The smoke and music emitted into the streets as they opened the door.
It was bustling with Adventurers from all over the realms. Drinking ale and wine by the gallon while telling the local patrons stories of their adventures. Beer, bed and board making hand over fist this night. Not to mention the cut the courtesans gave.
The innkeeper directed the maids and readied platters of food and drink for them to serve.
He had never seen this many people in his establishment. Usually, it was just the locals, Tired travelling merchants, one or two wizards and seldom lords who used the private rooms below. He and his maids were stretched thin to keep up.
When the innkeeper saw Rickard, he called over a mouse maid, "Ready Mr Rickard's room" with that, the maid disappeared into the back.
Annabella had never seen this place as busy as it was in the few times she'd been here.
"This way, I have a room for us. We'll discuss their venture there," Rickard said, guiding Annabella, arm around her waist
from the crowd of patrons; she saw someone waving. It was Rook. Rickard noticed and waved him to come over.
Ordin barged past Rook, knocking him over. Mampai carrying a small chest, picked Rook up like a rolled-up rug.
"I guess Ordin is still angry at our bookkeeper."
"why is that?" Annabella asked
"Shorted him few coins, almost killed him with a crossbow, got them lost reading the map upside down, is a cat-- and sleeping with you."
Annabella cocked her head. "How do you know that?"
"He brags when he is drunk."
That made sense. Rook wasn't a heavy drinker and got too full of himself intoxicated. Her ears flatted, knowing he had blabbed to Ordin about their fling. Ordin was her first partner in adventuring and, well.. not her first love.
"Also, you know I love to watch", he winks. Annabella's ears and cheeks flushed red.
Ordin was first to meet them. He nodded to Rickard and looked sternly at Annabella.
There was a tense pause; Annabella worried their friendship had eroded.
After a moment, He opened his arms. Annabella skipped and hugged him; he returned the embrace and chuckled. Ordin could never have a grudge against her. He loved her.
Rickard coughed and said, "if you would follow this lovely maid, she will take us to the meeting room."
Ordin gave Rickard an expressionless look, "yes, boss." with that, he picked up Annabella, cradling her in his arms, causing her to meep in surprise.
"show us the way, maid," Ordin gruffly said. A short buxom mouse snapped to and gestured for them to follow her.
----
The maid took them below into a passageway that led into the lodgings.
The corridor was dimly lit, with little alcoves by each door that held a lit dish lantern.
As they passed the room doors, they heard nothing, no snoring or other revelling.
"used to be a dungeon," said the maid, "Balzarsa's worst criminals came here to rot. These rooms were renovated and expanded by my master. He made sure the stonework was reused. Something about them stops sound from passing through,"
"Was there no need for the prison anymore? Has Balzarsa solved its crime and poverty?" asked Rook, looking over the voluptuous mouse.
"Ha! oh no, The current sultan just kills them now."
"all of them???" Rook blurted
"unless you commit a serious crime, you won't see the end of a headman's sabre."
"what would constitute a serious crime here?" asked ordin
"Murder, Rape, Treason, Drug trafficking, Espionage, Banitry, Burglary, Blasphemy against the divas. oh, and male homosexuality, that one's recent"
"but lesbianism is okay?" questioned Rook
"It's the highest form of worship to the divas around here but not the reason for the law."
"what was the reason for our sultan to enact such a law?" Annabella asked
"no idea, but it's not my place to ask."
"tho you are quite knowledgable about the inn and our laws,"
"The master taught us to remember these things, especially relay the law to outsiders. If they fall foul of the law, we lose potential customers. Not far now, just down these steps"
The mousette hopped hurriedly down the blue carpet-lined stone steps, holding on to a handrail plated in gold. Rook followed close behind her.
"In his youth, the sultan was captured by bandits; The experience darkened his opinions," Rickard told the others before descending the steps.
"Tuh condemn di whole orientation is nah justice", stated Mampai
"I care not for pillow-bitters, to hell with them," said Ordin
"you should be more considerate of those kindly and the plight this law causes them; put me down; I can walk from here" Annabella lifted herself off his arms and padded down the steps.
"Yuh shud bi more careful ah yuh words Norse hound." Mampai bent down slightly as she followed her down the stairway, carrying the small chest underarm.
----
The large hallway was lit with lanterns, and the smell of fragrant oil filled the corridor. The wall lanterns were curious; the flame was covered with an oval-shaped glass funnel.
Annabella has never been down this part of the inn and seen a similar lantern in her tutor quarters. She smelled roses and lavender, which masked the scent of the fuel it burned.
"Here we are" the maid turned an iron key and opened a metal-braced oval door.
The room was quite large and well-furnished. The walls were plastered in white, decorated in delicate patterns of blue and gold, and in each corner stood marble pillars trimmed in gold. Red curtains hung on the wall held by golden runners.
Beneath her feet, Annabella felt the smooth mosaic tiles; each lapis and marble piece was meticulously arranged into a pattern, polished to a sheen. Gold mortar filled the gaps in between.
In the middle of the room was a large circular pit fitted with a finely made bed covered in pattern-adorned pillows. Around it, platters of fruit, meat, bread and wine pitchers were laid out.
The far back was a bathing area partitioned off with coloured patterned glass. The bath is adorned with masculine and feminine statues pouring water from a jug; the water glowed blue like the fountain Annabella stopped by.
The maid handed the key to Rickard. "Your room has been prepared as specified, Effendi. If you wish, I shall wait here and bring you anything you require" he nodded, and the maid moved to the corner.
"are we paying for this?" worried Rook.
"The cost is covered," assure Rickard. "Let us sit and discuss your little venture."