The sun has set by the time we get back to the inn. We head up to our room before we all agree that we should bathe. Nikola and Merlin stay in the room while I go downstairs first. I take my towel with me and use the communal bathroom, which has four shower stalls built into the wall across from the side of the four toilet stalls. Both the showers and toilets remind me of home, though they are constructed more simply and made of a smooth gray clay instead of white porcelain. No one comes into the room while I'm bathing and the water is pleasantly warm. I get dressed in my new backup clothing and freeze in place when I hear a loud growling voice arguing with New Look, the innkeeper.

"You don't understand, I need a room at this inn."

"I'm sorry, I know you've stayed with us before but at the moment we're full," she replies.

"Please," the deep gravelly voice says. "It's incredibly important I get a room here."

Since I only have one pair of boots and they grant me a magical strength boost I decide to risk it and click my heels together to activate the spell before walking out of the hallway into the otherwise empty dining area. New is behind the front desk, which doubles as a bar when the inn's tavern is open. Across from her is...the huge golden dragon person from the Cryptid Tavern. The same one who looked at me through the shoe store window this morning.

"Is there a problem, New?" I ask, doing my best not to show how terrified I am. "I can call someone down if you need."

As if anyone I know could do anything, I think to myself.

The dragon person's golden eyes grow wider as they stare at me. They hiss through sharp crocodile-like teeth and shake their head before waving a hand at New. "Ne-nevermind. Never mind," they say before heading back out through the front door.

Once the dragon is outside I instantly deflate and catch myself against the edge of the counter top. My boots may make me stronger but my legs still presently feel like they've turned to jello. The only weapon I have on me is my boot knife and I'm pretty sure that dragon person has teeth roughly the same length as my blade as well as two swords that seem to be about as long as I am tall.

"Holy shi-"

"Thank you, Rhys, but that wasn't necessary," New tells me.

"I couldn't just stand by and do nothing," I say.

"And what would you have done if she had wanted to fight?" New asks. "Would you have faced a fafniric with nothing but a towel and pair of trousers?"

"I...uh...do have a knife on me."

I still probably would have been killed.

New smiles and laughs a little with her mouth covered by the back of her hand. I realize out of the two of us New would probably have lasted longer in a fight with the dragon person. She may be a retired adventurer or something. There certainly are a lot of fancy looking old swords and shield and armor pieces decorating the walls of the tavern area. Not to mention that while New is older than me she's got a fair amount of muscle that could be from more than just keeping an inn going.

"It's okay, I'm only teasing. She wouldn't have attacked you, nor fought," New explains. "I've met her before and she's normally quite calm and relaxed. I'm not sure what's gotten her so riled up."

"Do you think she'll be back?" I ask.

"I doubt it. It's getting late. I'm sure she'll find another inn for the night. How are you enjoying your stay? I see you've used the showers," New says with a smile before wiping down the counter top with a damp cloth.

"Yeah, it's been great. My friends are going to be taking showers too in a bit. Do you have any other towels? I don't think they'd want to use mine."

"Absolutely. I am running an inn, after all." New pauses a moment and adds. "An inn that requires some money coming in, if you understand.

"Let me take some towels up to our room and I'll bring back some cash. How much do we owe you? I mean, I know we bartered with the mop and all but, how much would staying here this long really have cost?"

"Two gold."

I have no idea if that's expensive or not.

"I will see what I can do and will be right back down."

After getting two clean and dry towels from the innkeeper I head back to our room. While I'm digging through my bag for the gold coins I realize no one is asking me about the loud voices and I realize I haven't heard much from anyone in other rooms while staying in this inn. I wonder if it's some kind of normal soundproofing or some secret magic enchantment that I shouldn't ask New Look about so she doesn't get in trouble for having magic walls. I decide not to mention the dragon woman and instead quickly dash back downstairs with four gold coins in hand.

"I know you said two," I say as I set the money on the chipped and worn wooden counter before New. "But I feel like we owe you more than that."

New's eyes dart from the coins to me then back again before they settle on me and narrow. "Where did you get this?"

"You remember Dresden? Who left after they stayed one night?"

"The person in the green armor?"

"Yes, well, they sold that armor and gave us some of the money." I quickly add, "Please don't tell anyone."

New leans forward, her arms resting on the counter bent at the elbows, "I heard they were a bard and a mad one at that, performing here in Centrum and hiring every adventurer they could." She looks down at the gold. "If they had this kind of money to give you then I have no doubt anyone interested in it would rather set their eyes on Dresden than you. That said, worry not, I will tell no one of this and consider us square."

"Thanks, and please if there's anything we can do before we go let me know, okay?"

New lets out an amused huff as she takes the money and straightens back up. There's got to be some sort of raised platform behind the counter, she didn't seem much taller than me when we first met. "That is what I'm supposed to say, seeing as you are my guests."

"Thanks," I reply. "Speaking of guests, you told that dragon woman there weren't any open rooms but I haven't seen anyone else here but us..."

New smiles. "My other guests are typically out at this time of night, and resting during the day."

I raise an eyebrow. "Okay."

"It's not that unusual for vampires," New adds with a shrug.

"Vampires?" I repeat.

The other rooms are rented out to vampires? There's what, four rooms per floor, two floors, minus our room, there's seven other rooms full of vampires in this inn?

"When is it you're planning to depart?"

"Maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day," I shake my head. I can't let stereotypes from fiction in my world cloud my view. If she's telling the truth the vampires haven't been a problem at all. "Still not sure on that, to be honest. We need to figure out which direction to go and all."

"Whenever you do, please stay safe. The weather is about to become rainy and cold. It will make travel difficult once you're further out from Centrum and the roads are no longer paved. Once the snows arrive it will be it near impossible to go anywhere. I will give you a list of merchants in the morning should you need supplies."

"Thank you so much, New."

Our bill taken care of I head back up to our room, say nothing about vampires possibly staying in the building, then pull out my laptop to transfer copies of the map photos while Merlin is off taking her shower. I can tell Nikola and Merlin about the vampires and the dragon once we're on the road.

"We agreed you should have the bed tonight," Nikola says, getting my attention. "You need some rest, especially if we're to leave tomorrow."

"Tomorrow for sure," I say. "And I will not object to using the bed. Thanks. Oh shit."

"Pardon?"

I shake my head. "I just realized we should've gotten a tent, or tents, or something to use when we travel in case we need to camp. New said it's going to get rainy soon then snow. We also still haven't gotten cooking gear. At least I remembered to get a sling and a bow to hunt with."

"We can acquire more supplies tomorrow," Nikola says. "Please, try to get some rest, Rhys."

"Yeah, you're right. I will."

Once I finish copying the map photos I pack up all my belongings and settle into the bed. Nikola moves to sit on the floor in the corner where he can see the door. The little oil lamp on the table is still lit but it's nowhere near as bright as the lights back home. I am so tired that I fall asleep almost immediately. I don't hear Merlin return, nor Nikola leave to take his shower.

I don't dream either. I'm too tired to.