Chan glanced at Wess, frowning slightly, as everyone within earshot burst intolaughter. Wess was glad her complexion was dark enough to hide her blush ofanger. Chan was bright pink from the collar of his homespun shirt to the rootsof his blond hair. Wess knew they had been insulted but she did not understandhow or why, so she replied with courtesy.

'No, citizen, thank you for your hospitality. We need a room, if you have one,and food.'

'We would not refuse a bath,' Quartz said.

The innkeeper glanced at them, an irritated expression on his face, and spokeonce more to Chan.

'The young gentleman lets his ladies speak for him? Is this some foreign custom,that you are too high-bred to speak to a mere tavern-keeper?'

'I don't understand you,' Chan said. 'Wess spoke for us all. Must we speak inchorus?'

Taken aback, the man hid his reaction by showing them, with an exaggerated bow,to a table.

Wess dumped her pack on the floor next to the wall behind her and sat down witha sigh of relief. The others followed. Aerie

looked as if she could not have kept on her feet a moment longer.

'This is a simple place,' the tavern-keeper said. 'Beer or ale, wine. Meat andbread. Can you pay?'

He was speaking to Chan again. He took no direct note of Wess " or Aerie orQuartz.

'What is the price?'

'Four dinners, bed - you break your fast somewhere else, I don't open early. Apiece of silver. In advance.'

'The bath included?' Quartz said.

'Yes, yes, all right.'

'We can pay,' said Quartz, whose turn it was to keep track of what they spent.She offered him a piece of silver.

He continued to look at Chan, but after an awkward pause he shrugged, snatchedthe coin from Quartz, and turned away. Quartz drew back her hand, then, underthe table, surreptitiously wiped it on the leg other heavy cotton trousers.