And Quartz: she had to stoop to come inside. She straightened up. She was tallerthan anyone else in the room. The smoke near the ceiling swirled a wreath aroundher hair. She had cut it short for the journey, and it curled around her face,red, gold, and sand-pale. Her grey eyes reflected the firelight like mirrors.Ignoring the stares, she pushed her blue wool cloak from her broad shoulders andshrugged her pack to the floor.
The strong heavy scent of beer and sizzling meat made Wess's mouth water. Shesought out the man behind the bar.
'Citizen,' she said, carefully pronouncing the Sanctuary language, the tradetongue of all the continent, 'are you the proprietor? My friends and I, we needa room for the night, and dinner.'
Her request seemed ordinary enough to her, but the innkeeper looked sidelong atone of his patrons. Both laughed.
'A room, young gentleman?' He came out from behind the bar. Instead of replyingto Wess, he spoke to Chan. Wess smiled to herself. Like all Chan's friends, shewas used to seeing people fall in love with him on sight. She would have done soherself, she thought, had she first met him when they were grown. But they hadknown each other all their lives and their friendship was far closer and deeperthan instant lust.
'A room?' the innkeeper said again. 'A meal for you and your ladies? Is that allwe can do for you here in our humble establishment? Do you require dancing? Ajuggler? Harpists and hautbois? Ask and it shall be given!' Far from beingseductive, or even friendly, the innkeeper's tone was derisive.