Exiled: The Odyssey of Nath Dragon - Book 1 (The Lost Dragon Chronicles) by Craig Halloran

Author:Craig Halloran [Halloran, Craig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Two-Ten Book Press, Inc.
Published: 2017-12-05T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 37

Upstairs, Nath’s room had a single bed with two quilts stacked up at the foot of the bed and a pillow. There was a small chest of drawers, and an oil lantern on a nightstand. He dropped all of his gear on the bed, closed the window, locked it, and drew the curtains.

“Here is your key and shirt,” Little Shirl said, holding up the key while her eyes stayed focused on the floor. “You should change quickly. Nina doesn’t like to wait. She is very demanding.”

“Yes, well, this looks like a very busy place.” He removed his breastplate and shirt and set them on the bed. Little Shirl stole a glance at him. “I believe I can find my way back, Little Shirl.”

“Of course,” she said flatly. “But do hurry.” She opened the door, stepped out, and closed it behind her.

Nath slipped on a royal-blue tunic, adjusted the leather strings at the neck, and stared at the length of the sleeves. “This is a fine fit.”

He took out his coin purse, exited the room, locked the door, and put the key in the purse. Heading down the hallway, he noticed Little Shirl waiting at the top of the stairs, adjusting the bun in her hair. “I told you I could find it, Little Shirl.”

She held out her hand. “Yes, but you forgot my gratuity.”

“Your what?”

“Have you ever stayed in an inn before? I could tell by the look about you, you hadn’t. You seem as innocent as a sheep.” She spoke in a spooky, quiet, and dull manner. “A gratuity is when you pay someone like me for the little help I do for you.”

“You handed me a shirt and key.”

“Yes, but I’ll always clean and care for your room. Look after other needs. Just ask. It’s how I make my living.”

“Oh, I see. Please, excuse my ignorance. I haven’t been to a city so big before.”

“I could tell.”

Nath fished out a gold piece from his purse. “Will this be adequate?”

Little Shirl’s unblinking eyes hung on the coin like it was a diamond of comparable size. She swiped it out of his hand. “Yes. Thank you.” She hurried down the steps and vanished through the doors leading into the kitchen.

Nath joined Nina at the bar. The man in the stool beside her had cleared out, and she switched to it.

Patting Nath’s stool, she said, “I kept it warm for you.” She snapped her fingers. A girl brought over a plate of steaming food, a wooden tankard filled to the brim with milk, and a glass cup and saucer of coffee. “Little Shirl hustled into the kitchen with a smile, I think,” Nina said. “I’m curious as to why.”

Nath stuffed bacon and ham inside his biscuit. “She introduced me to gratuity. I think she was pleased with what she had earned.”

“Which was?”

Taking a bite out of his biscuit, he said, “Just a gold piece.”

Nina’s eyes grew big. “Nath, that is excessive. Only a silver at most. A few copper pieces would have been more than adequate.

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