Whichever daemon of Vhirs was responsible for the weather, decided that northern wind would pick up and even flakes of early spring snow would fall, only to disappear immediately after hitting the ground. The trip from the port to the city took them about half a candle, maybe more. It was getting dusky, but the city gates were still open. Torches in the guard tower were lit though.

-*they could not have bothered with guards, considering this tent town behind us* - said Greoo as they approached the gate. Indeed. A sizable regiment of maargardian troops set up a camp of long, rectangular tents before the gate and didn’t seem to even bother with setting a defensive perimeter. Brandt even grumbled something incomprehensible about this when they first saw the gathering.

-*it is not advisable to forego the routine*- said Thernohh -*even you inheads need a shakedown when all of you settle into the lowest effort state of being. Hoomin are no different*- there was a hint of disgust in what she was saying -*it is less efficient short term to do it like that, but beneficial in the grander picture*

-*You’re rude*- said Greoo

-*Does not make it any less true*- dryly responded Thernohh

Greoo grumbled something to herself but didn’t respond.

The guards at the city gate didn’t seem bothered with Brandt and Anh, being more focused on their shift ending soon. One of them said something to the effect of “papers please” but when the Nord flashed wax-and-stamped a document before him, the guard just waved the carriage through.

The town was tiny in comparison to Sheridawn, or, Vhirs forbid, Tanais. There was very little in terms of paving and buildings were either entirely made of wood or barely having a stone foundation. The presence of the latter was also a clear sign of nearing the town’s marketplace. Which itself was also tiny by Anh’s standards. It was roughly square, less than a hundred mers on its side. It was nicely laid in stone though, and in its center stood a platform with gallows. From those two freshly hung men slowly dangling in the wind. Each had their hands tied behind their back, a hemp sack over their head, and a wooden plank on their chest. On one “traitor” was written over it in black letters, on the other it was “heretic”.

-*lovely*- grimly said Birdekk, seeing the convicted and executed men.

Their carriage maneuvered around the gore and towards a large building on the opposite side of the market. Once they arrived at its gates, Anh read the name written on the board above it. It was “The Wild Man, established 1341”. Ironically, the letters were clean, legible, calligraphed in a steady hand, and finished off with fancy sheriffs.

The hoomin stepped off the carriage and gestured to tanai to do the same.

-” Rent a room for both of us”- he handed the tanai a rolled parchment, and then immediately marched off to a well-kept building of red brick opposite the inn. Anh followed him with his gaze and was quite amazed that Brandt marched there as if he owned the place.

Having nothing else to do, Anh floated into the inn, which from the inside was… strangely familiar. He was not a traveler by any means, but the inside of this inn was just like the few he visited along his way here. There was a roast, with some animal being stuck on an iron spit. There were a few, mostly fairly young, people serving the customers. A mixture of light crystals and torches provided the light and the air was filled with a scent of mead, ale, pork, and potatoes in gravy.

The arrangement of the bar, benches, tables, or location of the main roast was changing, but all of the inns were, very much, the same place.

Judging from the reactions of the patrons, a tanai floating into the main hall of the inn was to be today’s main event. The emaciated visage of Anh’s in loosely fitting clothes caused just about every person in the room to throw at least a little glance in his general direction. For some, it was nothing but a quick look. Some others were staring with either amazement or disgust.

-* they are looking at us as if we were a circus freak *- pondered Thernohh

-* we are very down south in Maargard *- calmly responded Greeo -* for all intents and purposes we are a freak for them *

-* greoo is right *- chimed in Tow -* Not that many of our kind wander so far into maargardian territory *-

-* i recognize, nonetheless it is rude*

-* hush, in there *- interrupted Anh -* we were tasked with renting a room with this magical document. I presume. Which is…”*

He unrolled the parchment and quickly skimmed the rows of letters on it.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

-*...a letter of recommendation from the local ‘Maarische Bank und Geldbau’ and assurance of reimbursement of any costs up to five Swords, provided receipts are given. I thought Brandt works for Zerstbank.” - said puzzled Anh.

-* Zerstbank is not allowed to operate in Maargard *- responded Tow -* so this must be a maargardian outgrowth allowing it to do business here in some capacity *.

-* right *- reservedly said Anh -* let’s see if this is worth anything *

-* do I sense a hint of excitement, and maybe eagerness *- merrily said Greoo

-* more like a dread mixed with anxiety *- responded Anh grimly.

The tanai floated towards the bar, which was … almost the same, at least in design, as any other bar he had seen. Wooden construction, flushed and polished. Built between two wooden pillars. Even the corpulent hoomin man behind it was similar to the previous ones. This one might have been unique because of the mustache, but Anh just couldn’t tell.

-” I would like to rent a room for two.”

-” Juzt de night?” - said the innkeeper

-* for how long did Brandt want this room *

-* one night, he wants the stay to be brief *- said Birdekk -* but take two nights, just in case *

-” Two nights. But we might leave tomorrow if business pans well.”

-” I zee. Zo for you and zeine wife. Yez?”

-* Does that matter? *- said Anh in a slightly worried tone

-* Hoomin couples sleep together, often also copulate *- calmly responded Birdekk

-” No, no wife ”- Quickly said Anh -” Just business partner. Two separate beds.”

-” Yez, yez” - snickered the man -” buzinezz partner. Room zeven.” - he pointed towards a staircase hugging the wall to his left - ”upztairz.”

-” Thank you”- Anh was readying himself to go towards the staircase

-” Paid upfront. Zehn shillls per night.”

-” Right, right. I have this” - tanai handed Brandt’s document. The innkeeper took it, unrolled, and, judging from his gaze, slowly read it, pausing occasionally to let go of a muted ‘mhm’. Then he rolled the document back and hid it under the bar.

-”Room zeven” - he gestured to Anh

-* Anh, we are getting ripped off *- calmly announced Birdekk -* U nless this is some sort of a royal accommodation. Ten shillings is, quite literally, ten times too expensive. At least. *

-* Is it? Fair enough, I guess. I’ll let Brandt deal with this *- what Anh has done was the mental equivalent of a shrug -* he was mean to us *

-* First of all, he does not seem to be accustomed to working with our kind *- chimed in Greoo -* and secondly, he has a point. No need to be a simpleton about it *-

-* That, and considering that we are out of our element and…*- Birdekk took over -*...we are dependent on his continuing will to support us. It is best if we play along to build our worth in his eyes.”

-* Fine, fine * - grumbed Anh

-” How much you said it is?” - Said tanai before venturing towards the stairs - “ Ten shillings, yes? ”.

-” Yez, unzere ztandard fare.” - said the man, his voice betraying uncertainty.

-* Tell him that you are not a Paladin and this is not Caer Coch * - said Greoo -* Be mean, just don’t overdo it*

-” So I heard” - Said Anh in a faux worried tone, then threw his hands on the bar and leaned towards the man, trying to be intimidating. Which was a touch comical, considering his skinny posture and about a mer and a half in height - ” Do I look like a paladin in Caer Coch? No? Don’t think so. ”

The innkeeper opened his eyes, confused about whether he should laugh at the tiny, flying man before him or be scared of the prospect of being fried by the dark tanai magicks.

-” What do zie want?” - he finally uttered

-” My inner voices tell me, this is a one-shilling kind of room” - said Anh in as stern a voice as he could - “and that is with a breakfast at our door as soon as the rooster sings.”

-* How am I doing?* - said worried Anh

-* We’re not going to be accepted into ‘Societvum Acto im Vhirs’ anytime soon with this performance…* - responded Thernohh

-” Of courze zir!. My manners. Ich meant ten copperz fur one person. Zhilling per room, with breakfast” - said the innkeeper in conciliatory voice

-*...but you are getting the results we want. So I give it a solid six out of ten.*- finished Anh’s kinfolk

-” Good. Of course. An honest mistake. Room seven you say? Upstairs?”

-” Ja, upztairs.”

Anh stroked his goatee for a second.

-” Good” - he said finally - “I’ll go take a look. In the meantime, prepare a meal for me and my associate. Whatever the specialty of the house is for my associate. Oatmeal with as much dried fruit as you find and a piece of cake for me.”

-” Will sie be eating in zeine room?”

Anh was pondering this question for a few seconds, and he finally responded.

-” Yes. Deliver to our room.” - he said leaving towards the stairs. Anh didn’t get more than halfway across when Birdekk reminded him.

-*You forgot to secure our luggage. The carriage is still waiting outside*-

-*Way to spoil my dramatic exit.*- grumbled Anh -*Let’s see the room and then get our bags.*