In Which Riona Is Inconvenienced

April 6, 1175

"Where in God's holy name is that innkeeper?" Domingo thrust his hands toward the fire, the scowl on his face evident even from Riona's angle. "We've been waiting ten minutes and not a sign of hospitality yet. We are on a crusade; the worms who own these places should be begging to serve us."

From a bench by the wall, Augustin sniffed in agreement, but Riona couldn't say she shared the sentiment. Patience had never been her strong suit and had they been forced to wait at an earlier date, she might have complained even more obviously, but tonight was a different story. The innkeeper could take all the time in the world and it wouldn't be enough. Private rooms weren't cheap and she hadn't guessed that they would take the scenic route and would still be on the continent come April; if she had, she would have grabbed some more money. But hindsight was useless now--she hadn't, and her purse had run dry. She barely had enough for a bed in one of the grimy, smelly dormitories which housed the drifters and the outlaws and the local drunks who'd had too much wine to make the trip back to their own houses. So much for hoping to sleep comfortably in her shift the entire time.

"Oh for the love of Christ! What's taking that man so long?"

"Other duties, perhaps?" Isidro sounded just as annoyed as his father did, but the target of his bile was elsewhere. "An innkeeper can't be everywhere at once, you know. He's probably in the bar."

"Yes--where I should be." Turning away from the fire, Domingo pulled the sack of coins from his belt and tossed it to Augustin. "Pay for the rooms, will you? Three, as always."

Augustin tied the pouch to his own person and nodded. "Yes, Uncle."

"Good." Not wasting another word, the older man barged through the door and strode past the window on his way to the bar entrance. Augustin and Bernardo exchanged a glance; Casimiro looked to his feet and Isidro just cross his arms and stood there. Riona took a moment's pause before letting her eyes fall to the records on the desk. There were plenty of available suites--unlike most of the other inns they'd visited, where they'd usually nabbed some of the last. Figured that she couldn't afford one now.

Or maybe...

It was probably a long shot... but then again, so was getting to sleep in a public dormitory when you were trying to pass as a boy. "Cas?"

"Mmmm?" A little bit of light welled in his blue eyes as they met hers. He did seem fond of her. Maybe he knew. If he did, though, he wasn't telling anyone--not even her. If that was the case, perhaps it made him all the more honorable.

Shame that she had to inconvenience him. "Could I... maybe borrow some money?"

"Oh." Casimiro's face fell; a muscle in Riona's arm twitched. "Sorry Searle, I don't have any of my own. Augustin's been handling our funds."

Shit. Wary, Riona cast a glance Augustin's way. He was conversing with Bernardo and probably wasn't paying the rest of them any mind, yet he still managed to look like he was refusing her. Casimiro would have lent her the money if he could and she might have even been able to coerce Bernardo into letting her dip a hand into his purse, but Augustin? She would have been better off asking a rock. "Oh..."

"Don't worry about a bed, though, if that's what you're thinking." He nudged her on the shoulder and smiled. "Dormitories aren't so bad--and this place seems rather nice, so I'm sure you'll be comfortable."

All right, maybe he didn't know--he wouldn't have said it if he had. Then again, at least her disguise was working? But what did that matter if she had to share a room with a dozen men anyway? "Uh..."

"Christ, Cas, have you forgotten what it's like to be fourteen?" As if from the shadows, Isidro shot forth from the wall and wedged himself between Casimiro and Riona; she couldn't help but feel a little irked. "Physique-related insecurities? Chest hair anxiety? Spontaneous erections that won't go away?" Embarassed, Casimiro glanced up at the ceiling. What the hell was Isidro doing? All Riona could do was grit her teeth and pretend to know what he was talking about. "The dormitory could be a fucking palace, but as long as there are strangers in the room, it's not going to be comfortable for our poor little friend here."

Well, at least he'd sort of addressed the problem, despite how little else he was good for. Not that it meant much--she still needed a room. Casimiro seemed to get this. "Yes, but... what can we do about it?"

"It's simple." Isidro's eyes ran from the top of Riona's head to her boots and back again. "We have three rooms, do we not? That's three double beds for six people."

A cold flush surged throughout Riona's veins. Surely he was not saying...

"I mean, if we're going to pay for them anyway, we might as well get the full use. Chances are that my father will be too drunk to appreciate having his own bed anyway. Augustin can share with him, and you can bunk with Bernardo. I'll take Searle."

...Eh?

"Oh, don't look at me like that, kid." Isidro crossed his arms, his gaze charging through her skull and doubling back as it reach the rear of her brain. "I know you don't like me, but better me than a whole room of strangers, wouldn't you say?"

Riona swallowed. What would Searle say in this situation? Did it even matter? It was exactly what Riona couldn't say. "Uh... I guess?"

"Good." He tore his unrelenting eyes away from her and headed toward the stairs. "The innkeeper's out back chopping wood. I spoke with him while you lot were tying up the horses. The rooms have been paid for--I have the keys and everything."

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