The food had been ample, warm, and delicious, the bath hot, steaming and filled with the scents of lavender and camomile. The bed...ahhh, the bed! Crisp sheets smelling of sunshine and herbs, a pillow and mattress stuffed with a veritable flock of goosedown. It was fit for a king, the best room at the Trade Inn, and Birdie had not had to share it with anyone.
When she arose, very late, she put on her freshly laundered and brushed clothes, and came tripping down the stairs, giving a little leap at the bottom and spinning with delight, little caring for the looks from the few drovers and tradesmen who still sat in the common room. The morning (or noon) sun was shining in through the open door of the inn. It looked like a magnificant day for flying, and good friends and the end of her journey awaited her.
The barmaid, who had been up since 5:00, cared little for her enthusiasm. She had vague suspicions about this little woman with the unsuitable dress who had arrived at the inn with no horse or escort. Five years working at the busy Trade Inn had not expanded her horizons, or brain, and she cared little for the "outlandish".
Bird just laughed at her weary scowl, and flipped a silver coin into the air, which the barmaid was deft enough to catch and secret away.
"I'm as hungry as a cat down a well, good Mave. Warm bread and butter, lamb sausage with mint, and three boiled eggs, if you please. Oh, and is it too early for berries? With cream? Hot tea and cold buttermilk. That will do for now. Isn't it a beautiful morning?"
Mave just sniffed, silently wondering how anyone could call the crack of noon "morning", and went to place the order. Bird leaned on her table, spying out the few other patron in the room without making eye contact with anyone. Then the warm breeze from the open window blew in her face, carrying the scent of the decidedly unwashed, dust-covered man shrouded in the shadows at the far corner.
Birdie delicately wrinkled her nose at the smell. She had just washed the dust and odor of the road off of herself, and didn't much care to be reminded of it from this stranger. She wondered if she could possibly changed her table in order to place herself downwind.
Then the figure rose...
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