The clapping sounds of the thunder bulls' hoofs on the cobbled road came to a halt at the inn, this area was the Rema district, the equivalent of the Verbena district in the Calabar province. Only a lot less affluent.
This was the business sector, pedestrians moved up and down and private carriages rattled, shook and bounced in and out of vision down the cobbled streets. The streets were lined with shops and restaurants on both sides. There was hustle and bustle but it was a lot less energetic than other places Hartley had been. It was if the residents were preparing for some kind of a storm.
The sun glinted off the stationary dark carriage which by now had a look of being used for many miles, the polished dark wood now had a thick layer of dust obscuring the intricate carved patterns on the side panels.
Hartley looked at it with a frown as Qin Li hopped down from his position, "can we have this thing cleaned and polished?" Hartley asked Qin LI "I don't know I'll see if the stable boys can do it." Qin Li replied.
The flame haired beauty, Zhi Ruo joined them shortly after with a long sigh,
"I need a long warm bath, its been so long" she yearned, Hartley smiled and asked, "can I join you? I feel so dirty" he gave her a cheeky wink. She looked at Hartley with a stern blushing face and harrumphed to the sky.
The inn that they chose was a two story stone building grey in color. The outside of the building looked as weather beaten as a grape turning into a raisin, it had scratches, peel marks and discolored botches on the paintwork in abundance.
Qin Li called the stable boy over and gave him instructions, tipping the young boy with a silver coin, they boy's face brightened in delight as he gave a respectful bow from the waist and carried the dirty carriage towards the back of the inn.
A white haired shriveled old man looking older than god himself was sat behind the front counter at the inn, his skin sagged with endless wrinkles around his gaunt cheekbones as if there was no flesh between his skull and his skin.
His clear eyes brightened as he saw the trio approach the desk. He got to his feet.
"I'm glad to see there are still some nobles left" he said.
Harley had no idea what the man was talking about.
He asked "are there rooms available?" "yes, yes...ever since the the friction between the Hung clan and the Tiger mercenary guild, business has been stifled," the talkative old man continued with a long sigh "all this for control of those wretched gold mines, blessings can really turn out to be curses, and the royal delegates will do nothing because their cut is the same no matter who is in control of the mines." his face radiated a look of sadness, then he snapped back. "Ah the second floor is empty, how many rooms would you like?"
In his heart Hartley rolled his eyes, wishing the man would just rent them the rooms without the unnecessary info dumping, if he gave the old man the chance he would probably start talking about the state of the province again..
"Two will do" Hartley snapped, Hartley wanted to get away before the old man talked him to death.
"I see, I see," the old man repeated. " That will be" he stopped and did some mental calculations "Two silvers per night including meals."
Hartley agreed right away. The old man had a surprised look, with business this bad he was expecting hard negotiations. He now regretted not asking for more.
Hartley snatched the keys and completed the business faster than a pretty whore in the Cosmos regions and made his escape from the old man as if he had stolen something, voicing from the hall "can you send up some hot water?"
The old man shook his head in confirmation, but Hartley didn't see as he was already quickly climbing the stairs with Qin Li and Zhi Ruo.
On their journey so far through the Pembroke province, they had seen an unusual high amount of mounted soldiers in full suits of metallic shiny silver armor including helmets.
"That's weird, its like they are preparing for a war" Zhi Ruo had commented. Hartley didn't pay it much attention at the time, he wasn't interested in the local politics, he was planning to stay here a week to recharge and eat some delicacies in the local restaurants, but the Hung clan rang a bell in his mind.
"Wasn't the leader of the bandits they had dismembered name Hung as well?" Hung Cheyan did also say there were important people supporting the bandits in the Pembroke province. Hartley pondered then push the thought from his mind.
Qin LI as usual chose the room across the hall from Hartley and Zhi Ruo, Hartley escorted Zhi Ruo to the other room and locked the door with every lock available on the door, he had a mischievous smile from ear to ear as he looked at Zhi Ruo's body from head to toe.. "Ruo with all the training and hunting, we haven't had time to ourselves lately and now your body is so athletic" Ruo eyes bulged with a scarlet blush she rushed into the bathroom, "Hart..Hartley we just got here, lets get comfortable first."
At nightfall they emerged from the room, Hartley had a smile so broad you could barely see his eyes, He couldn't help but think about the way he had pressed down the beautiful Zhi Ruo's athletic body under him for the whole evening...He was still a teenager and every now and then he would show his real age and this was one of those occasions. Zhi Ruo held her head down, every time she raised her head and saw that smile on his face she would uncontrollable blush. If she had not complained of hunger he probably would still be at it she thought.
Hartley knocked Qin Li's door and asked if he wanted to join them for some delicacies at the local restaurant, Qin Li accepted the invitation and they all left the inn, Hartley walked pass the front desk as fast as possible afraid the old man might start retelling stories about his youthful days. He shuddered as he imagined it, they made their way to a restaurant only fifty meters from the inn.
In the empty single floor restaurant illuminated by many flickering candles sending shadows across the tables, Hartley was sat next to Zhi Ruo with Qin Li across the table. As far as they could tell, the restaurant was clean, and on the table lay a tray with the remnants of a wild beast leg, some potato-like vegetables, and a bit of gravy-soaked black bread. They were stuffing their faces in a gluttonous fashion with all the delicacies on the menu in a state of bliss.
Clack clack clack, men in heavy metal armor entered the restaurant making a loud clanking sound with every step forward. The silver armors gleamed a yellow reflection from the dancing candle light. They sat at one of the empty tables not too far away from Hartley and his group. One of the tall soldiers removed his helmet setting free a shower of blonde hair. The handsome man looked over at Hartley's table after a short while he quietly came over to Hartley and company.