Kairo and returned to the bar, feeling the weight of its familiar stillness. It was empty, except for Ngalu, who had fallen asleep at a table, his snores resonating in the quiet room.
Time had slipped away from Kairo and Nyaogi during their search and conversation. Kairo paused, taking a moment to gather his thoughts amid the chaos of recent events.
His brief moment of calm was shattered by the sound of unsteady footsteps from upstairs. Inspector Adamma, still woozy from Linai's concoction, staggered down the stairs, his gaze cloudy but determined.
Catching Nyaogi's eye, Kairo suggested, “It’s best if you leave now.”
Nyaogi glanced sharply at the inspector, then shook her head at Kairo. “I’m staying, Kairo.”
“Goodnight,” he replied.
She stared at Kairo. “I’m staying. If I get a chance, I will do what I need to.”
Kairo resisted the urge to push her out the front door. “Fine.”
“Do you need help?” Nyaogi asked, concern in her tone.
Kairo sighed. “I’ll manage.”
She gave Kairo a reassuring nod and turned towards the bar.
While the inspector approached Kairo, Nyaogi busied herself preparing a drink.
“Mr. Kairo, I must conduct a search,” the inspector mumbled, his words slurred. He blinked hard, trying to focus. “The events of... tonight, or was it last night? They require inception. Inspection?”
Kairo, standing firm, replied, “Of course, Inspector. How can I assist you?”
With her drink in hand, Nyaogi settled into a chair in the common room, her eyes subtly observing the unfolding scene.
As the inspector started his clumsy inspection, Nyaogi quietly sipped her drink, ready to intervene if the opportunity arose. Her presence, usually calming, now served as a silent guardian over the inn and its secrets.
Kairo endeavored to stay composed. "Inspector, you'll find everything in order," he said, masking his inner turmoil.
Kairo watched closely as the inspector shuffled through the bar area. He scrutinized the counters, surveyed the shelves lined with various bottles and glasses, his movements unsteady.
#
Nyaogi watched as Ngalu slept soundly at his table, his snores echoing softly in the quiet space. Kairo engaged the inspector, drawing his attention away.
The inspector turned his back and examined a cabinet.
Nyaogi rose.
Kairo shook his head and mouthed. “No.”
“Yes.” Nyaogi mouthed back. Seizing the moment, she slipped down the hall. She tip-toed upstairs. Nyaogi entered her room and gently shut the door, mindful of every sound she made.
Under the veil of night, Nyaogi began the meticulous task of moving her concealed potion supplies. She had a narrow window to act.
She couldn't afford any mistakes; a single error could expose her secrets.
#
With each cabinet the inspector opened and each corner he examined, Kairo’s anxiety grew. He silently followed the inspector around.
The inspector's search was awkward and haphazard, his mutterings incoherent, trailing off into nonsensical mumbles. Kairo watched, his heart rate elevated, as the scene unfolded in the once-vibrant space now silent and tense.
The inspector, in his befuddled state, leaned over Ngalu, sniffing him closely.
"Dead? Under magic?" he asked, his words slurred.
Kairo, keeping his voice even, replied, "I don’t believe so, Inspector."
The inspector poked Ngalu curiously with a finger. Startled, Ngalu jolted upright, mumbling incoherently. He then slumped forward, hitting his head on the table, before waking up and rubbing his forehead. "What happened?" Ngalu asked, bewildered.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
"Hmm, not dead," the inspector concluded absently. He wandered away.
Ngalu, now fully awake, observed the inspector's erratic behavior with a suppressed chuckle.
Kairo subtly directed the inspector away from the hallway leading to Nyaogi’s potion-making area, trying to expedite the conclusion of this search. He hoped the inspector's intoxicated condition might invalidate any dubious findings.
The inspector's voice echoed off the walls, muttering to himself about regulations and fines.
A soft creak emanated from Nyaogi's room. Kairo's heart leapt. The inspector halted, his head cocking slightly.
Kairo acted quickly. "Inspector, have you seen the craftsmanship on these doorframes?" he asked, voice louder than necessary. He stepped closer to the inspector, drawing his attention away from Nyaogi's room.
The inspector, swaying slightly, turned his bloodshot eyes towards Kairo and squinted. "Craftsmanship? What about it?" he grumbled, his interest seeming to wane already.
Kairo gestured towards the nearest doorframe. "The carvings, sir. They're quite intricate, aren't they? Said to be centuries old. Part of our heritage here." He spoke with a feigned enthusiasm, hoping to keep the inspector's focus on him.
The inspector leaned closer to the doorframe. He ran a thick finger along the carvings, his brow furrowing. “Magical craftsmanship?”
“No.” Kairo glanced towards Nyaogi's door, praying that whatever caused the sound wouldn't do so again.
"Interesting," the inspector finally said, pulling back and looking at Kairo with a dull gaze. "But not why I'm here. Let's keep moving."
Kairo followed, his mind racing to think of other ways to keep the inspector occupied and away from discovering their secrets.
The inspector wandered upstairs. He stopped just outside of Nyaogi’s room.
“Inspector, wait,” Kairo said. “There’s something else I need to show you.”
#
As she prepared to move the first stack of boxes, a noise outside her door halted Nyaogi. The inspector's voice, though muffled, was unmistakable. Nyaogi's heart raced.
She quickly assessed her room for a hiding spot. Nyaogi weighed her options. Each choice held significant consequences for her and the tavern.
Nyaogi's breath hitched as she strained to hear the inspector's slurred words through the door, sending a wave of unease through her.
She eyed the rest of the boxes in the room, acutely aware of the dangers their discovery posed.
Nyaogi's heartbeat resonated. The thought of being caught with forbidden magical items in a place already under suspicion filled her with dread.
#
“What do you need to show me?” the inspector asked Kairo.
“Umm… something down the hall.”
“Farther down the hall?” the Inspector asked. “What’s there?”
“Beds.”
Beds?”
Spotting a chance, Kairo said, "Inspector, you seem a bit unsteady. Maybe a rest would help you clear your head," he said, concern coloring his tone. “That will make your investigation go even better later.”
#
Moving the supplies now seemed too dangerous with the inspector nearby.
The inspector’s voice heightened Nyaogi's anxiety. She knew that any sound from her could lead to her exposure.
Nyaogi stayed motionless, her breathing quiet and controlled. The inspector's footsteps thudded heavy and close. Each step he took seemed to reverberate around her small room.
As the inspector carried on outside, Nyaogi decided to wait in silence, hoping he would pass by. Her supplies were tucked away, but a thorough search would easily reveal them. She braced herself to feign innocence if discovered.
Time seemed to stretch, each second laden with the risk of being found out.
Inside her quiet room, Nyaogi leaned close to the door, her heart pounding as she listened to the inspector's voice.
#
The inspector, swaying slightly, paused to consider. “Bed?” After a moment, he agreed, his earlier determination fading amidst his confusion. "Yes, a rest... might be good," he said.
Breathing a silent sigh of relief, Kairo offered his arm and escorted the inspector towards the guest rooms.
In the Inspector’s room, Kairo helped the inspector into bed. Ensuring his comfort, Kairo then quietly left the room, locking the door behind him. He lingered to make sure that the inspector stayed in bed.
#
Nyaogi heard the footsteps recede. She let out a relieved breath. She still waited. Each second that passed without her door opening increased Nyaogi's hope of remaining undiscovered.
She thought she could hear words from down the hall, but wasn’t sure. She had to know.
Nyaogi slipped out of her room. Down the hall, she could see Kairo helping the inspector into bed. She resolved to wait for a safer opportunity; the current risk was too high. So she had to leave.
She turned away and fled past Ngalu, out the front door of the Glember Inn.
#
Resting against the guest room's locked door, Kairo could finally breathe. The day's events had been intense, and he felt their weight heavily. His usually composed demeanor was rattled, the task of protecting his inn now seemed incredibly challenging.
He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes, seeking calm in the quiet hallway. This brief pause allowed him a chance to collect his thoughts amidst the turmoil. Clear thinking was crucial for devising a plan to shield the inn from both the inspector's scrutiny.
Replaying the day's occurrences, Kairo contemplated his next steps. The inspector's reaction to Linai's drink had spiraled the situation out of his control, and Linai’s vanishing added to the complexity. His actions needed to be prompt yet measured.
His main objective was preventing the inspector from finding evidence of any illicit magical activities in the inn. Kairo considered reinforcing the notion that the inspector's experience was due to a potent, but normal, drink made by Linai. He could also leverage the inspector's inebriated state to cast doubt on any of his potential allegations.
Moreover, finding Linai and understanding her involvement was crucial to evaluate the risk she posed to the inn.
Moving away from the door, he headed back toward the Glember Inn's bar. Each step was taken with a clear purpose. The inn wasn't just a business; it was a legacy, a heritage from his family, nurtured through generations. He thought of his late grandmother, whose values of hard work and hospitality were the foundation of his ethos.
Kairo paused, his gaze sweeping over the walls steeped in history, the bar that had witnessed countless tales, touched countless lives.
When Kairo returned to the bar area, Ngalu asked, “Drink?”
“Go home, Ngalu!”
“What a way to do business.”
“I’m not doing business,” Kairo said as he slammed the door shut behind Ngalu. “I’m going to bed.”