Chapter 103: Gold Coins
---Indigo---
We followed Lucretia through the village, chatting the entire way. She was a lively woman despite her age. She asked us about our swords, and Lucian told her that we were training in the Rosewood Academy. That sparked a new discussion, and it turned out that Lucretia and some of our old professors were childhood friends.
"Philip, my son, used to attend the Academy too, but sadly it wasn't his cup of tea," Lucretia said as she pushed open the door to the inn. "His father passed away when he was about your age, and he's gone rogue ever since. Thank heavens he finally settled down here in Sheep Lane with me; otherwise, he just might have gotten himself killed somewhere."
"I'm sure your son is a wonderful person," Rachel said politely. "Seeing that his inn seems to be prospering, I would say that he's a great businessman."
"Thanks dear, you're all such nice kids," Lucretia beamed. "unlike Philip. Now where has he gone to? Philip? Philip?"
While Lucretia went to the second floor of the inn to search for Philip, we sat down around an empty table to wait. Half of the tables were filled with people, and more seemed to be trickling in. A waiter zoomed in and out of the kitchen, taking orders and bringing food to the guests.
Finally, Lucretia made her way down the stairs. We stood up to meet her. "Well, I don't know where that darn Philip is, so I'll just assign you three a room before the inn gets filled up. Today's market day, and market days are always busy."
We followed her to the counter, where she looked through an open notebook on the small desk behind. "Let's see here…oh dear, there's really not that many rooms left. Would you three mind if you all shared one room? We have a larger room open that has two beds instead of one, but it's slightly more expensive."
Rachel and Lucian looked at each other, then at me. I was supposed to decide. "No, not at all. We'll take the larger room, then, just for tonight." I made the executive decision.
"Okay. That will be…hmm…two gold coins. I'll give you three a discount because you were so polite and patient with an old lady like me." Lucretia winked at us.
We chorused our thanks, and Rachel handed Lucretia the money. She ushered us upstairs and led us past several doors before opening the last door on the left. "Here's the room, darlings, and this is the key. Make yourselves comfortable. I have to go back to my candy stall now, but if you need anything, just ask any of the staff!"
The room itself was about the size of two and a half standard bedrooms, which was certainly large enough for us. A window overlooking the village was set into the wall opposite the door, with a small desk beneath it. Two beds stood horizontally on our right, with the headboards against the right wall. A small dresser with a vase of flowers on top stood on our left.
Lucian dropped his bag at the foot of the dresser and flopped on the bed nearest to the door. "Ooh, this bed is soft. Too bad there are only two beds. I'll sleep on the floor tonight, and you two can take the beds."
"Oh, no, I can share a bed with Indigo," Rachel said quickly. "That is, if you don't mind, Indigo?"
"Not at all," I answered with a smile. "Lucian, you can sleep on that bed; Rachel and I will share the other bed."
"Oh really? Thanks guys." Lucian moved his arms and legs across the covers, as if he was making a snow angel. "I'm hungry. Do you want to buy food from the market, or eat in the inn?"
"I want to go out and walk around," I said. "Maybe we can find someone who's going towards the Northern Mountains and hitch a ride with them."
"Okay. Market it is!" Lucian rolled over and stood up from the bed, stretching. "Let's get going guys; we have about three hours before sunset."
* * * * *
Several hours later, we walked back upstairs to our room, having eaten to our hearts' content. We had found foods of our hometown, which made us all very happy but nostalgic. We even found a farmer traveling to the next village who was willing to give us a ride for a small fee. He wanted us to meet him at the entrance of the village at five in the morning, which was pretty early, but reasonable.
As Lucian and Rachel sat on the beds to talk, I opened the windows a bit to let in some fresh air. Outside, the sun's last rays illuminated the village streets where vendors were cleaning up their stalls and packing away their wares. Mothers called their children back for dinner, and villagers ambled back to their houses. I was about to join Rachel and Lucian in their chatting when a familiar figure caught my eye. It was Lucretia, who was walking towards the inn with a young man in tow. I almost leaned out the window to wave to her, but then their conversation drifted up on the wind.
"You gave three kids the largest room?! Mother, has old age affected your brain too?!" The young man was exclaiming, clearly angry. Lucretia turned to face him, arms crossed.
"Philip, don't you dare use that tone of voice with me. It's my inn too, and I'll rent the rooms out to whomever I want! Those kids were so polite and respectful, unlike you! They told me they're studying at the Academy. If you were more responsible and studious, you could've been like them too!"
Philip snorted. "Mother, the Academy is full of snobbish, stuck-up kids that leech off of their rich parents. I bet they're all spoiled brats that spend money like it's dirt."
Lucian and Rachel joined me at the window, staying slightly back so that we wouldn't be seen, but were still close enough to hear the conversation.
"Oh hush, Philip, all you do is drink and gamble! At least those kids are studying hard and know how to respect their elders. Why, they even have their own swords." Lucretia sniffed disdainfully. "You, on the other hand, didn't even finish your third year."
"Who needs swords? Mother, no one carries around those heavy, useless things anymore. But I think I know who you're talking about. I saw them earlier, when they walked past the pub," Philip yawned. "One of the girls has a scar across her face, right? She's so creepy. Mother, why would you rent the best room to them?"
I stiffened, my hand automatically reaching up to touch my scar. Even though it wasn't that visible, the long streak across half my face still made me self-conscious.
"They paid in gold," Lucretia was saying. "You said you were tired of counting all the numus and argents, so I thought you'd be happy that someone paid in gold coins."
Philip suddenly straightened and didn't look so bored anymore. "Gold? Mother, you said they paid in gold?"
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