Spark (Legends of the Shifters) (23 page)

Roland
came in and examined my room. “So yours isn’t much
better,” he said.

“
I
think I’d prefer sleeping outdoors,” I replied.

Roland
shrugged. “Well at least we don’t have to build our own
fire here.”

“
That’s
about the only advantage.”

He
studied his fingernails, which were ragged from use. “Perhaps…
Are you ready to go eat something?”

“
Are
you kidding?” I asked. “Of course I am! I haven’t
eaten anything all day.”

I
followed Roland down hallway and then down the stairs. We sat down at
the bar, a few feet down from where Roger was standing, cleaning the
glass that he had been drinking from. “What can I get you to
drink?” Roger asked.

“
Water,”
I said. I had never been fond of alcohol. It left a bitter taste in
my mouth.

“
Same,”
said Roland.

Roger
seemed disappointed, probably wishing that we had ordered something a
bit more pricy, but he went into the kitchen and came out with two
glasses of cloudy water.

I
tried not to think about what made the water cloudy as I took a sip.
Rema came out soon afterward with two bowls of soup and a loaf of
bread. There was no plate for the bread. She just slapped it on the
counter as if that were the most normal thing to do.

I
cautiously tried the soup, worried because of everything else that
had gone wrong in this tavern. I was rewarded with a burst of
delicious flavor. Rema had cooked a perfect chowder, creamy with
fresh cow’s milk. She had added to it some sausage, potatoes,
corn, and though I couldn’t see it, I tasted just the slightest
hint of onion. It was garnished with some sort of red, powdery spice
and chives.

“
Mmm,”
I said involuntarily, following the first bite up with another.

Roland
didn’t come up for air as he inhaled his. Rema smiled at our
reactions. “I’m glad you like it. At least someone shows
a little appreciation.”

She
shot Roger a glare. I hid a smile as I took another bite. I could
handle the dusty room now that I tried this soup. It made everything
worth it. Rema disappeared again and Roger sat down and rested his
head on the counter. Even before Roland’s bowl was empty, we
could hear snores.

I had
completely forgotten about the bread, but I knew as soon as I tasted
it that it was sourdough, something I'd tried for the first time at
the conservatory only a few weeks before. It was toasted to where the
outside was crunchy but the inside was soft and moist.

It
was easily the best meal that I’d ever eaten.

Roland
smiled at me when the food was all gone. “I told you the food
was good.”

“
That
was an understatement,” I replied, licking my spoon again.

Rema
peeked out at us, and seeing that our bowls were empty, she picked
them up, sweeping the crumbs off the counter.

She
looked over at the still snoozing Roger and sighed heavily. “I
can’t tell you about one day that Roger didn’t fall
asleep at the bar. Although I do believe that this is the most sober
he’s been in ages.”

I
smiled uncomfortably, but Roland just chuckled.

After
Rema went back into the kitchen, I stood up and stretched.

I
tried to cover a yawn. “I’m going to bed,” I said
after it had passed.

“
Go
ahead,” he answered. “I’m going to see if Rema has
any more soup left.”

I
raised my eyebrows mockingly.

“
What?”
Roland asked. “I have a big appetite.”

I
rolled my eyes and started up the stairs. “Goodnight!”
Roland called.

“
Goodnight,”
I replied.

The
meal had made me so drowsy that I didn’t really care about the
dust all that much. I turned the pillow over to the clean side and
slipped under the filthy, but warm covers. I was soon asleep.

I was
awoken by sudden brightness. Rema had come in and opened the
curtains, causing light to filter through the dust she had stirred
up. “Your friend asked me if I would come in and wake you. He
says you have to get an early start today.”

I
didn’t reply, but instead yawned and stared sleepily down at
the covers.

“
I’ve
already made breakfast—“

The
thought of Rema's food made me sit bolt upright.

Rema
chuckled in her hoarse way, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “I’m
glad you’re looking forward to it,” she said. She poured
water into the washbasin with a pitcher that she must have set there
beforehand.

After
that, she stepped out the door. “I’ll leave you to
yourself. Come down when you’re ready.”

The
only thing I could do for my appearance was brush through my hair
with a dusty comb that had been left on the vanity. I washed my face,
hoping that it would help me wake up. The water was icy cold,
providing a shock to get my mind spinning.

I
stepped out into the hallway and went down the stairs to where Roland
was waiting for me at the bar. He had already tucked into his
breakfast which was bacon and eggs and toast. It was good, although
nothing like the meal we had had last night.

Roger
came toward us and slurred, “So are you leavin’ now?”

Roland
nodded, and hurried to swallow his food before talking. “Yes.
And I wanted to know if you knew how to get to Achron?”

Roger
mumbled something under his breath. I could smell the alcohol on him.

Roland
leaned in, but he still didn’t catch what the man had said.
“What was that?” he asked.

Roger
sighed, irritated, and I held my breath until I was certain that the
smell was behind me. He hiccuped as he talked. “I said, I
haven’t,
hic
,
been anywhere but here...for seven years.”

Roland
raised his eyebrows. “But do you know
how
to get there?”

“
Of
course I do!” Roger drawled loudly. “
Hic
!”

Rema
came out and studied the scene. Once she took in Roger’s
drunken state, she pushed him into the kitchen, furiously whispering,
“You've brought shame down upon us, Roger! I've told you over
and over not to drink anything when we have customers!”

I
looked at Roland, and hid a smile. The inn was already shameful
except for the food.

Rema
came back out. “I hope you will forgive my ridiculous husband,”
she said, her voice still resounding annoyance.

Roland
shook his head. “There is no need to apologize. I was just
asking him if he knew the way to Achron.”

Rema
studied him and said, “Achron? I suppose the easiest way to get
there is to go south until you hit the tanner’s shop. Or rather
it
will hit
you
with the stench. Either way, you’ll find it. Then, once you’re
there, you head due east. You’re sure to find Achron that way.”

Roland
nodded. “Sounds easy enough.” He stood and I followed his
example. He pulled out the purse of money that the headmaster had
given us. “And what do we owe you?”

Rema
studied the bag greedily. “I think five silvers would do,”
she said.

I
choked disbelievingly. Five silvers was a lot for what we had been
given! The right price would’ve been five
coppers
.

Roland
didn’t appear perturbed. He took out one gold coin and laid it
in her palm. “That’ll be five silvers in change,”
he said.

Rema
studied the coin. “Oh, we don’t have that much in
change—” I had a feeling that she was lying. “—but
we do have some food that we can give you for your journey.”

She
didn’t wait for Roland to reply before going back into the
kitchen. She came out with a bag. “I’ve packed you two
loaves of bread, a parcel of cheese, and some dried meat.”

We
were paying a ridiculous price for everything. Even with the
wonderful food, I didn’t think it was worth that much.

Roland
didn’t seem to care. He took the bag and placed it on his
shoulder.

Rema
smiled at me, as if reading my thoughts. “Have a good day!”
she said. Then she disappeared into the kitchen, probably to hide
from the protests that had yet to come out of my mouth.

Roland
pushed me toward the door.

“
But—”
I started.

“
It’s
okay,” he said. “I doubt we’ll need all the money
that the headmaster gave us.”

I
felt like protesting more, but I knew it was no use. I followed
Roland unenthusiastically.

Luckily,
it was very early in the day, and we weren’t swarmed by
villagers. The tanner’s shop was about a ten minute walk from
the tavern. I wished that I had long sleeves because I had to cover
my nose with a lock of my hair, which probably made me look like I
had a mustache. Roland chuckled at me and braved out the stench.

Woods
surrounded us as we headed east. “How can you be sure about the
directions that Rema gave us?” I asked Roland.

He
shrugged. “I figured it’s worth a try. It’s
somewhere on the coast, and if we don’t find it with her
directions, you can just fly up and look for it.

“
True,”
I admitted. “I guess we’ll get there either way.”

We
continued on, making little conversation. I went ahead of him a
little ways. I wondered what the city looked like. Roland had told me
he'd been there before, so I looked back at him. “Is—?”
I stopped.

He
had been watching me. He looked away quickly and tried to disguise it
by saying, “Is what?”

I
tore my gaze away from him. “Is the city very big?”

Behind
me, he answered, “It’s bigger than any city on our
island.”

“
Are
there very many people?” I asked.

“
Of
course. There are thousands.”

Thousands.
I tried not to think about how crowded the market place was. If we
were swarmed in the small village, how many people would swarm us in
the city? They would crush us!

“
Perhaps
we don’t have to go in the city…” I said,
disconcerted. “Perhaps we can circle around it to get to the
docks.”

“
You
sound like my mother…and your idea won’t work. The city
surrounds the docks.”

“
Is
it very horrible?” I asked with dread.

“
I
find it exciting. There are so many wares in the market, so many inns
to choose from, so many places to see,” I could hear in his
voice that he loved the city. Perhaps if he liked it, it wouldn’t
be so bad.

Two
hours passed. At one point the forest ended and we were on a farm,
but soon after that, the forest took over the land again.

“
Should
I go see if the city is anywhere close?” I inquired.

“
Yes,”
Roland said. “I’ll stay put until you report back.”

I
shifted in midstride, and took off into the air. Shifting had become
second nature.