Cataleya put on her mask and hood as she got inside the noisy inn with a pub in the first floor. The place certainly wasn't for someone like her. But she needed to get away as far away as possible with the little resources she have on her right now.
Remembering that all of her silvers and valuables were on her bag, she clasped tightly around the strap of it as she passed by the men who were having a drinking spree on the tables. They were boisterous and loud as they talked and laughed over their beers.
She successfully reached the counter where a heavy man was sitting. His cheeks were large on its side that it sagged on his face. His nose round a and a little crooked like he had been in a countless fight with few drunk men in the pub and his mustache was as thick as his eyebrows. She wondered if he could see properly in that covering his eyes.
When she got closer to the counter, the man behind it suddenly shouted at the people behind her. She jumped a little when a brawl broke out accompanied by the crashing of bottles and overturned tables and chairs. The servers ran to the counter and exclaimed loudly;
"Father! Father!"
"Get all of you here," the man in counter said and got out in the floor where two drunken men were punching each other's faces.
Cataleya winced when she heard a literal cracking of bones upon the contact of the owner's knuckle on the brawlers' faces. She was a spectator in there until the troublemakers were thrown down the corner, unconscious
"Search their pockets and get some coins to pay their bills here." The owner said to one guy in the corner. There was a resemblance of their faces so Cataleya thought they were father and son.
The owner went back to the counter and let his children do the cleaning and fixing of the damages around. Minutes later, the pub was back to business.
"What can I do for you, miss?" the owner asked.
Cataleya looked away from the main floor and went to stare at the store pub owner.
"I wish to rest for a night here." She said.
The man looked at her briefly, probably wondering why she had to cover her face and body like that.
"Sofia," the man called one of the servers.
"Yes, father?"
"Usher this lady to that room." The man said.
Sofia made a once over on Cataleya before she nodded to her father.
"Follow me this way," Sofia said, gesturing to the stairs.
Cataleya followed her promptly. As they climbed up the stairs, they entered a door instead of going over the hallway leading into the rooms.
"Don't be scared, this door is intended for a runaway like you, miss. You don't need to worry about getting caught here. We will hide you from your seekers. But know this, it is for a price." Sofia said.
Cataleya was more than willing to pay for such thing.
"I want my horse fed and prepared at dawn. I will leave in haste." Cataleya said.
"Noted. You don't have to pass through the main entrance. Father created a back door exit for clients like you. The pay shall be collected in your room. So, I suggest if you could leave it in the bedroom." Sofia said.
Cataleya was amused at the intricacy of the system in such a small in and pub. "You people are very thorough. I'd assume that I'm not the first runaway client you have had here."
"Certainly not miss. You're one of the many." Sofia said. "My father worked at a night casino before and picked up a thing or two about management. When he resigned from the job, we put up this little business with the money he was given as severance pay. Here we are. This shall be your room."
Cataleya expected so little about the room from such inn. A ran down bed, a dirty linens, a molded floors and windows which were thick with deep seated dirt. But seeing the small room, it wasn't the case at all. It smelled fresh and highly maintained room.
"How do you like here, miss?" Sofia asked.
"It's small but very clean." Cataleya said.
"We always clean rooms every day, miss. Father is big with satisfied clients as there is tendency for repeated check ins." Sofia said.
"I might. " Cataleya said in vague since she won't even want to be near the estate of the marquis.
"Thank you, miss. Perhaps do you fancy a dinner? Or in this case, a late night snack. We have a hot broth of chicken and potato."
"Is it for a price?" Cataleya asked fondly.
"No. It's in the house." Sofia said. "A bread or a rice to compliment it?"
"You have rice here?" Cataleya asked quite surprisingly. It had been too long since she had a rice before.
"Yes, we definitely have." Sofia said gleefully.
"I'd like to have it." Cataleya said in a composed self.
"Then, I will add rice for your snack." Sofia smiled and left.
As the door closed, Cataleya went to secure her bag in the bed, planning to sleep with it since her lifeline actually depended on what was inside it. Money or luxuries can run the world. If she had those with her, she can escape readily from the Bristons, the duke and the king himself. She just had to move in subtle way in the shadows.
Sofia didn't take long to return with tray of food. She laid it on the small round table and then went to the door. Someone will fetch the dishes afterwards. You can leave it outside the door if you don't wish someone bothering you." Sofia said and then left afterwards.
Cataleya then locked the door before she removed her cloak and mask on her face. She let in a huge intake of air and the citrusy smell of the room then filled her nose.
"Wow, feels like a summer here," She mumbled and sat over the wooden seat in front of the table. She never knew she was so much hungry until she saw the steaming island of white rice and chicken stew beside it.