"So, you want to plant the amaranth for me?" Cora asked, trying not to look skeptical. The seeds alone were nearly the size of the little beings asking's hands.
Her little grass guard put his hands on his hips and nodded confidently. The two slightly smaller ones next to him looked at him before slowly nodding as well. Cora was nearly overwhelmed by the cuteness of it all.
She slowly nodded in reluctant agreement. The two smaller ones were clad in simple clothes of woven something that resembled the ones farmers in her world wore. She'd never seen overalls that small before.
Her mind threatened to wander. Did that mean that there was a tiny little seamstress somewhere making clothes? Just how did they make the cloth? Wilderven wasn't that close to any towns for her, let alone the tiny little grass people.
Her reverie was broken by squeaking. She slowly crouched down.
"Well, I can let you plant the amaranth if you'd like," Cora said, fighting back a smile.
She mentally shrugged. If they wanted to be busy, she'd be more than happy to let them. She was going to Cochran soon anyways, and this way she wouldn't incur Heidi's wrath by trying to plant the crop herself before leaving.
The two little ones cheered, jumping up and down, a change from their previous laconic behavior. They turned towards the bag of amaranth seeds, dwarfed by its size.
"I'll leave you to it," Cora said, nodding. She stood up, a little reluctant to leave. Then she sighed. "I have to go for a bit, but I'll be back soon."
She wasn't heartened by the waves. Cora wondered, as she walked towards the teleportation circle, just how they packed so much disinterested disdain into little grassy arms.
*****
Heidi was waiting just outside the gates to Cochran, one toe tapping at the ground. It was the only sign of her impatience; otherwise, she looked bored and slightly irritated by the two guys trying to talk to her.
Cora bit back a sigh as she looked down at her outfit. She'd managed to get something other than the initial beginner's wear finally, but it had no patch on the elaborate evening gown ensemble Heidi was sporting.
Heidi looked over, her face alternately brightening and then darkening as she caught sight of her. She strode towards Cora, pushing her way through the two guys with a lack of effort that bespoke high attributes.
Cora idly wondered if Heidi had managed to find skills that only activated at night or something. She hadn't seemed so overpowered before.
"What are you wearing?" Heidi asked, coming to a stop in front of Cora and frowning.
"Uh, clothes?" Cora ventured with a judicious nibble of her bottom lip.
She hoped it translated into the game because the look was usually the only thing standing between her and a Heidi-lecture on the importance of first impressions, clothes or food. So far, it'd been working for a few years.
"Those are not clothes; they're a cry for help," Heidi sneered. She snagged Cora's arm. "Thankfully, I came prepared."
"Prepared?" Cora echoed as Heidi dragged her to one of the inn's near the city's gates.
"Is it ready?" Heidi asked the innkeeper as she entered the main room.
Cora was surprised at the interior of the inn. It was set up much like any hotel in the real world. Off of the main greeting area, a large room filled with tableclothed tables and sturdy brown chairs bustled with activity. The entire color scheme was a study of cream and brown.
"Just up the stairs to the left," the innkeeper responded with amusement. She swept a gaze over Cora. "I see why you also booked the full works."
"I know! I'm so putting you on my list of places," Heidi promised as she dragged Cora towards the elaborately carved staircase.
"How is all of this fitting in here," Cora asked, nearly stumbling in her effort to keep up with Heidi.
"I don't know. Weird innkeeper magic, I guess?" Heidi muttered as she stopped in front of a set of double doors. "My room is awesome. I just have to warn you."
Cora frowned at her, but it dropped as Heidi opened the door. She could feel her jaw sag.
The room beyond was something snatched out of a regency novel. There was a four-poster bed against one wall with actual heavy green curtains trimmed in golden fringe. It was mounded with a variety of pillows that had that peculiar sheen that only fine silk and satin possessed.
The coverlet had been turned down partially, revealing pale gold sheets and a pale green blanket.
The floor held carpets in Aubusson patterns. Cora was shocked. She didn't think that you could just use them without permission. They were in a variety of gold, cream and green.
Sitting against the window was a tiny round table with a full tea set. Two ornately carved golden chairs accompanied it, angled just a little outwards as if waiting for someone to sit in them. A small tea service trolley was next to it, some of the shelves containing covered silver salvers.
The ceiling was paneled with paintings of pastoral scenes broken by scenes of miners happily going to the mines. One scene was merely of a pile of glittering uncut gems and ores.
"You need to take a bath," Heidi said, pushing her towards a small carved door set discreetly in a corner.
"You have a bathroom!?" Cora squeaked, tearing her eyes from the tea trolley. Decadently immoral scents were leaking from those covered salvers. "Can't I take a snack with me?"
"In the bathroom?" Heidi paused, outraged. "No! Bath!" She said, giving Cora a final push and slamming the door shut behind her. "And hurry! The auction's in an hour!"
Cora thumped her forehead against the door before turning.
"I did wash up before coming," she muttered, finally looking up. "Just how did she find this place!?"