Inn and Out

[the Inn]

The morning was as dreary as the previous evening had been. Of the four who had taken up residence, only Neesa awoke with any form of happiness. For her, this day would be the same as any other spent at the inn.

Neesa could never have expected the scene that greeted her at the foot of the stairs. Daerinnid and Paolos, at each other's throats, Paolos clearly having the upper hand in the fight. He had managed to get his arm around Daerinnid's neck and was trying to strangle him.

"Daerinnid! Polos!"

Instantly, Paolos released Daerinnid. Daerinnid slumped to the floor, gasping, and Neesa ran forward to him. "Polos! Wha's goin' on?"

"This commoner," said Paolos, adjusting his collar, "had the nerve to suggest that I would be better suited to cleaning pig pens!"

"Daerinnid, you didna!"

"B-but," Daerinnid sputtered. He had assumed Neesa would side with him.

"Daer, not to a guest!"

Daerinnid had a sudden sinking feeling, as if he had violated some secret code among innkeepers. Judging by the look of horror and revulsion on Neesa's face and the smug look on Paolos', he probably had.

"Sir Polos, please let me repayah whateva damage Daerinnid 'as done t'ya." That said, Neesa took Paolos by the arm and led the knight into the next room. Daerinnid had never seen a broader smile.

---

His perfect plan now seemed to be perfectly in ruins. With Neesa lost, he was back to square one. The week had been so horrid that Daerinnid was finding it harder and harder to hold on to what little charisma he had left. One thing was for sure: Neesa brought out the absolute worse in him.

"Well, enough of that," he decided, voicing his decision to the open air. Paolos did not want him around, and neither did Neesa, despite what she had said. Obviously she had not completely been fair when she had told him to be himself. He must be even worse than he had imagined. The most upsetting part was that Neesa was downstairs serving Paolos -- Paolos, Sir Golden-Haired Knight, of all people! -- tea and bread. He must fit her image of the ideal man a bit better than Daerinnid, though that was hardly a surprise.

Well, Daerinnid concluded, even an evil man could hope for such adoration. He would do Neesa one last favor, at least. He would not kill her.

Shouldering his pack, he left the room and headed for the stairs.

When Daerinnid was halfway down the stairs, he felt a strange sensation, as if someone were watching him. He turned to find Edwin, Paolos' poor servant boy.

"Going?"

"Yeah."

"Coming."

"Huh?" Daerinnid replied, gazing blankly at the boy. Edwin was maybe thirteen years old, and rather scrawny. His dark eyes were sad and sunken, lacking the usual shine of life, and seemed to be looking straight into Daerinnid's soul. Somehow Daerinnid knew the boy suffered no illusions about this man who had saved him.

After a few brief moments more of blankly staring, the boy disappeared and returned a moment later with a small traveling bag.

"You're not well enough to travel," Daerinnid said authoritatively. "Just go back into your room. Neesa and Perfect Paolos will take care of you, I'm sure."

Without even bothering to say anything in response, Edwin simply walked past Daerinnid and out the front door, leaving Daerinnid to run after him. A traveling companion, no matter how strange, was better than nothing.