Read Online Winterfinding by Daniel Casey - Free Book Online Page B

the
corner out of his sight. Even then, Addison lingered. He knew he’d
have to keep an eye on that one and Jena was cursing herself for
drawing down attention that would just make her tasks that much
more difficult.
    It didn’t take long before she found Tolland
Road and The Archway just as Addison had said. The hostel had a
large veranda built in front of a fat grey stone archway. There
were only a few people sitting outside and the lane was practically
empty.
    Jena looked at the vellum one more time. It
didn’t name the property, instead giving a lane number. She
squinted, her eyes scanning the building fronts for hint of a
number. Finally, she spied it at the bottom corner of every
building. The Archway didn’t have a visible number but it was
sandwiched in the correct space. This was Reg’s property.
    Stepping onto the veranda, she collected
gazes from those sitting there. One a rather fat man draped in
garish, billowing clothing. He had before him a large platter of
what looked like various vegetables. Giving a cursory glance Jena’s
way, he returned to slicing up the food before him. Two women,
barely out of their girlhood, sat not very far away from the fat
man but were clearly not associated with him. They seemed intent on
giggling secrets to each other, which only prompted Jena to role
her eyes.
    The lone man at the far end of the deck that
worried her. He sat leaning back in his chair with is feet crossed
on the table. Smug, young but homely, he wore rather dark leathers
that were in a bit too nice of condition for the attitude he was
evincing. Jena felt his eyes on her from the moment she moved
towards the inn. She didn’t return the gaze but made a mental
note.
    Stepping into The Archway the light from the
lane died and for a moment Jena was blind but her eyes adjusted
quickly enough. The interior was dark due to the deep, red wood
that made the tables, chairs, should height room dividers, and bar.
There were oil lamps burning giving a soft, yellow glow to
everything.
    Unlike the veranda, the interior had a good
number of folk in it. Many were dining in groups of three or four.
Jena made her way to the bar. She was intercepted before she had
taken more than a couple of steps.
    “ Ere for da meal?” A mousy
girl stood before her speaking with a thick Novosar
accent.
    Jena looked passed the girl to the woman
behind the bar who seemed more in command, “No, thank you, I’m
fine…”
    She tried to step around the girl but the
mousy girl simply stepped back in front of Jena, “So a room
then?”
    Jena sighed, “Yes, I need…”
    “ How many
days?”
    “ At least…I’m not sure…”
Jena was put off. Stumbling for words, she was getting pissed at
herself.
    “ Indefinite is fine. We’ve
rooms for tha. One bed, I assume.”
    “ Yes, that’s fine. I don’t
need anything extravagant. How…”
    “ It’s seven a day but if
you pay for a week ahead of time it’s half.”
    “ Seven aurei? A
night!”
    The girl clucked in surprise, “No, silly,
obol. A grasp for a day, half an aureus for a week paid in
advance.”
    Jena felt suddenly more provincial than the
girl. She dug into her hip pocket and fished out an aurei, holding
it out to the girl she asked, “That’s with meals?”
    “ Course.” The girl took
the coin, “A week then.” She smiled at Jena, “I’m Jej.”
    Jena could barely make out what the girl
said, it just sounded like a slur of zeds. She shook her head and
gestured Jej, “Go on, I’d like to get settled.”
    “ Course, sorry.” Jej
smiled. As they walked through the inn Jena didn’t catch anyone
looking her way. Most seemed engrossed in their conversations or
food, it seemed as though she had arrived during a village-wide
mealtime. She shrugged; it wasn’t much beyond midday so that made
sense. Still, it struck Jena as odd that so many people would be
here to have food prepared for them rather than at home.
    What Jena did notice was the woman behind
the bar. The moment