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Directly ahead to the southeast, the mountain range that has been steadily growing all day is now rising high in the sky. Somewhere at its base lies Ki. Another hour finds them at a crossroads where their road ends at another moving north and south along the base of the mountains. Checking his map, James indicates they should take the branch to the south.

Turning onto it, they continue until the road ends at another going east and west. Here they turn to the east and it isn’t long before the road winds its way to the small town of Ki.

“Let’s get a room and then do a little reconnoitering,” suggest Jiron.

“I’m for that,” agrees Jared.

Ki, as it turns out, isn’t really much of anything. On one side of town lies a complex with many smelters belching black smoke into the air. The rest is just a smattering of homes and a lone two story building sitting at the edge of town with a sign outside depicting an iron ingot.

“Is this the inn?” James asks indicating the two story structure.

No other building in town even looks close to being an inn. They have Jared go inside to see about a room while the other two wait outside. He isn’t inside long before he returns with a smile on his lips. “Got the biggest room they have,” he brags. “It’s actually two rooms joined together and there are four beds.”

“Excellent,” praises James.

They make their way around back to the stables and soon have their horses settled in. A stableboy is there and produces a bucket of grain and another full of water for each. James flips him a copper as they turn to head for the inn. Their room lies on the second floor at the end of the hall.

Just as Jared said, the room is actually two. The first room off the hall contains two small beds, a table and two chairs, as well as a dresser. To one side is another door leading into a much larger room.

With two large beds, a larger table, wardrobe and dresser, it’s about half again the size of the first room. The feature of the second room that perks James up is the bathtub setting near one wall.

“Alright!” he exclaims when he sees it. Suddenly his whole body begins to feel dirty and the itchiness of his scalp magnifies tenfold. “Jiron you stay in here with me,” he announces. “Jared, you get the outer room all to yourself.”

“Fine by me,” he says, pleased.

“Go down and see about arranging for dinner to be brought up and a bath afterwards,” he tells Jared as he sets his bag of crystals on the floor by his bed.

“Yes, sir,” he says and leaves the room.

Laying down, James sinks into luxurious comfort. “Wonder how much this is costing us?” he muses.

“Don’t know,” replies Jiron as he sits on the other bed. When he feels the softness, he lies down too and adds, “But it’s worth it.”

“Ain’t it though,” sighs James.

“I’m rather surprised to find a room such as this here in a town like Ki,” Jiron says. “An outer room for servants and a bath here in the main room just seems odd.”

Shrugging, James replies, “I don’t care why, just glad it’s here.” They lay there for a few more minutes until Jared returns.

“They’ll have it up in a few minutes,” he tells them. “The proprietor said to let them know when you want the bath.”

“Thanks,” says James. “When the food arrives, have them bring it in here and we’ll eat together. It’s the only table large enough for the three of us.”

“Very well,” replies Jared as he returns to the outer room and leaves them alone.

Ten minutes later James is snapped awake when Jared and the servers from the inn come in with their dinner. Roast beef, tubers and two loaves of bread make a mouthwatering aroma. Getting up, he makes his way over to the table where dinner is being laid out.

As soon as the servers have everything on the table they make a hasty retreat and shut the door behind them. Jiron notices their quick exit and asks Jared, “What did you tell them?”

Gesturing to James he grins and says, “That his lordship there is a servant of Dmon-Li.”

“Lordship?” asks James.

“Added that,” he admits. “People act differently when they think they’re dealing with royalty or someone