The Shadow Assassin

Chapter 9

"Do you sell feed as well?" She asked.

"Of course, of course!" He replied. "How much do you please?"

Rowan handed him a sack from one of her saddle bags.

"Fill this for me." Rowan replied.

The man took the bag she handed him, picked up a wooden scoop, and began filling up the bag with oats.

"Would you mind telling me where there's an inn or tavern?" Rowan asked the man.

"Of course lad, you go down this 'ere street and take a right at the very end. You can't miss it, its called Meregryn's Tavern." The man told her.

Rowan handed the man a few coins, thanked him, and walked away.

As she picked her way through the throng she took notice of every detail around her, the man whose purse was just cut from his belt by a little boy of no more than 7 or 8, every person hawking there wares, every noble sniffing disdainfully into their scented handkerchiefs, the woman hanging her laundry on a line above one of the alleyways, everything. Rowan didn't miss a single movement of the people around her. That's why she was a Shadow.

Before too long Rowan came to the end of the Main Street which ended in the town square and sure enough, on the right side of the square was a two-story building with a hanging sign out front that read "Meregryn's Tavern". The tavern wasn't fit for kings but it was much cleaner than many she'd spent cold nights in before. She tied Daisy's reigns to the wooden rail outside and ducked into the inn.

Inside it was a bit hazy from all of the smoke and it was quite loud. There was boisterous laughter coming from all around and in the background a band was playing. Rowan walked up to the counter.

"Excuse me." She half shouted, trying to be heard above all the noise. "Where's the owner of this fine establishment?" She asked a woman of middle height who had a ruddy complexion and long black hair braided down her back.

"Your lookin' at 'er lad! M'names Meregryn how can I 'elp ya?" The woman replied.

"Do you happen to have a vacant room?" Rowan asked.

"I think I can fit ya in, for a price a course." Meregryn said.

"Wonderful. And I'll need a pint of your finest mead and the best food you've got." Rowan replied.

"Kyn will show you to 'yer room. Come 'ere lass!" Meregryn shouted at a small girl hardly any younger than Rowan, who quickly ran over. "Yes ma'am?" She said timidly.

"Show this lad to his room and then get him mead, bread, and stew." Meregryn instructed.

"This way sir." Kyn said to Rowan.

It seemed as though everyone was being fooled by Rowan's facade, which pleased her immensely. She was still disturbed that the old man back in the village had seen through her disguise so easily. Rowan wondered how he knew so quickly, what had given it away?Although he had been a bit odd himself. . .

Kyn led Rowan up a staircase, to the right, and then to the end of the hallway. Kyn pulled a key out of her apron pocket and unlocked the big oak door.

"Ere' we are then." Kyn said as she opened the door and went in. Rowan stepped in behind her. "Would you like me to draw a bath miss?" Kyn asked.

"Excuse me?" Rowan said in surprise.

"I know how good a nice warm bath feels after a long ride. Mighty fine it does at that." Kyn replied as if nothing where the matter.

"That's not what I meant." Rowan said quietly. "How did you know?"

"These young eyes of mine don't miss much, if you don't mind my being so blunt." Kyn replied

Rowan was speechless. The old man at the village had answered in the very same evasive manner. How did they know?

"Well. . . ." Kyn broke the silence of Rowan's puzzling. "Bath or no?"

"Yes please that would be fine. I'll take my dinner downstairs if you don't mind." and with that Rowan turned around and went downstairs.

The hazy smoke-filled bar did nothing to clear her head and the perturbed thoughts within it. It was still loud and smelly down there but at least it was away from that over perceptive girl. As Rowan sat at a table in the corner with her back facing the wall, the main thought that was hollering louder than all others in Rowan's mind was "How did she know?!?". Her mind was a jumble of suspicious questions with ambiguous answers. How did the old man know? Who was he? Who is she? What's going on? Is there something I missed? How come they can see through my disguise and others seem not to have the slightest clue? Is there some connection between the old man and the girl?

Rowan was startled out of her discombobulated thoughts by Meregryn setting down a platter with half a loaf of bread on it, a bowl of vegetable stew, and a mug of ale. Rowan produced a bag of coins from a pocket within her tunic and placed a good number of them on the table for Meregryn to take.

"There 'ya go laddy, an will that be all for 'ye?" Meregryn inquired.

"Yes thank you." Rowan replied. "Are there any stables nearby where I might board my horse?" She asked, remembering that Daisy was still out front.

"Right 'round back, not that we 'ave any stable boys to fetch your horse. Anything else?"

"No that's all, thank you."

"I'll leave ye to it then, give a shout if ye require somethin'." Meregryn said before walking around the room to see if any other people were in need of refreshments or victuals.

Rowan then decided that the girl and the old man figuring her out must be a coincidence, and resolved to not let it ruin her meal.

After Rowan had eaten her fill and drank her mead she went outside to fetch Daisy. She untied the reins from the post and lead Daisy around the tavern to the stable, then into a stall at the far end of the barn.

Rowan started undoing the saddle straps and then lifted the saddle off Daisy's back. Next she took off the bridle and then she searched around looking for a brush. Once she found one in a separate tack room she took out the bag of oats and poured it into the trough. As Daisy started eating Rowan began brushing her coat with great care and attention making sure to get all of the dirt out of her gilded hair.  When she was satisfied with her grooming job Rowan bade Daisy goodnight, picked up the saddle and bags, locked the stall, and put the brush back.

Rowan went back up to her room, hoping that during her absence Kyn would've left.

Her wish was granted and she entered her room and saw a tub full of water but no one in sight.  She sighed with relief, she didn't want to answer anyone's questions.

Rowan closed the door and locked it behind her then put the saddlebags and saddle on the floor at the foot of the bed. She began to take off her weapons and clothes then relaxed into the nice hot bath.