The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [181]
“I understand and thank you again,” he says and then moves to leave through the front door and back to where Miko waits with the horse.
“Did you find out anything?” Miko asks expectantly as James approaches.
“I’ll tell you later,” he says. “Let’s find a place to eat and then get out of here before the Empire shows up.”
“Good plan,” says Miko.
With Miko leading the horse, they travel through the crowded streets until they see an inn. Not wanting to leave their horse out front where someone fleeing may try to help themselves to it, they go around back and secure it near the back door before proceeding inside.
The inn is deserted save a lone serving girl who sits at a table near the front window watching the people making their way to the gates to get out of the city.
She fails to take notice of them until they get close and James says, “Excuse me.”
Startled, she jumps from her seat and turns around, “Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in. What can I do for you gentlemen?”
“Are you open for dinner?” James asks.
“Yes,” she affirms, “we are, though there is limited choice. You see we are leaving first thing in the morning.”
Taking a seat near the front window he says, “Just give us two large helpings of whatever you have and some ale.”
Before she goes to the kitchen she pauses and says somewhat guiltily, “That’s going to be three silvers, each.”
“What?” James asks incredulously.
“That’s outrageous!” Miko says, obviously mad.
Looking embarrassed, the girl says, “Sorry but that is what I am told to charge today.”
James nods his head and says “Here,” as he hands over six silvers. Then adds, “I understand.”
Looking relieved the girl takes the money and then goes into the kitchen to get their food and drinks.
“How could you pay that much?” Miko asks as the girl disappears into the kitchen.
Shrugging, James says, “We’re unlikely to get anything cheaper,” he gestures to the people going by outside, carrying bundles or pulling carts. “Besides, we’re lucky to be able to get anything at all. I’m surprised they’re even open.”
They sit back and relax as they wait for their food. James begins watching the people going by, mother’s carrying babies alongside fathers pulling carts loaded with belongings and children. “Kind of makes you sad doesn’t it?”
“What does?” asks Miko.
“The senseless destruction that war brings,” he explains. “The ones who always pay the price of another’s greed is the simple man who just wants to go about his life, take joy in his family, and find peace at the end. They didn’t ask for it, don’t understand why it’s happening, but theirs are the lives ruined, turned upside down, families destroyed.”
“I see what you mean,” Miko says, reflecting on what James said.
The girl returns from the kitchen balancing a platter with heaping slices of meat smothered in thick gravy in one hand and a pitcher of ale with two mugs gripped in the other. She sits it all on the table and then returns to the kitchen only to emerge with a large loaf of bread. “Here, this is extra,” she says as she sits the bread on the table. “We’ll probably just throw it away anyway.”
Taking the bread James says, “Thank you.”
Smiling, the girl begins to putter around the room, wiping down tables and keeping busy.
Starved from having little food the last couple of days, it doesn’t take long before they completely devour their meal.
“Would you like anything else?” she asks when she comes over to remove the dinnerware.
“No nothing,” James replies. “That was very good.”
Miko nods agreement as he lets out a loud belch.
“Glad you liked it,” she says before heading back to the kitchen with the dirty platter.
“Feel better?” James asks Miko as he relaxes back into his chair.
“Much better,” he says contentedly, patting his stomach.
They sit and rest a little longer as they allow their food to digest. Continuing to watch the people going by, James spies a