Allisse stepped into the Inn, haggard from her journey. Thinneus was helping some nobility with their belongings as Lupin turned to her, flustered. He hummed a note and his voice in her mind said
Lupin bowed slightly and said, “We welcome your return to the Alabaster Inn, Professor Ilyana.”
She nodded. “Well met.”
“Allisse here can help you with anything you require.” He turned to Allisse. “Ilyana has retained the Obsidian Suite on the sunset side of the building.”
Allisse and the three guests started up the stairs. “I assume everything in my room has been arranged to my specifications?” she said.
“I think so,” said Allisse, “I haven’t seen it.”
Ilyana frowned at that. This was not going well; Allisse needed to get on her good side. “You’ve got wonderful children,” she said.
The two kids, only a couple years younger than her, chuckled. Ilyana did not. “They are my apprentices. Between the girl’s red hair and the boy’s swarthy complexion even the most basic knowledge of the laws of husbandry would have told you we’re not blood relations.”
“Ah. And what kind of magic do you specialize in?”
“Astrocartographical prognostication.”
Allisse’s confusion must have been evident because the wizard clarified herself. “I chart and measure the stars and use that knowledge to determine how the heavens are tilting the odds of various terrestrial events, and combine that with precognitive magic to anticipate events of significance.”
“Oh,” said Allisse. “So what’s going to happen tomorrow?”
“If you want me to perform a specific reading, the calculations are extensive and the components are costly. I charge far more than I expect you can pay. However, in a more general sense, the chaos of the heavenly bodies indicates a time of change and reordering, a shift from law into chaos, but also a potential for innovation.”
“Amazing,” said Allisse. The fortune tellers in Skinner’s Row could give better predictions than that, and with half the arrogance.
They reached the suite and Ilyana opened the door, and nodded her satisfaction. “My instructions were carried out, excellent. Pupils, begin emptying the bags there and there,” she said, gesturing at the locations. “Servant girl, wait to be dismissed. I shall have further need of you.” The wizard then held the crystal on her necklace and began chanting. The girl pulled a bookstand out of one of the sacks, despite the fact that it was taller than the sack was long. And immediately the bookstand came alive and began hopping into a position Ilyana dictated, as did a telescope the boy had removed from his bag. Allisse had to move out of the way of a stream of books that flew to arrange themselves on the empty bookcase. And a series of implements she didn’t recognize arranged themselves on the table. Ilyana wasn’t content just to manage the contents of the two bags (which seemed to be an entire magical laboratory) she also began bringing the Inn’s furniture to life and rearranging it. Finally, everything seemed out of the bags and Ilyana reordered a few final objects to her satisfaction and sighed with something approaching a smile. She then turned to Allisse.
“Do you know the time of nautical sunset tonight?”
“Sometime after twelfth bell, I believe.”
“Isn’t your master a vampire? I figured you would at least know that with some precision given how your job revolves around it. No matter, students, you should be able to figure it out. Calculate and return me the answer to the nearest minute.” Her pupils took down a book from the shelves and pulled out a slide rule to begin some sort of calculation. Ilyana considered the room. “We’ll need another table in here, one that’s high but small. And a game, something to challenge their minds in a different way. Chess or somesuch. See to it.” And with that she turned and motioned Allisse away.
Allisse racked her mind. She’d seen the perfect table while she was looking for the grubwumps, but where? She went down the stairs, trying to remember, and almost bumped into a dragonborn.
The dragonborn’s eyes were level with her, despite being two stairs down, and he began speaking. But the words that came out of his mouth were an unending series of vowels broken up by the occasional hard click, serpentine hiss, or hard “ch” sound.
“I’m sorry, I don’t speak Draconic,” she said.
The dragonborn scratched his scales with one talon and stepped back, then said something in his language again while gesturing elaborately.
“I don’t understand,” Allisse said, louder and slower.
The dragonborn tugged at his velvet robes in an exaggerated manner, and then mimicked scrubbing something, all the while talking slowly. He tapped a button and began burnishing it with his suede cloak, looking at her to see if she was following. Then he did a sewing motion.
“You want me to take care of your clothes?” she said, trying to speak as clearly as possible. Oh, no, was he going to take his clothes off in front of her? She didn’t know about dragonborn customs.
The dragonborn looked at her without understanding. But he motioned her to follow him to his room and wait outside the door, which she did. He handed her a stack of laundry. Allisse tried to heft it as she mimicked washing it. Then she pointed to a seam and pretended to mend it. The dragonborn nodded. Allisse smiled and nodded, and they went their separate ways.
As she reached the ground floor, a voice from the other side of the opaque pile of laundry said, “Excuse me, miss, there’s a vagabond out on the street harassing people for money.”
Allisse turned so she could see the patron. “I’m sorry to hear that, sir.” He was a gnome, apparently nobility of some sort.
“Are you going to do something about it?” he asked.
Allisse bit back the first response that rose to her throat and said “I’ll go set these things down and get right on it.”
“It should have been taken care of from the beginning,” the gnome said, walking off in a huff.
Allisse went back to the servant’s area and put the laundry down. Wren was changing out tools and Thinneus had a package tucked under his arm. “Do either of you know where I can find the laundry equipment?” she said, sitting down to catch her breath.
Wren shook her head so rapidly it was almost a blur. “We send all that out so you can just put it in the laundry bin. When did the guest need it done by?”
“He didn’t say. Or maybe he did; I don’t speak Draconic.”
“Lupin’s the one who knows all the languages. But he’s helping a patron. I can do the mending for you, but I’m behind schedule as is. Are you willing to trade a chore?”
“I can sew,” said Allisse.
Wren flew closer to the clothes. “These have a pretty fine stitch so are you sure you can match it?” Allisse shook her head. “Then how about you take over cleaning the privies and let me do the mending?”
“That’s a fair trade,” said Allisse. In truth, it sounded terrible but she didn’t have much of a choice. “I’ve got customers waiting for me, but I’ll take care of it as soon as I can.”
Allisse went back to the front, hoping to find Lupin. He’d almost given her the bum’s rush this morning, and she bet he’d gotten quite good at being the first line of defense at the Alabaster Inn. She looked around outside, and sure enough there was a man with orange hair and ragged clothes standing on the sidewalk. Some of the people were scared of him. But they didn’t grow up in Skinner’s Row, and to Allisse, this was the least scary person out on the street.
“Hey, you know you’re not supposed to be begging around here.” Allisse said. “I don’t want to have to call the city guard, but patrons are complaining.”
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“Come on, miss. I’m starvin’. I lost my leg in the war. I need a little charity, just a little bit to get me by.”
Allisse knew most of it was probably a lie. And though she’d never been without a roof over her head, she’d been close, and the thought terrified her. She dug into her bag and pulled out a silver penny. “If I give you this, will you leave?”
The man smiled, stretching the birthmark on his chin. “Thank you miss, thank you so kindly.” He patted her shoulder and she flinched. Instantly the man broke into a panic. “I didn’t mean to. I didn’t hurt you. Don’t tell Marcaveus. I’d never hurt one of his.” Despite having only one leg he was making his retreat in a hurry.
“There’s nothing to tell him so long as you head elsewhere,” Allisse called to his back. That taken care of, she headed back inside. What was she doing? Table and game. Lupin was just returning to his post and Allisse paused for just a moment. “I changed the platinum coins at the market. Here’s Thomas and Aeriav’s four platinum crowns.”
“Very good,” Lupin said, taking the coins and putting them in a small chest chained behind the counter.
“One other thing,” Allisse said. “There’s a dragonborn in the first room at the top of the second floor. He needed laundry done, I think. But he only speaks Draconic. Could you translate?”
“That would fall within the purview of my station here. I have an outlander’s understanding of the language but magic and music cross all barriers. Let us go.”
“Actually,” said Allisse. “Can I meet you there? I’m helping another customer.”
“Patron,” corrected Lupin. “The Alabaster Inn has patrons and guests, but never customers. And secondly, if you ask my help, you should have the grace to be present yourself.” He went up the stairs and Allisse followed.
Lupin knocked on the door to the dragonborn’s room and began playing his violin, and Allisse felt the subtle presence of magical energy flooding the air. The dragonborn answered, wearing new robes. Lupin began singing in draconic, a series of sounds that she was shocked his mouth and throat could produce. The dragonborn perked up and spoke briefly in his language, then handed his old robes to Allisse.
Lupin turned his attention to Allise and sang,
“Our wyvernous lord,
Needs this cleaned as well.
What questions have you,
To ask, praytell?
“I wanted to know when he needed all of this done by.”
Lupin sang to the dragonborn, listened, then sang to Allisse.
“He needs it tomorrow.
By the midday’s break.
Mended, cleaned, folded,
And shined for this drake.”
“I can do that,” said Allisse. “Why are you speaking so weird?”
“If I cease the singing,
The magic will end,
And no longer may I
Converse with our friend.”
Allisse nodded, took the garment, and bowed to the Dragonborn as she left. Lupin sang some sort of reptilian goodbye and returned to the front desk.
She went downstairs toward the parlor where she’d seen the games and happened across the perfect end table, with a beautiful pot of flowers sitting on it. She put the pot on the floor, grabbed the table, put a nine men’s morris set on top of it and held it there with her chin as she made her way up the stairs, then knocked at the door to the Obsidian Suite.
The female apprentice opened the door and Ilyana looked at what she was carrying. “More than adequate,” she said, “bring it inside.” Allisse set the load down and Ilyana handed her a pamphlet, saying “your tip.” Allisse curtsied and left, looking at the piece of paper. It was entitled, “An Introduction to the Principles of Rational Thought.” It seemed to outline the process of logic and list common fallacies. Was the professor giving her something she thought was helpful, or just calling her stupid with extra steps?”
The bell rang out ten long strokes, telling Allisse that the day was nearing its end. And that she was late with Welby’s tea! She dashed to the back and into the servants’ area, tossing the robe on the pile of clothes, and then darting back out. She ran to the kitchen, nearly barreling into Remon as he was pulling a tray of cakes out of the oven.
“Welby’s tea service?” she asked in a mild panic. Remon gestured with his nose to a platter with a teapot on it then slid the cakes off his tray onto it. “They’re not as decorated as I like, but you seem like you’re in a hurry,” he said.
“Thank you,” said Allisse, backing out the door with the platter. Then she stopped, turned, and asked “Which room is Welby’s?”
“It’s the Periwinkle suite,” said Elizabeth. “Opposite the Cerulean, third floor.”
“Thanks again.”
Allisse dashed up two flights of stairs and down the hall. She quickly found the suite and slowed her stride from a panicked dash to a stately pace, stopping at the open doorway. “Welby, I have your tea.”
Welby motioned her to wait for a few seconds, and then said “Come on in.”
Allisse entered and as she put the tea down she saw there was someone else in the room: a girl about her age. Brownish hair, brown eyes, scattered freckles. The loose garments she wore barely fit her, and almost looked like boy’s clothes. “Uh, who are you?” asked Allisse. Something weird was going on.
“You’re one to ask. Who are you?” replied the girl.
Welby held up his hands in a calming gesture. “I should make introductions. This is Allisse. She just got hired this morning. And this is Drolisse?” he said, hesitating.
“Adrosse,” said the girl.
“My apologies,” said the halfling. “Adrosse.”
Adrosse stared at Allisse, a mixture of annoyance and curiosity on her face. “So they’re hoping you can take over for the previous pages? I may be somewhat new myself but even I know you won’t make it. You’ve stumbled through your entire day so far, and it only gets worse from here. A page is a job for the children of nobility, and you’re not even a peasant. You have no idea what you’re doing here and you have no idea how to act among high society.”
Allisse stared at the other girl. Her clothes were nice, but ill-fitting, and she looked as she’d led as hard a life as Allisse herself. “And you’re of noble birth?”
Adrosse scowled. “Yes, though when I’m near you I feel like a commoner. Marcaveus hired you to fill in until we can get someone who really belongs here. You should leave and save him the trouble of disposing of you himself.”
Allisse didn’t know how to respond to that, but Welby did. “Adrosse, maybe you don’t want to say things you’ll regret later.”
Adrosse scowled. “I bet you two gold she’ll be gone within a week.” She paused. “Normally I don’t like gambling, but of course this isn’t something I’ll lose.”
“I’ll take that bet,” said Welby. “I think you’re selling her short.”
Adrosse walked out, saying only, “We’ll see.”
Welby turned to Allisse. “You’ll have to forgive her. She can get unreasonably cranky when she meets someone too much like herself.”
“She’s nothing like me!” said Allisse.
Welby smirked. “Regardless, Marcaveus probably won’t schedule her on days you’re working so I doubt you’ll see her much.”
Allisse sighed. “That might not be an issue. She’s right; I’m not going to make it. I think I just lost you two gold.”
“If I lost them I lost them. I’m not exactly short on funds at the moment,” he said, gesturing at the lavish room. “But I didn’t bet for nothing. Adrosse picked up that you’re out of your element, but so what? You can learn that. But you’ve got a fire in you no one can teach, and I’m betting there’s very little you can’t do if you put your mind to it.”
“Thanks,” said Allisse. His words were kind even if they weren’t true. “I should probably get back to work.” She stood to leave.
“I’ll have none of that,” said Welby with mock severity. “Am I not a patron at this fine establishment? Tea and cakes always taste better when shared, and I don’t stay at this inn for anything but the utmost flavor.” He poured a second cup of tea.
Allisse sat back down, smiling. “Well, if you insist.” She ate one of the small cakes, and it was so delicious she immediately grabbed a second.
Welby ate a cake himself and let the tea cool slightly. “So, any interesting run-ins with patrons today?”
Allisse thought. “The wizard down the hall from you says the heavenly bodies indicate a time of chaos is ahead.”
“She’s an astrocartographer? I always love to know what’s going to happen before it does. I’ll have to invite her over.”
Allisse shrugged. “I’m not sure she’s any good.”
“It’s a challenging study,” said Welby. “I’m not one to think our paths are written in stone, myself. That said, I know a bit about the art, and it has its uses. But surely that can’t be the most interesting thing that’s happened today. You may think I subsist on good food and fine drink, but if I’m being honest, it’s quality gossip that keeps me alive.” He winked.
Allisse thought about mentioning Thomas’s curse. But it didn’t feel right, betraying a patron’s confidence like that, even if it was pretty obvious. She sipped her tea quietly.
“Have you heard of that cleric that’s going through the countryside?” Welby asked.
“I haven’t. What’s special about him?” Allisse asked.
“That’s the thing. He’s a powerful cleric if even half the reports are to believed. And if all of them are to believed, he’s done things no other cleric can do. Those rumors are easy to dismiss, but the strange thing is he seems to have come out of nowhere. He’s not affiliated with any of the major temples, and a year ago no one had even heard of him.”
“Hmm…”
“I’m curious, and rumors are everywhere. I’d hoped you’d heard one or two but I guess not.” Welby finished the last of his tea and gathered up the various dishes and handed them to her. “Well, thank you for your time. I shouldn’t keep my next guest waiting, but here’s the coin I promised you for your efforts. If you ever happen upon some truly juicy secrets, know that there’s even more than this up for grabs.” She took the copper coin and the dishes, bowed slightly, and left. As she did so, she passed a woman in the hallway, an elf tall, beautiful, and wearing a good amount of makeup. Her dress was, if not up to the usual extravagance Allisse had seen today, then at least good quality for the wife of a merchant or skilled craftsman. However, it showed far more skin than was the usual custom. Allisse left and the woman closed the door behind her, heading to the kitchen to return the dishes.