Roskva watched the sun lower down the sky. Narisse had curled up among the luggage and fallen asleep already. Mr. and Mrs. Midgley leaned against each other but Roskva couldn’t tell if they were also asleep.

“Should we pull off for the night?” Mrs. Midgley whispered.

“We’re a bit behind schedule. We wouldn’t be able to stay at the normal place.” Mr. Midgley said.

“The kids are tired, we’re tired. I think it’ll be okay.” Mrs. Midgley said, “let’s see if the first place we see has a vacancy.” The cart rolled quietly along the dark road. Roskva couldn’t see anything past the little oil lamp that hung on the cart. Allowing the driver to see the road ahead.

There was a moon rising to peek through the outstretched branches of the trees. The night was nice and warm with a cool, refreshing breeze that shook the trees gently. It was peaceful. But there was still that little pit of something bitter in Roskva’s stomach. She shook it away with thoughts of how nice being at home was. How much Aneira would appreciate a few days in the nice warm house. With the windows open and fresh baked bread that made the house smell wonderful.

Aneira would love being warm in the nice sitting room. With a lovely warm soup or stew, alone. In the silent house. Silent and empty house. Silent, empty, and dark house.

The deep pit in Roskva’s stomach grew. Which she had to sit in until the lights of an inn appeared in the distance. Mrs. Midgley looked around to see Roskva looking back at her.

“Oh! Oh, dear. You startled me.” Mrs. Midgley laughed tiredly. “We’re going to see if this inn has enough rooms for us and spend the night.”

“Sounds great.” Roskva said, smiling bright and wide awake.

“How’s Narisse?” Mrs. Midgley asked, looking over to the young girl sleeping in the pile of luggage. “Aww…” Roskva smiled.

“Aren’t you getting tired?” Mr. Midgley asked.

“No, I’m pretty wide awake.” Roskva said with a smile. “I could drive for a bit if you don’t want to stop.”

“That’s nice of you, but do you know the way?” Mr. Midgley asked.

“No, but is it hard to find?” Roskva asked.

“There’s a few turns in the road where you could get lost.” Mr. Midgley shrugged. “But I might let you drive on the way back.”

“All right,” Roskva agreed. The cart steadily pulled around the side and parked with the other carts.

“I’ll check on the room and rates.” Mrs. Midgley said, hopping out of the cart and she entered through the side door into a brightly lit room of the inn.

“Should we unload?” Roskva asked.

“Not yet,” Mr. Midgley said. He hopped out of the driver’s seat and stretched. “WE’ll wait until we know if we’re staying or not.”

“Do the rooms fill up fast?” Roskva asked. Jumping out of the cart herself.

“They can.”Mr. Midgley said, “I imagine with the coronation and all that, there’s going to be a lot of traffic coming and going from the capital city.”

"Oh. How many inns are there on the way?" Roskva asked.

"Plenty once you get over the pass." Mr. Midgley said as he leaned against the cart. "The pass is filled with moose and bears. Wolves. Only the river knows what else."

"I guess that means camping is out of the question."

"Very," Mr. Midgley chuckled.

"Well, they had one room available." Mrs. Midgley said with a sigh. "I got it and checked it out, it's a bit small but it might be the best we can do tonight."

"You guys go ahead and sleep. I'll stay with the cart." Roskva said. "I can sleep anywhere and it certainly wouldn't be the first time I've slept in a stable."

"What?" Mrs. Midgley asked.

"Are you sure?" Mr. Midgley asked.

"Yeah, it's a nice night. I don't mind at all." Roskva said cheerfully. "I'll park and get the horse all settled and fed for the night."

"If you're sure." Mrs. Midgley said, the concern still painted all over her face.

"I'm sure. It's totally fine. After all, you guys didn't expect to have me on this trip too."

"All right, just for one night. Tomorrow we'll all sleep in our own rooms at the inns in the city. All right?" Mr. Midgley said. Roskva nodded. "All right, I'll grab Narisse." Mr. Midgley went to the back and lifted the girl out of the luggage pile while Mrs. Midgley grabbed the bags.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"And if you need anything, you get cold or what have you, you just come inside. We're in the Toad room. Here's the spare key." Mrs. Midgley handed a second brass key to Roskva.

"Thanks, but I'll be fine." Roskva said, pocketing the key. She waved as the Midgley family entered the inn. Roskva put the wood brake blocks under the wheels. She unhitched the horse and led the horse toward the mass stables. Inside the stables were a few stable hands caring for the boarded horses and a giant brindle colored dog. Immediately making eye contact, the giant dog started barking at her.

"Pumpkin! Hush." One of the horse hands called. He ran over and grabbed the dog. "Hi! Don't worry, she's harmless."

"Hi! I was just coming to stable our horse." Roskva said, entering the warm stable. "I hope it won't bother you too much if I stay with her."

"Not at all," The man said. "Which room is yours?"

"The… oh. Uhm." Roskva sucked in a breath as the room name left her entirely. "Oh. She told me what it was. She gave me a key…"

"No worries. Let me see the key, the room name is usually engraved in it." He said. He held out his hand and Roskva fished the key out of her pocket and placed it into his hand.

"My name's Friovin, and this is my good girl Pumpkin." The man said, patting the big dog again.

"I'm Roskva, and this is Jelly." Roskva said and scratched the horses' ear. "Her big brother's name was Peanut Butter."

"Ah, a perfect name for a pair of horses." Friovin laughed. "Looks like you're in the Toad room so the stable is over here." Friovin handed back the key and Roskva pocketed it. He led her to the stable marked with a giant label on the door reading; 'Toad'. Pumpkin ran to Roskva's side and sat expectantly. She laughed and pet the giant dog's head.

"A good stable dog?" Roskva asked, while leading the horse to the stable.

"Very. The best in fact." Friovin said proudly. "Pumpkin! I need the reins for the Deer stall! Go get it!" The dog took off and brought back a set of leather reins.

"Very impressive." Roskva said, removing the reins from the horse in her care. "You taught her that?'

“Taught her everything she knows.” Friovin said proudly. Rokva fed their horse and looked around the stable.

“What’s cooking?” She asked, seeing the firepit and something bubbling on it.

“Just a little mountain stew.” Friovin said, “would you like some?”

“What’s in it?” Roskva asked. Walking over to the pot and looking in it.

“A bit of wild grass, some lichen and wild vegetables and roots found throughout the forest. It’s really good. I promise.” Friovin said, producing a wooden bowl and filling it. Dropping in a wooden spoon. “Take a taste.” Roskva looked at the watery stew but shrugged and bravely took a bite.

“Oh, huh.” She said, impressed. The stew wasn’t watery at all. It was thin, but savory and meaty. “What meat is in here?”

“None, I’m vegetarian.” Friovin said. “It’s all mushroom and root.”

“Amazing!” Roskva took the bowl. “Oh, if Aneira tasted this it would knock them right over!”

“Aneira?” Friovin asked as he filled Pumpkin’s bowl and then one for himself.

“My older sibling. They aren’t vegetarian but they do rarely eat meat.” Roskva said, “something about it being hard to pick which chickens to kill for the meat.”

“Oh, you raise chickens?” Friovin asked. “Yeah, I bet that would be difficult.”

“It’s sad for sure.” Roskva nodded. “But her chicken pot pies are to absolutely die for.”

“Uh. Sure.” Friovin said slowly. “But can I interest you in a delicious sage and mushroom pie?”

“After this? Absolutely!” Roskva held up her bowl happily. Friovin and Roskva laughed and talked until they bed down in the hay.

“Are you going to have issues sleeping?” Friovin asked, but when he looked over, Roskva was already asleep. Eyes closed and laying straight as a corpse. Friovin walked over and leaned down to listen to her just to make sure she was breathing. Once confident she was still alive he sighed in relief and went back to his own makeshift bed.

“Well good night then.” He laughed, Pumpkin laid down on top of his chest and slowly drifted off to sleep himself.