Maya convinced Jason to let her handle the negotiating and purchasing of their rooms in the inn. He, Hazel, and Grum continued the investigation of the town. She hoped having two new sets of eyes on everything proved useful. Not to mention, without Jason making her nervous the whole time, she could use her less conventional persuasion tactics.
When Maya approached the door to the inn, she saw a woman walking out of it in a huff. Her hair was the color of raven feathers and her skin practically glowed in the sunlight. Maya walked up to her and said, “I like your dress.” It was cotton and dyed a deep royal blue. It was low cut, snug, and flattered the woman’s curves. Maya’s heart pounded a bit, and she had to swallow to calm down.
“What? Oh, thank you. Sorry. I wasn’t expecting to find someone so friendly after the treatment I was just given.” The woman sneered back at the inn. “I hope you aren’t looking for a room. No one in there will give you the time of day if they don’t know you.”
“Ah, yeah. My friend and I already had a run in with them. Did you try paying them off? That’s what worked for us. I guess the innkeeper is a businessman first and stranger-hater second.”
“Unfortunately, I’m not in a position to be paying off anyone right now. I was hoping to just get a spot out of the tonight’s chill, but that’s not going to happen it seems.”
“My name’s Maya. Maybe I could help you out. My friend and I met a couple of people and we were all going to try and share a room; the inn only has the one left. I think we could squeeze you in as well. Besides, it’d be nice to have another girl around.”
“I take it that makes the people you speak of men?”
“I guess, if that’s the only other option, but Jason’s never struck me as particularly masculine in the traditional sense. He once told me there was a culture somewhere on the other side of the world, I think, that doesn’t use words like ‘men’ and ‘women.’ They’re all just people.”
“Sounds like an odd and confusing place to live.”
“Maybe if that’s not what you’re used to, but honestly, it seems like it’d be much easier than having to guess all the time. I once saw this woman with muscles bigger than my head and I accidentally called her ‘sir’ and she got real mad. I felt awful about if for a week before I realized that she was probably frustrated because of how common the mistake is.”
“You like to talk about yourself, don’t you?”
“Oh! I’m sorry. Am I talking too much? Sometimes I get nervous around new people and I don’t know when to shut up and…” Maya trailed off. Then she continued, “I haven’t even asked you your name yet, have I?”
“Lilith. My name is Lilith.”
“That’s a pretty name. It’s nice to meet you Lilith.”
“You as well, Maya. So, you think you can get me a room in this inn? Because I spent the last few nights on the ground, and my back could use a mattress.”
“Absolutely. Just let me talk to the innkeeper. We have a history.” She winked and went inside. Moments later, she came back outside with a triumphant grin. “We have the room, and I got another shot of whiskey while I was in there.”
“Another? How many have you had?”
Maya waved the question away. “Don’t worry about that. C’mon, I’ll introduce you to your new bunkmates.”
#
“I am absolutely not sharing a room with a witch.” Hazel’s back was turned to Maya and Lilith. They had found the other three on the edge of town investigating what appeared to be a run-down smithy. It was swarming with rats and other pests that were scavenging what they could from the ruin.
“The feeling is mutual. If I’d known you were going to be in this town, I would’ve kept to the trail. Are you going to blame the rats on my patron as well?”
“Enough. Both of you. I don’t know what sort of issues you two have with each other, but, frankly, I don’t care.” Jason stepped between them. His leveled voice was strong, but not loud. Maya wasn’t used to him using this voice outside of classrooms filled with unruly first-term students at the University. “Lilith, Maya, and I will be staying at the inn. Seeing as how it was our coin that bought it, and Maya has already invited Lilith. If anyone else would like to join us, you are welcome, and there will be. No. Bickering. I have had a long day, this town gives me the creeps, and I don’t relish the idea that not two miles from here, there is a mansion of vampires that want to devour every living thing within a two day walk from them.”
“Grum stay outside for the night. Grum doesn’t like beds off the ground filled with straw. Doesn’t feel like dirt. Very unnatural.”
“So, what will it be great Holy One? You gonna stand my presence for a night or are you going to rough it with the orc again?”
“I’ll take the orc. He’s less likely to cut my throat while I sleep.”
Lilith lunged at Hazel, but Maya held her back. She could feel Lilith tug against her arms, but she didn’t resist much. “Hazel. Apologize. Lilith wouldn’t do something like that, would you Lilith?”
“If I wanted to cut his throat, I’d do it while he was standing so I could watch his eyes fill with fear.”
Maya sat for a long moment before saying, “see? There you go. No… need… to worry.”
“Lilith?” Jason asked. “What was that you said about a patron? Are you a minstrel?”
“Not exactly. It’s complicated.”
“Not that complicated,” Hazel said. “The patron she’s talking about is a demon named Zekitana. She’s a servant of dark forces.”
“I am no one’s servant. We have a mutually beneficial business arrangement that is no one else’s business you holier-than-thou leech.”
“You have a contract with this demon?” Jason asked. “Have you read over it?”
“I’m not an idiot. I wouldn’t sign something in my own blood if I didn’t read it first.”
“How carefully did you read it? A lot of dark powers like to hide things in very specific language, and they rely on mortals not being familiar with their language to trick them.”
“It was written in Lukorian.”
“Was it originally or did he translate it for you?” Lilith paused. That was all the answer Jason needed. He held out his hand, but Lilith didn’t do anything.
“I’m fluent in demonic. Some idiot kid summoned a demon at the University a while back, and they started offering courses on the language as a counter measure for this sort of thing. The Masters don’t like demon contracts, and they prefer the students they trust to know how to break them.”
“I don’t want to break my contract.”
“You will eventually. Do you think this demon gave you your powers out of the goodness of his heart?”
“No, he needs agents in the world. I do what he asks in exchange for power and the freedom that power buys me.”
Jason kept his hand outstretched, and he made an insistent gesture. Lilith sighed and summoned the contract. Jason began to read it, muttering to himself. “Provides power… in exchange… preform services with no questions asked…” He paused for a moment while reading a particular line.
“What?”
“Nothing. It seems to be pretty straight forward. I suppose you’re one of the lucky ones.”
Lilith eyed him suspiciously, but nodded.
“It’s getting dark,” Maya said. “Anyone who is sharing my room, come with me. Lilith, you and me can have the bed. Jason tends to prefer the floor anyway.”
“I don’t prefer the floor. You always take the bed and make lude comments if I try to share with you. I’d rather just get to sleep than have to listen to you joking about ‘threading the needle’ all night.”
Maya grinned wickedly. Lilith looked at the two of them with raised eyebrows. When they were gone, Hazel helped Grum set up the tent they’d be sharing. Everyone was asleep before the moon was out.