Ravenna turned her back on the now-red angel and descended the slope toward Nerium. She treads carefully, not wanting to slip and tumble down the slope; she knew falling would make Michael burst from his hiding spot to help her, which would risk him being seen. She thought about that concept. He must trust her not to say anything about his existence because he had revealed his presence to her with what seemed like little hesitation.
Ravenna approached the town, which seemed to be easily triple the size of Canden. She knew Canden was small, but Nerium was almost intimidating in size. Townspeople walked by her and stared at her appearance. Ravenna looked down, curious as to what they were so interested in. She gasped; she had forgotten she was wearing a man's too-big white silken waistcoat over a slashed-up dress. Ravenna reached and felt the back of the waistcoat- there were large slits in the back that were buttoned up. "That must be to accommodate the wings," she whispered.
Ravenna happened to find a store selling dresses, and she made a mental note of its location. She wanted to find an inn so Michael could get out of the woods and into a room. He deserved a rest after staying up all night to guard her. The young healer stopped a friendly-looking woman on the street. "Excuse me, ma'am, could you point me in the direction of the nearest inn? I am a healer from Canden traveling to Eravia to study, and I'm looking for a room to stay for the night." Ravenna gave a partial truth to the middle-aged woman, who may question why a young woman was traveling alone.
"Good morning, dear. The inn is just past the tavern on your left. It is not hard to find. Good luck with your studies!" The woman curtsied and disappeared into the crowd headed toward the Nerium market.
Ravenna was grateful that the inn was close. She passed the tavern, which was not yet open, as it was still very early in the day. She could see the town drunkards hanging around the area, waiting for the tavern owner to come by to serve them. Their presence made her uneasy, but she kept her head up and her composure strong.
Past the tavern, Ravenna saw the inn. Like the inn in Graenwood, it was a proud and inviting building made of solid bricks and a large wooden veranda. Unlike the inn in Graenwood, she was here by choice and not bound. Ravenna opened the great wooden doors and found herself in a cozy lobby. A man in his mid-fifties left the desk to greet her.
"Good morning, young Miss! Welcome to the Nerium Inn! How may we be of service to you?" The older man bowed deeply to Ravenna and smiled. He had a grandfather's way about him, she noticed.
"Good morning, sir. I'm a healer from Canden, on my way to Eravia to further my studies. I was hoping for a room to spend the day and night in, before I continue my travels. Do you have anything available, preferably one facing the forest? I do have such a passion for viewing nature." Ravenna continued the partial truth she had told the woman earlier. It didn't cause alarm for her being a single woman traveling before. Hopefully, this man would accept her story now.
"A healer from Canden? Bless your heart. A healer in Canden helped me when I had a bad fall and broke my leg. Anne Hawthorne, her name was. She was such a gentle soul. Do tell her Gerald from the Nerium Inn sends his best regards when you get back to Canden, Miss....?"
"Hawthorne. Ravenna Hawthorne. Anne is my grandmother. I'll be sure to tell her for you." Ravenna smiled. What a small world.
"Rooms are usually a gold coin per night, but if you're a Hawthorne, just a silver for you, dear. And I happen to have a wonderful room facing the forest that just opened up. Please, follow me, we will get you set up." Gerald gestured for Ravenna to follow him. She heaved a sigh of relief. She would have a way to signal Michael that she was in a room safely and he could meet her. Things were falling into place for her.
Ravenna followed Gerald down the Hall and up a regal spiral staircase to the third floor of the Nerium Inn. He guided her to a room at the end of the Hall, which seemed secluded from the other rooms. Gerald pulled a pair of keys from his belt and handed Ravenna one. He unlocked the door for her, bowed, and opened the door.
Ravenna gasped. The room was elegant. A large bed was placed against the wall, and a pair of comfortable-looking chairs stood before a fireplace. An opaque screen separated off part of the room; behind it was a bathtub that called to Ravenna after sleeping in the forest. "This room is beautiful!" Ravenna cried out.
Gerald smiled and grasped the young healer's hands. "This is one of our finest rooms. Only the best for a Hawthorne healer. Your family took care of me when I needed it. It is only right that I offer you one of our finest rooms. I will have a housekeeper bring up water for a bath right away for you; that is the first thing we always do for our travelers. Please, Miss, enjoy your stay. Let me know if you need anything." Gerald bowed again and took his leave.
Ravenna's heart warmed. What Grandmother had taught her was true. Their trade was not about wealth and gold. When it was their turn to need things from others, the people they helped would always be eager to return the favor. Good people did exist in the world, and Peter Jones was the exception to the rule. She shook her head. She did not want to think about that man. Michael ensured she was safe from Peter forever.
Ravenna sat on the bed and waited patiently for the housekeeper. Within ten minutes, there was a knock on the door, and Ravenna swiftly opened the door. "Good morning, Miss Hawthorne!" A pair of cheery-looking young women entered her room, carrying buckets filled with water. They quickly worked and curtsied, informing Ravenna they would be right back. The woman's son returned, happily chatting away about their day amongst each other. Gerald must be a good man to work for, for them to enjoy their job so much. The women finished their task, bid Ravenna good day, curtsied again, and took leave.
The young woman found matches and lit two lanterns. She set them in the window, signaling the Seraphim that she was there and she was safe. Ravenna picked at the buttons on her borrowed waistcoat; how long would it take the angel to travel to her? She needed to figure out how his method of traveling worked. She had seen him disappear in front of her without a trace, but the first time he appeared, her vision had been blocked by Peter.
Eager to get to the dressmaker's shop, Ravenna found ink and parchment and left Michael a note on the bed. She told him to help himself to the bath, and she was going out for a new dress to replace the ruined one she wore. Ravenna hoped Michael would find the note acceptable; she was desperate to get out of her slashed garments. The sooner she was rid of them, the sooner the reminders of Peter would be gone. "I'm sure Michael will understand," Ravenna reassured herself aloud and left the room.