soon. I got dressed, groaning and sore from walking all day and then spending my energy on the innkeeper’s wife. I dragged myself out into the dining room.
A smorgasbord was arranged on the tables, enough for over ten people though I was fairly sure Levent and I were the inn’s only guests. The dragon-kin was already helping himself to a chunk of charred meat with some enthusiasm. I looked away, quite disgusted, and made my way to a set of plates that featured breads and fruit. These were the kinds of things I ate for breakfast.
Having sleepily shoved a sweet-roll into my mouth, I jumped as someone made a very happy noise behind me. I turned just in time to be enveloped in a hug, my face being mashed into a mass of curly blonde hair. I just stared as the woman held me at arm’s length, grinning wildly.
“Thank you so much!” Issable exclaimed, and for a long moment I had no idea what she was talking about.
“Oh,” I said. “Yeah, no problem.” I was surprised that she was on her feet already. “Shouldn’t you be resting?”
“Oh, no!” She said quite simply. “Did you see what this place was going to with my husband in charge? Ugh! No wonder we’ve had no customers!” She turned to yell the last sentence at him just as he emerged from the kitchen, carrying another plate of food and looking very confused. I blinked, quite shocked at how loud she was now that her lungs were working.
The woman turned back to me, all smiles again. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for us, Miss. I’d offer you free rooms for the rest of your life, but I know you’re leaving today, so how does a carriage sound instead? Our delivery man from the port should be here in half an hour, and I’m sure I could convince him to give you a ride.”
I usually would not have fancied using poor beasts of burden to make my journey easier, but these were desperate times.
“I would be more than happy to accept that offer.”
Issable clapped me on the shoulder and smiled before shuffling off to bug her husband again. Piling a plate with food, I went to sit at a table far away from the stench of bacon to finish my breakfast. The dragon-kin did not seem to notice.
It was not long after I ate that I was stuffing clothes and books back into my bag. Living on the road was not all it was cracked up to be. A yell from the main room