Rafael believed that a commoner wouldn't know how to reach Baron Frederic's city. Only people of higher status or those influential in the community, such as merchants, nobles, and perhaps even these guards, might possess that knowledge.
As they neared the city center, the presence of guards increased, and soldiers even began to appear.
Now he could see a tall tower encircled by a high stone wall. "That's unfortunate. Our city is one of the best in the country," his guide said, turning right onto another street. "The people here welcome newcomers with open arms, and the food—oh, the food—is second only to the capital, as you may know."
Rafael considered his options and then asked, "Do you perhaps know how I can travel safely to that city?"
"I'm really sorry, sir, but I don't know," the guard replied. "You could ask the inn owner, though. I've heard that his chefs use only the finest ingredients, some of which come from different parts of the kingdom." He pointed toward a specific building.
"Here we are. The Sun's Glory." The place was a wooden building with the name painted in yellow letters above the entrance. It had two windows with glass panels, the first time Rafael had seen glass since arriving in this era, except in his time machine.
"Hello, sir," an old man greeted Rafael, who immediately recognized him as the equivalent of a butler for this time period. Dismounting from his horse, Rafael returned the greeting. "Hello. I was told this is the best place to eat. Is that right?"
"That's definitely right. Two of our chefs cooked for years for the royals in the capital. I assure you, you won't regret your time here." Despite his old appearance, the man had a strong voice and a straight posture.
"Hm, so be it. Find a table for me, then. And you," Rafael said, turning to the guard, "thank you for your help. Here, take this." Acting like someone important and wealthy, Rafael took 10 coppers from Amis' pouch and handed them to the guard.
"Don't worry about your horse, sir. Our staff will take good care of it during your time here. Please come, your table is ready," the butler said. Rafael noticed the strange expression on the guard's face as he looked at the money in his hand but decided not to dwell on it.
The interior of the inn was both simple and well-decorated. The main hall featured large, round tables made of high-quality wood, all well-maintained. One of these tables was occupied by a group of men who were talking and eating. Rafael noticed a few of them glancing his way as he followed the butler.
"Excuse me, how should I address you?" the butler asked.
"I'm Robert," Rafael replied.
"How many days will you be staying in our great establishment, Mr. Robert?"
"I won't be staying. I'll just eat and then continue my journey," Rafael answered.
"I understand."
The butler led him to a separate area where smaller tables, each designed for two people at most, were arranged. Each table was enclosed by thin walls on both sides for added privacy.
"Here is your table, sir." Rafael sat down, but before he could speak, the old man had already gone. After a minute, he returned with two decorated jars. "For your choosing, sir. The left one is wine from the south, while the right one is beer from the capital."
I don't know how much I'll spend here, and I'm short on money, so... "Oh, I'll go with the beer, thank you," Rafael decided. He was served a large cup of beer.
"Would you like to request something specific for our chef to prepare?" the butler asked.
"No, no, just keep it simple. There's no need to prepare the best dishes for me. I insist."
"No problem, sir. I'll pass your word to our chef." The butler gave a small bow and left. Each of these individual tables had a small painting on the wall beside them. While looking at the one next to him, Rafael felt apprehensive.
It was maybe an hour until nightfall. Shit. I still have to find a way to leave the city. I can't stay here tonight.
He was afraid that someone from the village would come to warn the city guards about him. When that happened, he was certain it would be difficult to escape.
After a few minutes, the butler returned and placed a plate of soup in front of Rafael, along with some bread on the side. "This is one of our chef's specialties. The vegetables are handpicked by the chef himself, and the fish is fresh. Please enjoy." He was about to leave but was stopped by Rafael.
"I have a question and hope you or one of the great chefs in the kitchen may know the answer. I have urgent matters to discuss with Baron Frederic, but I don't know how to travel there from here, so I ask for guidance."
"I'm deeply sorry that despite my age, I can't help you with that, but I can ask our chefs. As I mentioned, some of them came from the capital, so there's a chance they might know." The butler gave another small bow as he apologized.
"No problem. Please ask them for me." The butler nodded and left. Rafael began eating his soup, surprised by how good it tasted.
Ahh, this is so good! The bread was soft and delicious, a far cry from the coarse brown bread he had eaten in the village. He was really hungry, so by the time the butler returned, he had almost finished his meal.
"I'm sorry, sir, but our chefs only know how to get to the capital from here." Rafael felt dejected, but his hope was rekindled when the butler continued. "However, I can ask the owner of The Sun's Glory. He is one of the men at that table in the main hall."
"Oh, please do. I'm really grateful for your hard work, sir." Rafael decided to give a silver coin to the butler to further show his gratitude. The old man accepted the coin, bowed, and left without showing any emotion, as if that amount of money wasn't much.
Rafael finished everything on his plate, the bread, and the beer. After a few minutes, the empty dishes were taken away, and the main course was brought to him.
"This is pork of the finest quality, steamed with herbs before being cooked with onions and garlic. Here's a special sauce created by our chef specifically for this dish. Here is your bread, and another cup of beer. Please enjoy."
"Thank you. And about what I asked earlier—do you have an answer?" Rafael's hunger had momentarily subsided, but the smell of the incredible food in front of him made his appetite return instantly.