Free Daughter of Hauk (The Raven Chronicles Book 1) by KateMarie Collins Page B

would you be wanting?” A cautious looking man, one that’s smart enough to know when not to ask too many questions.
                  “Two, if you please.” Arwenna responded before Y’Dürkie could answer. She wanted her to get some rest while they were here, too. “And, if possible, would there happen to be a lock to the room?”
                  “Aye, all the rooms have locks. Also have some bathhouses just out to the back. Room’s going to be two gold a night, including meals. Using the bathhouse is an extra five silver each.” He glanced up at Y’Dürkie, sizing her up a bit. “Owner’s got a rule about things here. You break something, you gotta be paying him back for it. Goes for stuff down here in the common room as much as it does upstairs.”
                  Arwenna placed twenty gold down on the counter. “That should take care of us for at least the next 3 nights, with some for the bathhouse.” She paused, “And for some privacy, if possible.” 
                  The innkeeper deftly picked the coin up from the counter and put it away in a pouch on his belt. “Aye, Milady. Won’t be anyone botherin’ you unless you start it up. Not many besides me and my staff that’ll even know you’re here, if you like. Now,” he turned slightly and grabbed a key off the wall, “here be the key to your room. It’s all the way up on the third floor, last door on the right. Dinner’ll be ready in about an hour. If you want it brought up, just send a message down. Got a few girls around to run it up for you if need be.” He handed the key over to Arwenna. “Grenda! Girl! Get over here, got some guests that need to be shown their room!” 
                  A young girl came over from the table she was cleaning. “What room?” she asked, boredom evident in her voice. The innkeeper gave her a number and she headed up the stairs, motioning Arwenna and Y’Dürkie to follow.
                  “Not often we get new women in town, though there’s been a lot more lately.” Grenda kept a steady chatter going while leading them to their room. “Most everyone in town keeps saying there’s gonna be a war, and that some allegiance between human and orc is in the works to take over someplace to the south, but I don’t believe it. Even if there is a war, it’d be a long way from here. Well,” she stopped in front of a door, and opened it wide, “here you go. There’s a rope over here, “she pointed to a rope hanging down just inside the room, “that you can pull if you decide you wanna eat up here and not back downstairs.” She handed the key over to Arwenna and walked away.
                  Arwenna shut the door behind Grenda, and locked it. Y’Dürkie was already shrugging out of her pack and surveying the room. There were two large windows with a bed underneath each one. A small table sat between the headboards. A larger dresser stood off to one side, with a pitcher of water and bowl. A fireplace gaped from the wall opposite the dresser. A small table and two chairs finished off the room.
                  “Best get this started before ve do much else,” Y’Dürkie said as she knelt in front of the fireplace. “I am thinkink dinner up here would be best, at least tonight.”  She glanced out the window at the rapidly fading light. “Any lamps in here that you can see?”
                  Arwenna took a quick look around as she shed her own pack onto the floor beside one of the beds. Spying something on the table, she brought it over to the fireplace. “There’s some candles over here, that’ll help. Let’s get some light in here; then I’ll ring for dinner.”
                  Y’Dürkie nodded. “Goink to take a look at those vindows in a minute. Do not vant someone decidink to come visit us through them during the night.”
                  By the time dinner was