It was in Larynda, in her youthful guilelessness and childish innocence, who was only lightly touched by the calloused hands of the world, that I had found a kindred soul regarding the matter of slavery. Over modest repast, she had blurted out that all people should be free, and that no one had the right to enslave another. I counseled her gently, warning that such noble ideals demanded strength as their shield, lest they be trampled under the boots of harsher truths. It was with no small amount of satisfaction that I saw her train harder the next day with Kidu.
“And that is your daughter’s tale,” I finished for Zariyah, fighting an urge to stretch. She had gone on for long enough, I felt.
“...I never knew, all these years, my darling girl…” Zariyah’s mother whispered in a hollow voice.
“Yes, as you can see, serendipity has a strange way of working her will. However, my companions and I are looking for lodging and this place came highly recommended,” I said with a small smile, trying to keep things pleasant and light.
“Of course,” she croaked automatically in response before she gathered herself. “Two rooms would be a silver a night, but for bringing my daughter back to me you can stay here as long as you…”
Of course, I intended to free Zariyah at some point, but I found it awfully rude for the woman to presume something of me. Or was it her womanly way of manipulating me?
I cut her off. “Three rooms, and I will of course pay for our lodgings. This should be good for a while,” I stated, trying to maintain the smile upon my face.
I placed a gold coin on the table, resisting the urge to wince. A gold coin, was after all, a gold coin and a considerable amount of money. I was almost tempted to swallow my pride and take her up on her earlier offer. City life was expensive, and a caravan guard, it seemed, was paid next to nothing. Damn that Laes.
The woman looked at the coins oddly for a moment.
“Is something the matter?”
“No, not at all, it has been a while since I received a coin like that,” she answered, shaking her head and scooping up the coins.
What could she mean by that? The inn looked prosperous enough. Or was it perhaps because they used paper money in Al-Lazar? If so, I would have to remember to change some of my notes into smaller denominations.
“I will have the girl Ninurta show you to your rooms, but if it does not displease Master Gilgamesh, I would like a little more time with my daughter,” she said formally, almost with an air of frigid ceremony.
“But of course, Mistress Naira,” I acquiesced smoothly.
*****
Ninurta, a slip of a girl in her early teens, possessed olive skin, brown eyes, and a rebellious cascade of curly dark hair. Thin and bony for her age, she was a bundle of unbridled excitement, practically bouncing off the walls with her childlike enthusiasm as she ushered us to our rooms giving us a set of bronze keys.
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
The rooms themselves were small, but clean, and the walls were washed with a coat of white paint, lending an airy feel to the room.
Using glass for the windows was a small testament to the prosperity of the place, as the manufacture of it was an expensive process for low-technology cultures. My room was a corner room and the furthest from the stairs.
A large bed dominated the center, big enough for three or four people to share, the sight of which brought a brief smile to my face. It was a reminder of something that my world had lost with its steady advancements. Animals slept together for comfort and safety, and humans were no different to them on the most basic level. But as we, as a society, became more prosperous, we began seeking to build barriers to keep away our fellow man, becoming lonelier in the process. The truly rich of my old world hoarded their privacy like a dragon’s gold, but their souls were the poorer for it.
I was, however, a product of that world and welcomed the privacy after having shared cramped quarters with Kidu and Elwin. Finally, I would have some time to myself.
Interrupting Ninurta’s ramblings with Larynda, I inquired after Patches and the Ninurta assured us that our donkey would be well taken care of. According to the little bundle of enthusiasm, the inn had a small stable around the back, and the girl exclaimed that she positively loved animals and would see to her personally.
We began to settle in, and the porters of the Begonia’s Shade helped us bring some of our things up the stairs. Finally alone for a moment, I began to shuck myself out of my armor. Just as I was removing my left pauldron, having difficulty with a rather rebellious strap, there was an energetic knock on the door to my room.
“It’s Ninurta, sir,” piped a voice from the other side of the heavy door, “I’ve come to show you the way to the baths if you like… I brought you robes, a towel, and stuff!”
Annoyed, I got up and opened the door, letting the bouncing girl in.
“Leave it there, please. I will be done in a few moments,” I stated curtly, my sanctum already invaded. I sat down and worked my way to loosen the stubborn strap.
“Do you need any help, sir?” Ninurta squeaked eagerly.
“No, I will be… actually yes, if you could help me here,” I answered, gesturing to the annoying strap.
With the brightest of smiles, the girl helped me out of my steel shell. The dents and wear in my gear were a sad and obvious reminder of my latest adventurers. I would have to see to their proper maintenance later. There was no end to the chores.
Down now to my gambeson, I asked her to wait outside the room so that I could change into the robes she had provided. The girl looked at me oddly for a moment, almost frustrated, as if leaving the job half-done. Even so, she left me alone, but not before shooting a look toward me before closing the door behind her.
I quickly got changed, dumping the gambeson, along with my underclothes, into a laundry basket in the corner. Opening the door, I found Ninurta singing a cheerful song as she waited for me.
“Please, this way!” she enthused, leading me down to another room on the ground floor.
The room was tiled in blue, with a pool at its center. Water flowed from a copper pipe, gurgling like a fountain. Naira had quite obviously done rather well for herself to be able to afford facilities like these for her guests.
“Do you need help with… err washing your back? I can help with other stuff too…” she asked timidly.
Caught off guard, I looked at her dumbfounded. It took me a while before I was finally able to register her intent.
“No, that will not be necessary,” I said quite firmly, “Please, leave us.” The 'royal plural’. Was I going funny in the head?
The girl gave me a bright smile, looking genuinely happy at my refusal. She was singing, her voice echoing off of the bath walls, as she left the baths with a skip in her step. Finally, I felt relieved that I had avoided a potentially awkward situation and that she was out of my hair.
For all of its veneer of luxury, it seemed that this place was just as barbaric, twisted, and morally bankrupt as Ansan.
Truly, what was going on in this place?