Delightful

The soldiers had intended to make camp in the wilderness for the night before continuing. However now that they had the princess with them, it no longer seemed a feasible option.

After a conference between the two men, they suggested spending the night in an inn.

"We will reach a town in about an hour. That will be just before dark. An inn is not an ideal place, but it is better than sleeping out in the open." Cole smoothed back his hair and retied it behind his head.

The princess figured Cole was around ten years older than her, and his well kept hair was one of his best features. Although Rose had only recently learned his name, she had seen more than one lady at court eye him longingly when he stood silently on a wall of a gathering.

"An inn sounds delightful!" Rose had an image come into her mind of a cozy place with a stout woman hugging her around the neck. The fire was roaring and the customers of the adjoining tavern were boisterous but appreciative of the stout woman's famous stew recipe.

'Maybe I was the daughter of an innkeeper. Could I be remembering my mother?' Smiling, the princess would have continued to watch the memory play out except for Philip's sudden interjection.

"Delightful? Ha!" Realizing the stoic man had contradicted the princess, Philip dipped his head and placed his hand across his chest. "Sorry, Your Highness."

"What Philip means is that inns are not as nice as the accommodations you are used to..." Cole tried to smooth over the situation.

"You must think I am some fragile flower. I can handle rough and tough. In fact, we should sleep outside. I could use some fresh air." Rose could see the doubt on the other two's faces.

'I believe I have camped many times,' she wanted to claim, but that would only bring suspicion on her and possibly uncomfortable questions that she was not ready to answer. Ever since Rose appeared, she could sense the soldiers had many things they wanted to know, but they had been too polite or too scared to know the answers.

The princess felt her ears burning. "I can see the looks on your faces. You do not think I will last the night outdoors. Fine. We shall go to the inn," she held her nose in the air, "I am sure I shall find it delightful no matter what you say."

The woman rode regally away from them, her horse's tail mocking them as it swished side to side in indignation.

"I would bet ten gold coins that the princess isn't going to make it through the night without complaining about wanting to go home," Cole whispered to his comrade.

Philip watched the straight back of the woman and shook his head. "If you had ten gold coins to rub together, I would take that bet and tell Her Highness about it. The Princess would surely not complain just to spite you."

"You are not wrong..." Cole blanched. "But please don't mention that I said anything. I want to stay on her good side."

"It is better to be respected than liked when it comes to being a soldier," Philip was feeling exhausted by the conversation, but he added one last thing before he was done. "However, telling her will gain you neither so I shall remain silent."

"You just don't want to talk to the princess," Cole chuckled. Philip eyed him coolly and then looked away. "You do not want to talk to anyone...I will see you in an hour."

Cole rode up ahead to the prickly princess and took his place beside her. She looked at him as if she knew exactly what he had said about her to his fellow soldier. The brown-haired man slouched but did not retreat. He sighed. No matter who he chose as his company, it was going to be a very long hour indeed.

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The town was on the main path from east to west across Birle and was going to be their jump off point to a minor path in the morning. The city of Tatton was neither big nor small, it was large enough for one inn, but not quite big enough to support two.

If ever the inn was full, there were merchants and others who would allow you to stay in their shops or barns for a price. The people there were not wealthy, but neither were they poor. However, if Rose were looking for 'rough and tough,' she had come to the right place.

The citizens of Tatton were combative people by nature. This was why there was a cabinet maker who had switched to exclusively making and repairing chairs. It was a lucrative business because at least one was broken a day in a 'discussion' by two 'civilized' people.

Even without being told, the princess could feel the unfriendly nature of Tatton as soon as they entered. Citizens eyed the trio suspiciously. Rose wondered if it was because the travelers were on horseback or if it had something to do with her hiding her face. Or perhaps they didn't like visitors in general. Somehow she guessed it was the last choice.

"Don't pay them any attention." Cole could see she was spooked. "Or scowl back at them if you must. They will not know what to do with those kind eyes of yours."

With the scarf wrapped tightly around her head and her hood pulled up, only Rose's eyes were showing. The woman scowled at the brown-haired soldier. "You picked this place on purpose to scare me."

"Indeed I did not." Cole glared at an old man who shook his cane at him in response. "Philip did."

The stoic soldier's eyes grew wide. "You mean to throw me to the wolves! This was the only option that fit with our timing and direction. The next inn will not be reached until well after dark."

Rose still doubted the men's intentions to scare her, but it was easier to believe than pick an argument. She was tough enough to take on what ever the men threw at her. The princess would not let something like the run-down building in front of her scare her.

'Wait, is that the inn?' The princess noticed the horses slowing and coming to a halt. Her assumption, it seemed, was correct.

"We made it!" Cole said brightly as dismounted and held out his hand to help the princess. "I do love it when the day's journey has ended."

Reluctantly, Rose dismounted and felt the ache of a day of riding catch up with her. 'I will be bow legged for a week!' she lamented silently.

"I will stable the horses and be right back." Philip took the reins of the two of the horses and allowed his own to follow him around the back of the inn. She noticed how gentle he was with the equine creatures.

"Philip likes horses," she noted to Cole as she covertly rubbed her rear.

"Better than most people, yes. He even taught his horse a trick. If you say," Cole lowered his voice to barely a whisper, "If you say 'Fireball attack,' the horse will go wild against who he perceives to be his enemy. Quite a handy trick in a battle!"

"Indeed," Rose agreed. Philip was a bit of a horse whisperer, it seemed. While the dark-haired soldier was gone, the princess tried to forget the pain in her body by taking in her surroundings.

The building that comprised the inn and tavern was two stories, but she highly doubted the integrity of the top level. It appeared to be leaning slightly to one side. Rose could see that the boards of the walls, even in the failing light, were cracked and weathered beyond repair.

On the porch, an old crone cried in a bitter tone. "I've lost it all. No hope for me." She held out a cup for anyone entering the tavern to drop a coin or two before they spent the rest on strong drink or gambling.

'What a welcoming place.' Rose steeled herself against the feeling of impending doom. 'Maybe it looks better on the inside.'

It didn't.