They still worked to practice swordplay, but were more exhausted after each day of walking. On the eve of the third day, Vi’s feet were so blistered that Jayme refused to teach her and, instead, they sat around the fire they’d finally dared to make for the sake of warmth before calling it an early night.
On the third day, the town they’d been waiting for finally came into view, and they arrived by nightfall.
Inton had its own road branching off the East-West Way that led into its heart. It was perhaps only ten—no, sixteen on counting—buildings large. One was a large manor-type house, its high wall the type Vi had come to associate with the aesthetic of Western nobility. No doubt it belonged to whatever lord maintained this small town’s existence. There were two or three smaller houses, what looked like a sort of shared-living dwelling, then the other buildings needed to support those living in the town, such as a tailor and a smithy.
“I wonder if they have an inn,” Vi mused.
“We need to save our coin for supplies.”
“I brought enough to do both.”
“Of course, the crown princess would leave with a small bank in her pockets.”
“Yullia, remember?”
“Even in private?” Jayme arched her eyebrows.
“Especially in private, or how else will we be accustomed to it in public,” Vi reasoned.
“Fair… So then you’re just a wanderer, Yullia, on the move with a small fortune jingling your pack.” Jayme shook her head. “That’s believable.”
“Maybe my parents are insanely rich.” Vi was more mindful of where she was placing her feet. The stones of the road off the East-West way were worn, uneven, and rutted from centuries of cart wheels passing over them without much maintenance.
“Well, they are, technically.”
“Yes, but Yullia’s parents aren’t the Emperor and Empress.”
“You are truly a master of disguise,” Jayme said dryly. Vi snorted with laughter. “Mother, you know you’re in a small town when the inn, general store, and bar are all condensed into one.”
Vi looked up at the building that had captured Jayme’s attention. Sure enough, the bottom floor looked to be half-shop, half-bar—very likely the only source of entertainment in town. The upper floors had the letters I-N-N painted between the windows that lined it.
Inside, there was every manner of supply imaginable: food, home goods, crafting materials. There was a bladder that could have been for water or lamp oil. There were glass jugs of varying shapes and sizes that reflected her face—and that was a sight.
Her hair was a bird’s nest. The plaits she’d attempted to weave into it had snarled into knots around the nape of her neck. Vi raised a hand, teasing it lightly, but everything just seemed to tighten at the prodding.
She couldn’t stop a giggle.
“What?” Jayme asked, stepping over from the shelf of roasted nuts she’d been eying.
“I’m a mess.”
“You stink, too. Let’s see if we can get a bath with our room for tonight.” Jayme continued up to the counter.
“You’re not exactly sweet smelling yourself,” Vi muttered.
The counter stretched between bar and store, but no one was positioned behind it. They both craned their necks, looking through an open back door. After seeing no one, Jayme lightly rang a small silver bell set out on the counter.
“Hello?”
There was some grumbling, movement, and a wiry-haired old man emerged. The whole of his head was white, and his beady eyes were magnified behind a pair of thick spectacles.
“Oh, you two are new,” he said in a weathered voice.
“Yes, may we purchase a room for the night?” Jayme took the lead. “We’d also like to purchase some supplies.”
“Right, right…” The owner opened a heavy ledger. “Just let me know what you need and I’ll tally it all up.”
“We’ll take six of the jerky…” Jayme moved as she spoke, beginning to collect the items. “… six of these biscuits… This is for water, right? One of these, then…”
