Ch 2 Trouble in Paradise
Raialla asked Nallie again, when she began to hear raised voices as they got closer to the main floor. "It's the Holderkin" she said. Raialla grimaced, that's all Nallie had to say, they came through about twice a year and every time they did, they caused trouble.
She was getting to the point of banning them from the Inn, they were hardly worth the trouble. "What they do this time" she asked.
"They've accused the Karsite traders, of stealing" Nallie said, distress on her face.
Raialla sighed "At least, they didn't threaten Parenna and Dena again".
"I think they're working up to that" Nallie said with a grin.
"They'd better not or they'll have to find another place to stay" Raialla said.
Nallie laughed "That would serve them right, the only other Inn is the Red Barrel, and I wouldn't send my worst enemy there. The beds have fleas and the beer would gag a goat".
Raialla laughed "You don't have enemies" she said when she could talk.
She pushed throught the door to the kitchen and quickly walked through to the door leading to the commom room.
This was bad, she saw at once. Her bouncer was outnumbered and the leaders of the two groups were shouting in each others face. She saw one of the Holderkin fingering his beer mug looking like he was ready to throw it.
"Don't you dare" she said, the anger in her voice making it carry in the room. The sound of a female voice caught the attention of the two men. She walked right up to them and looked at them directly not backing down even when the Holderkin man loomed over her and bunched his fists as if he wanted to hit her.
It was Bertel, it would have to be she thought to herself. "You do" she said in a warning tone as she narrowed her eyes at him " and you can forget ever staying here again, as of now you are on probation, one more incident and you're out".
He opened his mouth and she interupted "I mean it, annoy me at your own risk, this isn't your land, if you cause trouble here, I'm sending out warning to all the other Inns in this part of Valdemar, you'll be lucky if you can stay in some farmer's barn, your choice" she said crossing her arms and staring him down.
He scowled, but backed down. "Good choice" she told him, then she turned her attention to the Karsite.
She looked at him, his mouth was open too, but with surprise, Raialla sighed, she knew what she looked like, at seventeen, she was short for her age, her curley blond hair was escaping the braid she had put it in. She was cursed, or blessed as some would put it to look like one of those china dolls she had seen with the daughter of a noble who had passed through. She even had the large blue eyes, she thought with disgust.
He closed his mouth and bowed his head "My lady parden me please" he said his karsite accent flavoring his words.
She nodded. "As long as you and your people follow the rules of this Inn" she said mollified that he wasn't making this harder than it had to be.
She heard the holderkin laughing at Bertel, great she thought to herself now she was going to have to watch her back when he was in town.
"The owner, you are" the Karsite asked, surprise in his voice.
"Yes" she said.
He smiled "It was for you, we came, Raialla, you are" he asked.
"Yes, how is it you're looking for me by name" she asked waving him over to a table far from the group of holderkin.
"A message, I have" he said.
"Oh, who from" she asked.
He pulled out a large bundle of papers from his shoulderbag "Stavenitch, he is" he said as he handed her the tightly rolled bundle.
"Oh, the Sunpriest" she said surprised.
He nodded and patted her shoulder then he rose joining his men. She stared at the papers wondering why Stavenitch would be writing her. She shook her head and stood up to leave, back through the kitchen door with the bundle of papers tucked under her arm..