Though night had not yet fallen, there was not a street vendor in sight, and most shops stood empty. Compared to Anatol’s bustling market, which teemed with hundreds of merchants even in midwinter, the town looked utterly desolate.
Gazing at the packed row of houses on either side of the road, Ruth scratched the back of his head. “It seems we’re spared from camping tonight.”
True enough, less than half the houses had smoke drifting from their chimneys. There were enough empty lots to accommodate at least a thousand of them.
Maxi tried to count the hundreds of dark windows before halting in the square. Having found a fairly large inn, the army had stopped marching to speak with the innkeeper. She swiftly dismounted to allow Rem a moment of rest.
The empty market was bathed in the glow of sunset. Maxi peered through the knights standing in measured ranks, all the way to the head of the army, where Ursuline Ricaydo was conversing with a wealthy-looking man.
The negotiation must have gone well, as servants promptly scurried out of the inn to take their horses.
Elliot, who had been observing the situation, now walked over to Maxi. “The Remdragon Knights will be lodging at the inn for the night, my lady. You should head inside and leave Rem to me.”
“W-What about the other soldiers?” Maxi asked anxiously, looking at the Knights of Phil Aaron standing nearby.
With a small smile, Elliot replied, “There is a larger inn up north where the knights can lodge. As for the soldiers, we intend to rent the empty houses.”
Right at that moment, Richard Breston ended his conversation with his men and steered his powerfully-built warhorse down the square. Maxi watched them clop down the wide road until Elliot’s insistence forced her to hand Rem’s reins over to him.
Inside the inn, the newly lit fire had yet to warm the room. A cold draft blew over her as she entered, along with the overwhelming aroma of roasted ham. She stood at the entrance to survey the spacious hall. The tavern on the first floor was large enough to accommodate at least a hundred, but there were currently fewer than ten patrons.
Maxi furtively glanced at the people drinking and gambling at their tables until a barmaid led her to the staircase to the left of the hall. On the top floor, the barmaid swung open the door to a spacious room.
“Here we are,” the woman said proudly. “The best room in the house. Only the wealthiest of merchants and nobles can afford this one.”
After slowly looking around the lavishly furnished space, Maxi turned to the barmaid. “Do you get… many visitors?”
“Up until a few years ago, hundreds flocked to our village to buy wheat, wine, and wool, but that all changed when the peddlers stopped coming one by one. We’ve had half the usual number this year.”
The barmaid heaved a heavy sigh as she lit the candles.
“Merchants are charged higher taxes to sell their wares here compared to other regions. If I were a merchant, I would’ve taken my business elsewhere too.”
Realizing that she had criticized the policy of a noble in front of a stranger, the barmaid gave Maxi a wary look.
Maxi smiled reassuringly and changed the subject. “I’m sorry, but… could I trouble you for a basin of water? All that riding has made me filthy.”
“A bath requires an additional fee.”
“How much would that be?”
“A derham for a cold bath, two for hot.”
Maxi took out two silver coins from the leather pouch dangling on her belt and handed them to the barmaid, who promptly pocketed them in her apron.
“I’ll return with your bath shortly, so please make yourself at home in the meantime.”
When the barmaid left the room, Maxi walked to the window to peer out at the village. The once-empty square was now packed with baggage wagons, and soldiers with torches moved up and down the streets in a long line. They seemed pleased at spending the night inside a walled settlement where they would not have to worry about ambushes.
The barmaid returned while Maxi was staring out the window. “Miss, I’m afraid it’s going to take a while for your bath to be ready. Why not come downstairs to dine while you wait?”
Realizing that the inn was short on staff, Maxi gave the woman an apologetic look. “I see. You can take your time with the water.” The barmaid nodded and stepped out of the room. Maxi cursorily reorganized her bag, then went down to the first floor.
The tavern was now full of knights. She searched the crowd and quickly walked across the room when she spotted Riftan sitting at a table beside a window. He cut short what appeared to be a grave discussion with Hebaron to direct a gentle smile at her as she approached.
“What timing,” he said. “I was just about to send for you. Come, sit.”
He stood to pull a chair out for her. Maxi glanced over the brightly lit table as she settled next to him. From the spread before her – a generous serving of freshly baked bread, well-roasted ham, and turnip stew – it was clear that the town still had enough food for its inhabitants.
Inhaling the mouth-watering aroma, Maxi gleefully picked up her spoon. Table manners be damned, she began shoveling warm stew into her mouth. After the day’s long ride in the cold, the warmth of the stew reminded her just how hungry she was.
Riftan watched her with pity before handing her a cup of warmed wine. “Slow down, or you’ll upset your stomach. Here, drink some wine.”
Maxi managed to pause between her frantic spoonfuls just enough to take a sip of wine. “Y-You should have some too, Riftan. It’s growing cold.”
“I’ve been eating, so don’t worry about me.”
He sliced a chunk of ham into bite-sized pieces and transferred them onto her plate.
Hebaron watched this with a peeved expression, then clicked his tongue, grumbling, “Blimey, show some consideration for the lonely man over here.”
“Shut your trap and keep eating,” Riftan said coldly.
Unfazed, Hebaron continued, “You seem to be treating our newest recruit awfully well. Why don’t we reorganize the order’s hierarchy again while we’re at it?”
Maxi flushed with embarrassment. She was aware that the burly knight was merely teasing, but she also worried that some of the others might think less of Riftan because of her.
Pushing the plate back to him, she said, “Riftan… I can eat by myself, so stop fussing and take care of your own meal.”
Seeing her abashment, Riftan shot Hebaron a murderous look.
Just then, the tavern grew quiet as footsteps thudded through the room. A sharply featured man dressed in an extravagant velvet coat entered, trailed by four soldiers.
“Are you Sir Riftan Calypse?” the man asked Riftan curtly.
Maxi frowned at the open hostility on the man’s face.
Riftan turned toward the newcomer and calmly replied, “I am. What is your business with me?”
“My name is Hedna Borman, the administrator of this town.” “And?”
The man looked taken aback by Riftan’s apathetic reply. He cleared his throat and said haughtily, “This is the territory of the Duke of Croyso, and you are the man who once declared war against the duchy. We will not have you or the Remdragon Knights on our lands, so please take your knights and leave.”
Too stunned for words, Maxi simply glared at the man. Riftan was a knight sent to save the eastern regions from a crisis. How could the man regard him with such ingratitude? Her father’s brazenness filled her with unbearable shame.
“Are you unaware that your duke has requested military aid from the Council of the Seven Kingdoms?” Riftan intoned while shooting his men a look of warning to stop them from drawing their swords.
“I am the supreme commander of the coalition army sent by the Council. I shall overlook your insolence this once, so be gone from my sight.” 13
“The rest of the coalition army may stay here, but the Remdragon Knights-” 5
“You must commend the man’s bravery and loyalty,” Hebaron chimed in. “Look at him. Come to chase away hundreds of armed knights with just four soldiers.”
As if finally sensing the hostility within the hall, the man stiffened and looked about. Despite the knights’ menacing glares, he seemed unwilling to back down.
“Threatening a free citizen with force is against the peace agreement!”
“I am here by order of the Council. Do you not understand that you are currently defying a royal decree?”
The man appeared more and more like a cornered animal. “I am the duke’s vassal. I would have to face his wrath if I allowed you to stay.”
“Now he’s just whining,” Hebaron said irritably. He slammed his tankard of beer on the table. “Oi, we’ll be out of here in the morning even without your grouching, so stop wasting your time and get to bed.”
“As I have already told you, you are not welcome here,” the man retorted. “You dare to rob us of our food after what Anatol has done to this place! It is no secret that the Remdragon Knights harbor a grudge against the duke. For the safety of the town’s inhabitants-”
“Are you aware that your insults are becoming increasingly difficult to overlook?” Riftan interrupted, the iciness in his voice sending chills down Maxi’s spine. “First of all, I paid for the food we are eating, down to the last morsel of bread. Also, what is it exactly that you are accusing Anatol of? My estate has done nothing unlawful against the duchy. Lastly… my men and I would never harm an innocent person without reason.”
Picking up his wine, Riftan took a sip before adding softly, “But you are certainly providing me with some right now.”
