章 149: She Was Discovered!
After that, the dwarves in the tavern behaved much more friendly to Robin. This would have been all right if it weren't for the fact that they kept buying Robin beers.
Robin, out of courtesy, accepted them. But whenever the gifting dwarf's back was turned, she would switch it with an empty mug from another nearby dwarf. In that manner, many beers passed through her hands. Yet, she remained completely sober.
The surrounding dwarves found it to be a great lot of fun. And so, Robin was stuck surounded by the rambunctious dwarves until well after midnight. She then managed to slip through a gap caused by three drunken dwarves falling prone.
The morning sunshine came through the window far too early that morning for Robin's liking. However, before Robin could turn over and catch up on lost sleep, there was a knock at the door. Robin opened the door a crack. It was Ayva.
"Are ye decent? Is now a good time?" She asked.
Robin didn't say anything, but opened the door wider to let her into the room.
"Oh, yer awake! Good! Good!" Ayva smiled. "I just wanted to tell you that I got an okay from Marlgurn. You and your people can use the hot springs tonight after dinner."
Then Ayva fidgeted a bit.
"Um, beg pardon, but...Robin...Are you actually a girl?"She asked.
There was a long pause as Robin froze, trying to processed what she had said.
"What makes you say that?" Robin asked slowly.
"Well...We dwarves aren't ones to judge by appearance as-often as not- there are bearded women among our kind. I just thought that...you might be like that."
Robin sighed. She wanted to maintain her disguise. But she also didn't want to lie to Ayva. Then, she made a decision.
Robin opened her door and made sure no one was in the hallway. Closing the door again, she turned around to face Ayva, and shyly nodded.
"Was I that obvious?" Robin asked, a bit flustered.
"Oh no no!" Ayva assured. "It's only because I've a sister of my own that er...likes ta pretend she's a man. Most folks wouldna be able ta tell the difference. Ah, but ye might want ta hide those rabbits next time ye let someone in."
Ayva glanced at Robin's chest pointedly, which was barely noticeable under her loose shirt.
"I took off the band last night. Must have slipped my mind." Robin sighed.
But, even so, Robin felt relieved. She did not want to consider the outcome of what would happen should a dwarf accidentally belt out her secret in front of Christian.
"Just don't tell anyone." Robin warned.
"Wouldn't dream of it, dear!" Ayva said with a bright grin. "But, do all of yer companions know?"
"Only the girls. And I'd rather keep it that way." Robin said.
"In that case, there's a secret spot hidden away from the main hot springs that is just perfect for you to enjoy away from the main group." Ayva clapped her hands in excitement. "I'll show ye the way there when you head over."
"What? Wouldn't you be busy here at the tavern?" Robin asked, surprised.
"The tavern can basically run itself." Ayva chuckled. "I just like helping it along here an there. Don't worry about me, dear. I needed a soak to take the aches outta me bones, anyways."
And with that, Ayva waved goodbye, and left the room. Robin slumped back onto the bed. With the early morning shock, there was no way she'd be getting any more sleep, so Robin wore the band again, and got dressed.
The tavern was rather empty this morning, outside of a pile of dead drunk unconscious dwarves that were laid against a side wall.
"Pay no attention to them, sir. This happens all the time." The dwarf girl said, as she set out a huge breakfast spread in front of her.
"Are your breakfasts always this large?" Robin asked, mildly curious.
"No, but everyone in the kitchen wanted to cook ye a little something as thanks fer keeping our Ayva safe. My name's Copper, by the way." Copper giggled. "The burnt toast over there is Eddie's attempt at cooking."
"Indeed. Toast should always be well burnt." Robin joked with a laugh. "I'm not sure I'll be able to eat all this, but you can tell them that I've received their thanks."
"Will do!" The girl curtseyed, then returned to the kitchen. Through the open window, Robin glanced the peering faces of the cooking staff, watching her. She smiled and nodded in their direction. This caused several to retreat back into the kitchens.
Robin chuckled as she turned her attention back to the food. Then she had an idea. She tried a small sample from each of the dishes, first. If it tasted bad, she didn't let it show on her face. Instead, she continued until she had tried all the dishes.
Robin separated a quarter of them out, and transferred them into separate containers, storing them into her bracer. Three super spicy dishes, one soggy dish, two garlic saturated dishes, and one dish of near mass destruction: Robin smiled brightly at the possibilities. Then she tucked into the more delicious dishes, alongside a serving of burnt toast.
When the others came downstairs, Robin was just finishing up. They quickly noticed the stack of empty dishes on the table in front of her.
"Whoah, do you usually eat this much?" Christian asked, in mock seriousness. "Have we been accidentally underfeeding you?"
Robin laughed. "I must be undergoing a growth spurt. Soon enough, I'll be taller than you!" She teased.
"Impossible." Christian replied, with a shake of his head.
"Why not?" Robin asked.
"Because I'm also undergoing a growth spurt. You'll always be shorter than me!" He said with a smug face. Robin rolled her eyes.
"You can't indefinitely undergo growth spurts, otherwise 6 feet would be the bottom end of the human height scale. You'll run out soon, and then it'll be my turn to overtake you!" She smirked. Christian ruffled her hair.
"We'll see about that!" He replied jokingly.
"Ah, that reminds me!" Robin paused, immediately switching mental gears, and turned to Jasmine.
"Ayva said that she got a reservation at a nearby hot spring for us."
"When!?" Jasmine asked, grabbing Robin's shoulders.
"Tonight. 7pm." Robin replied. "Also, can you stop grabbing me?"
"Right right, sorry about that." Jasmine stepped back, and cleared her throat. For Jasmine to latch onto a man like how she had grabbed Robin was considered scandal-worthy in Ekkinshire Kingdom. She had forgotten herself due to how Robin treated everyone with a somewhat laid-back attitude.
"Not a problem. Ayva said she'll be showing us the way there, so I'm assuming she'll be joining us." Robin noted. "So it appears we have some time on our hands. What would you like to do until evening?"
After discussing amongst the group during breakfast, it was decided they would be doing two main things: touring the city, and window shopping. Robin handed each person what she believed was a reasonable amount of money. They told Ayva their plans on the way out.
"Have fun touring tha city, Dearies!" She waved as they left the building.
The citadel itsef had seven layers. The tavern they were staying in was on the seventh level. The main street was wide, and wound upward at a slight incline towards the gateway into the sixth circle. This particular circle was mainly for travellers, shipments, processing hunted kills, and the adventurers guild.
The Sixth layer was where the common folk lived. This was also where the public bathouses were found. The Fifth Layer was the Marketplace. This was where generally most all goods were sold. The Fourth layer was where the tinkerers, jewelers, and appraisers set up their workshops.This ring also housed the extensive city library. And you would also find many merchants homes in this circle, as it was close to the market.
From the third level onwards, you needed some form of identification. The third level was the residence ring of noble or distinguished families of high lineage. This ring had mansions with large rock gardens, greenhouses, artistic reliefs, venues and parks.
The second level was where the dignitaries, ambassadors, advisors and politicians lived. you needed both identification and permission to enter this place.
And the first level's entire floor was taken up by Throm's Mansion and Forge, the largest structures that could easily be seen. You needed permission from Throm himself to enter.
Moreover, each circle had a main forge the size of a temple, as well as a guards barracks. Each circle's guards wore a uniform starting from the outer circle: iron red, copper orange, golden yellow, jade green, saphire blue, starmetal indigo, chromium violet.
After seeing the first four circles, they all returned back to the fifth circle for window shopping.
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