Fapallo brought in a deer that first day, and four dwarves. Apparently they had come up for their semi-annual “outside time.” Dwarves needed to come up from underground to stay healthy. They didn’t like it. Most of them resisted this and so only came up during a twice-annual mandated time they had to go up from the mountain and go outside.

This “sun trip” gave Kaitlyn consistent business from the dwarves who appreciated having a place with good food and drink. Unfortunately, she didn’t have much yet in the way of either. Although there were two stills in her cellar, she didn’t have anything from them.

She offered them herbal teas and the vegetable pies Titami and Zizila had made. Kaitlyn started to walk away when one of them said, “Are you the witch we were told about?”

“Yes,” Kaitlyn replied.

“Can you answer a question for us?” the dwarf asked.

Kaitlyn turned to face them directly and folded her hands in front of her, “I will try if I am able.”

The dwarf smiled and said, “Is it true that you are more powerful than a fae?”

Kaitlyn stared at the dwarf a moment, her mind turning over the words in shock. Then she burst out laughing and said, “Hardly. I am sure most fae in their own domain would bowl me over with hardly a thought.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“What if a fae came here?” the dwarf asked.

“I don’t know,” Kaitlyn said honestly, “I have some defenses here, but of course I would want to offer hospitality first. This is an inn you know.”

“We know,” another dwarf said with a bit of a grumbling tone. “The Primier says we have to come here if you’re open and accepting visitors.”

“Have to?” Kaitlyn was surprised.

“Yeah, it means we have to stay upside three days instead of just one,” the unhappy dwarf said.

“I’m sorry,” Kaitlyn said, “why three days? I thought you only had to come for sun days two days a year.”

“Apparently,” the dwarf snarled the word, “it’s been pretty clearly proven that days when it’s raining don’t provide the health benefits, so to make sure we get enough sun, it’s been raised to three days at a time.”

“If we can find a place to sleep which is safe,” the first dwarf added, “hence your inn is a place we have been ordered to check on. Because you are finally open again, we have to stay up for three days.”

“I see,” Kaitlyn said, considering. “Is there something which would make you more comfortable while you are here?”

“Not unless you have a room underground,” the dwaf grumbled.

Kaitlyn considered letting them sleep in the cellar, but decided against it for a variety of reasons. The dwarves needed this. More than one of them had explained to her that their Primier, an elected leader something like a mayor or lord, was one of their wisest and most learned leaders. This Primier claimed a thirty-percent increase in work after dwarves got their “daylight” time.

“The best I can offer is to allow you to sleep inside,” Kaitlyn said. “We can push the trestles under the table and you can at least sleep on the table or the floor.”

“Thank you mistress,” the dwarf said, “that would be most kind.”