wait, please!" Narethi spoke up suddenly.
She moved between Quinlan and the guards, her tail curling clear of a porter carrying a coil of rope.
"I vouch for them. Put it against my name. You know where I berth, where I trade, and where I live."
"You met them today," the female dragonkin said.
"Yes. While they were saving my crew. Without them, I’d be dead... or worse."
Her voice shook. She steadied it before continuing.
𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
"I watched them fight the men who were killing us. I watched them heal Garron and pull my sailors from the sea. They asked me for directions afterward. That’s what these suspicious strangers wanted from me."
The woman glanced past her at the crew unloading their dead.
Narethi kept her eyes on the man blocking their way.
"Will you accept my guarantee?"
He studied the captain before looking at Quinlan again.
"Any trouble you cause comes back to her."
"..." Quinlan didn’t reply instantly. He didn’t like being indebted, especially because with his rowdy girls, he couldn’t be sure they’d not cause trouble.
The female dragonkin watched his hesitation, then grinned, showing the sharp points of her canines between full lips.
"Worry not, man from far away. ’Trouble’ for us dragonkin means grave crimes against the crown."
She chuckled, a rough sound deep in her throat.
"Starting a fight, especially one you win, will not get this merchant punished."
Now that, Quinlan could accept much more readily. "I understand. Thank you for the explanation."
"You’re welcome~" she purred, looking him over again.
The male guard moved aside and curled his tail behind his boots, clearing the passage beside the stacked cargo.
"Don’t make her regret it."
Narethi released a breath and led them through. Quinlan inclined his head to her as they passed the first warehouse.
"Thank you for putting your name behind us. I’ll not forget your kindness."
"Of course, my lord."
She looked at her crew again, then pointed them toward the street beyond the docks.
"Now. I promised you a bath."
...
Lucille moved closer to Quinlan as Narethi led them into the inn. A server was carrying used dishes out of the dining room, and Lucille drew Quinlan aside to leave the passage clear.
"Perhaps we could wait here while the captain arranges things?" she suggested to the others, indicating the space beside the stairs.
Narethi approached the counter and began discussing rooms with the innkeeper. Lucille watched a maid hurry upstairs with folded linen, then smiled at Quinlan.
The innkeeper turned and called through an open doorway behind the counter. Lucille’s smile widened.
Quinlan chuckled beneath his helmet. His Bloodmonger was at home when it came to the topic of innkeeping, visibly perking up at the opportunity to finally be the most knowledgeable about something.
"Could we have rooms facing the courtyard?" Lucille asked when the innkeeper returned. "And whatever the kitchen can comfortably manage for lunch. We’re happy to wait until after we’ve washed."
"That would help considerably, my lady."
"How lovely. Perhaps someone could help us, too?"
The voice came from a woman seated beside a pair of travelling trunks. Chestnut curls framed a pretty face pinched with exhaustion, and her gloved fingers drummed against her knee as she looked over Quinlan’s company.
"We arrived first."
Her husband stood beside the luggage in a fine coat dusty from travel. He leaned toward the counter immediately.
"My partner has had a very tiring journey. Surely our room takes precedence over accommodating an entire procession?"
Lucille glanced at the innkeeper.
"Are we holding up their room?"
"No, my lady. Their linen is being changed."
"Still?" The woman puffed out a breath. "You said this was a respectable establishment."
"It came highly recommended," he assured her, then inspected the others with obvious distaste. "Though apparently they aren’t particular about their clientele."
Lucille’s smile remained pleasant.
"Clean sheets take a little time. I’m sure you’d prefer them."
"I would prefer to sleep."
"Then we’ll try to leave the staff free to finish your room."
"Damned plebeians can’t even clean clothes quickly..." The woman scoffed and looked away. "I can’t stand this any longer. Andre, do something."
The man hurried to lift her cloak from the neighbouring chair before she could reach for it herself.
"You’ll be upstairs soon. I’ll speak to someone."
"Now."
Lucille returned her attention to the counter, her hand resting comfortably on Quinlan’s arm.
Quinlan chuckled, more amused than offended. As far as he was concerned, this was just a bitch throwing a tantrum, nothing more. Though that could change rapidly if she kept talking to Lucille in such a manner.
The innkeeper nodded at their naga friend.
"I’ll have someone show you upstairs."
Narethi asked for the total, including the baths and food. Quinlan listened as the woman quoted a sum in crowns, then watched the captain count dark coins onto the counter.
’Different currency.’
Pale lines gleamed inside the metal as the innkeeper turned them beneath the light. She counted them into a drawer and returned smaller coins, which Narethi tucked into her purse.
Quinlan compared the payment with the symbols on the price board behind her. The currency was unfamiliar, but he could learn what people called it and how they spent it by watching.
Narethi came back to them.
"Your stay is my treat, my lord. Please enjoy yourselves."
"I’m grateful."
"And an excellent choice of inn," Lucille added. "I think we’ll be comfortable here."
Narethi looked pleased. She gave them directions to the Adventurer’s Guild before returning to her people at the harbour.
Upstairs, the promised bath occupied a sunlit room overlooking an inner courtyard. Lucille tested the water while the others came in, then reached automatically for the towels a maid was setting down.
"I’ll take those, thank you."
She distributed them before noticing Quinlan watching her.
"What?"
"Are you staying here or working here?"
Lucille looked down at the last towel in her hands and laughed.
"Oh, shush. She had her hands full."
He closed the door after the maid left. Once the family was alone, and they ascertained the absence of spying artifacts or spells, Synchra withdrew from his face and Lucille laid the towel aside to cup his cheek.
"There you are. I was beginning to miss that face."
Quinlan smiled and drew Lucille against him. She settled comfortably beneath his arm, looking out at the unfamiliar roofs beyond their window.
"I’d like to earn our spending money here," he told her and the others. "Using our valuables to trade is too risky when we know so little."
"Then we’ll find something worth doing," Lucille hugged him tight. "Though perhaps we should learn what dinner costs before promising to pay for it with our earnings."
"We have gold if we need it. None of you will starve on my watch."
For now, he liked the prospect of earning local money and spending it on whatever caught their interest.
Lucille kissed his cheek before slipping out from beneath his arm.
"First, a bath." Her clothes began dropping with concerning speed.
"Then, the Adventurer’s Guild," Ayame grinned, shedding her own clothes quickly. "I can’t wait."