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I felt Fiona reaching to calm them down, and I joined my magic to hers. I focused on their feelings instead of their thoughts. There were at least twenty fae inside enjoying their supper and the soft singing of the minstrel on stage. Taking on a big crowd like this using mind magic was nearly impossible. There would be too many thoughts to hear at once.
An older man was tending the bar. He had a clean rag in his palm that he was using to wipe the counter as he looked up. “Yes?”
He stared at us as if we’d entered his house uninvited. He did not return Kieran’s smile.
“We need room and supper,” Dearen said.
“Ten gold coins,” the man replied, his gaze quickly darting between us, probably to count how many we were. “I only have one room, but it should be big enough for all of you.”
It was an exorbitant price for a single room. But we were with a prince and a princess, and the Unseelie coins we had would be of no use to us after this town. No one objected as Dearen put the coins on the counter.
The man did not smile, but his tense shoulders relaxed as he took the coins and stuck them inside a pouch attached to his belt.
“Take a seat,” he said. “I’ll prepare your room and you can go in after supper.”
“Thank you,” Fiona said, and the man smiled for the first time.
“Of course, my lady,” he said.
We sat near one of the hearths, across the room from the minstrel. Most townsfolk were seated around the stage to hear the music better.
“They’re calming down,” Fiona announced quietly.
“The innkeeper was worried we would not be paying,” Dearen explained.
“Why wouldn’t we?” I asked.
“Because there is a war, and this town isn’t very well protected,” Dearen replied. “They have no way to deal with customers who refuse to pay.”
“Yes,” Kieran said. “Lord Merick isn’t doing a very good job, is he? He should have more soldiers protecting the town. We are very close to the border.”
“The town’s loss is our gain,” Brigid replied. “If the town were better protected, we could not stay here tonight.”
“Still,” Fiona replied. “They all feel so scared. I hate that fae suffer so. When we return, I shall tell father about Lord Merick’s indifference.”
I did not say what came to mind. King Duncan had already warned Lord Merick about protecting the western lands better. It did not seem like the king’s rebuke affected the lord. He still had supporters among the other lords and constantly criticized the king for his decisions about the war. He was a powerful lord with connections, and I doubted King Duncan had the means to give his lands to someone else even if he failed to protect them.
The drinks arrived shortly, saving us from the discussion. As he put the glasses on our table, the innkeeper told us that our rooms were ready and the food would arrive shortly. We drank our ale in silence. The minstrel’s music was relaxing, and I enjoyed the warmth inside the inn.
“Thank you,” Kieran replied, and once the man turned away, he added: “We should go upstairs after eating. We’ll rise early in the morning.”
“I agree,” Fiona replied. “The townsfolk are calmed now about our presence, but I think we should still sleep in shifts to ensure no one...”
Her mouth clapped shut.
“There is someone outside,” Fiona mumbled.
I felt the dark-eyed girl stirring inside of me.
One of yours? I asked.
She hesitated. Yes and no...
What does that—
But my thoughts were interrupted as the sound of breaking glass echoed in the room. Glass scattered all around, and a piece of rock bounced off the wood floor with a loud sound. Everyone became silent at once; even the minstrel stopped playing his lyre.
I heard a frightening growl.
“Come out!” A man shouted outside. “We have a present for you!”
