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“The Noble Knight? Will they have a healer?” If anything, the inn looked a little more ramshackle than the buildings around it.
“The best in Cerunnos,” Draven croaked. He shifted in the saddle letting out a groan, and I hurriedly guided the horses over to the hitching post in front of the Noble Knight, then watched as Draven half slid, half fell off Haya.
He took a deep breath, then forced himself upright and met my eyes. “Follow me,” he said gruffly. “Listen, don’t speak.”
“That seems a little rude.” But I followed him up the wooden steps.
As we stepped into the lobby, I sucked in my breath.
This was no ordinary inn. From the outside, the Noble Knight may have had a simple wooden exterior and thatched roof, but inside...
Inside, the ceiling soared upwards to an almost unbelievable height where an ornate crystal chandelier hung from a gilded chain. The lobby’s walls were lined with velvet paneling. Rich purple damask curtains hung from the windows, shutting out the light. The floors were carpeted in thick patterned rugs that reminded me of Lyonessian designs.
I stared upwards. “It's not possible. The ceilings can't be this high.”
“Keep your voice down,” Draven murmured with a frown. “It's an illusion, of course.”
I stared at his back as he walked across the room. Of course. As if illusion magic was so common across Eskira. I had never once seen such an elaborate illusion. Not even at the temple.
Draven managed to cross the lobby with surprising poise, his heavy footsteps muffled against the luxurious carpeted floors.
I watched him approach the front desk, a polished and carved thing of beauty, where a handsome woman in a scarlet silk gown stood, her dark hair swept up into an elegant bun.
She smiled as he neared. “It’s been a long time, Kairos.”
“You’re looking well, Laverna. I see you have a new chandelier. Business must be good.” A new chandelier? I wondered what had happened to the old one. And just how often had Draven visited this place? One could not get much farther off the beaten path than we were.
Laverna looked him up and down coolly. “Thank you. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for you.”
Draven grimaced. “My companion and I are in need of a room.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out something bright red and coin-shaped and slapped it down on the desk in front of her. I tried to peek past him but couldn’t get a better look before Laverna placed her hand overtop it. “I have a second token, should it be needed.”
Laverna nodded at where I stood. “She is your guest? One token will do.”
She swept the red piece off the desk. “You remember the rules of our sanctum?”
“Of course,” Draven said smoothly. Very smoothly for a man who had barely managed to stay on a horse all day.
But when he glanced back at me, I could see the effort this exchange was costing him. His forehead was slick with sweat. If I could see it, surely so could Laverna.
“And shall I send up the healer when he returns?” Laverna said, plainly not an unobservant woman.
“Please do.”
“Very good. You’ll be in the Moonstone room.” She smiled slightly. “I’m sure you remember it.”
“I do. Very well.”
They looked at each other for a moment and I felt an odd pang of jealousy. Had they been lovers? Here in this inn? In this Moonstone Room?
Well, it was no business of mine. Draven was no one to me. Merely my captor and assassin.
And the man I had to keep alive if I wanted to get back to Kaye.
I followed Draven over to a winding staircase in the corner and admired the gleaming oak bannister.
“Not your typical country inn,” I muttered. He walked slowly up the stairs. “Shall I carry you, noble knight?”
He paused to glower at me.
