As the day drew to afternoon, Meyrin began to notice more travelers on the road with him, and soon more farms began to appear along both sides of the road. He assumed he was approaching a town or a village, and sure enough he soon spotted a signpost declaring the area that of the town of Pranwell. After some consideration, he chose to look for an inn for the night, instead of pushing through to the next waystation. It meant losing some time, as the sun wasn't terribly close to setting yet, but he thought Jako deserved a rest. The gelding had never been ridden for so long before, and Meyrin had already noticed the slight appearance of Jako's ribs through his coat. The horse could certainly use some extra rest and good quality grain and forage. 

The town itself soon appeared, drawing him in with the apparent hustle and bustle of town life. There were people out an about all over the town, carrying baskets and sacks and leading animals. Children clammored over and after each other, laughing and yelling. Jako, well-trained as he was, hardly did more than watch these small, loud people as they ran about the streets. Dogs chased and barked at the children and each other. There was smoke from numerous fires in the air, and the smell of a bakery he rode by was mouthwatering. No one paid him any attention as he rode through the town, suggesting to him that they were quite used to travelers and strangers coming through. He even noticed, now that he knew what to look for, that a temple stood somewhere in the distance, its plain spire easy to spot above the other roofs of the town. 

It was also a simple matter to find an inn, as he nearly rode into the sign that hung into the street advertising the Pranwell Inn with an image of a bed and cup of, presumably, ale. He dismounted and led Jako down the path labeled with a sign directing visitors to the stable. A boy only slightly younger than him took Jako's reins and led him inside, assuring Meyrin that the horse would be well cared for, fed, and groomed. Meyrin thanked him and went inside, bringing his bag and unstrung bow with him. 

Inside, the inn was moderately crowded and simply appointed. A minstrel sat playing a tune by the hearth while a child danced around with a small dog in front of him. The room smelled of woodsmoke and the pipes a few guests were smoking.

The woman operating the inn was tall and robust, with thick spectacles perched on her nose. She looked Meyrin over in a way that was slightly discomforting, and gave him a polite smile when he approached the counter. "What can I do for you, sir?" she asked him, her voice slightly gruff.

"I'd like a room for two nights," he replied. "And board for my horse for the same. I'd like some time to rest him, as he's not accustomed to travel."

She looked him over once more and quoted him a price he thought far too high for such a busy town used to having travelers pass through. When he tried to haggle her down, she would scarcely change her price. If she hadn't been looking at him in such a strange way, he wouldn't have been quite so determined to pay less than she was asking for. And if he had had more money and wasn't worried about paying for food and possibly lodging in Solaris, whether he was accepted into the training program or not.

"What makes you think I run a charity house?" she demanded.

"Nothing, of course," he replied politely. "It's just that I was raised in my family's inn. I know the expenses and I know that a lower price can still mean profit. There are plenty of travelers to make up where your profit is slightly less from my stay. Still a rather substantial profit, I might add."

She gazed at him for a long moment. "What else do you have to offer?" she asked.

"I can clean for you," he suggested. "As I said, I was raised in an inn."

She sighed. "Don't want to sell your body to get by then?"

He stared at her, even more uncomfortable than he had been. "No," he stated. "I do not. Ever."

"Pitty," she sighed again. "If you just didn't want a woman I could have arranged for you and the stable boy to have a go while I watched. Would have only charged half price, then." When all he did was continue to stare at her, she sighed yet again. "Very well. I do need a thorough cleaning of the place. I'll take a third off the price if you clean the unused rooms, the kitchen, and the stable."

Meyrin liked that offer much better, even if he hadn't seen how dirty the rooms, kitchen, or stables truly were yet. "I will gladly do that."