Meyrin learned that the innkeeper's name was Rochellia and she worked people harder than either of Meyrin's aunts had likely ever worked him or any other worker they'd had at the inn. She was most certainly getting more work out of him than his decreased fee for two nights called for. He was made to wash all the floors in the unoccupied rooms and the kitchen. He chased away spider webs in the corners of all the rooms and killed the occupants, some of which had grown fat on the insects brought into the rooms by unwashed travelers, much to his horror. He was also required to wash all the blankets from the beds.

In the barn, he hunted rats from the feed and scrubbed stalls that had only been minimally cleaned for a long period of time. The stable boy's name was Gralien and he was thankful that Meyrin was willing to work for a lowered fee, instead of what Rochellia had attempted to counter his discount with.

"Not that you're unpleasant," Gralien explained. "I'm just tired of her using me for entertainment."

Meyrin leaned on his shovel and stared at the boy who could be no older than eighteen. "She really forces you to... do things with guests?" he asked, stunned.

He shrugged. "Sometimes, when someone wants a better price."

"Why have you not told someone?"

He shrugged yet again. "I don't know who I'd tell or where I'd go if I left. I've thought about it, since she started doing this last year. I think it's why she doesn't let me do her errands anymore. She's afraid if I leave this parcel of land I won't come back. I don't think she's afraid of me telling anyone. When this started she said it was because I was old enough for it not to be a concern for anyone. Except for me, which she doesn't care about."

"Does this town have Tetim Lanali nearby? They would help you. They'd have to."

"The two men in the matching blue uniforms?"

Meyrin nodded. "That should be them."

"They come here to have dinner every few nights. They should be here tonight, but I'm not permitted to mingle with the customers. She says the smell of horses makes them lose their appetites."

"I'll talk to them," Meyrin promised. "I'll see what I can do."

Gralien smiled at him. "Thank you. I'd appreciate someone caring."

Meyrin did as he had promised and found the Tetimi pair among the tables of guests that evening. They were older, with their braids heavily streaked with gray, their faces lined, oldest tattoos faded. They glanced up at Meyrin with curiosity when he approached their table.

"My name is Meyrin and, though I am only a traveler through this town, I wondered if I might bring a concern to your attention," he began politely.

"Of course," one of them replied with an easy smile. "It's why we come here periodically, so anyone might direct their concerns to us."

Meyrin nodded and sat in the seat the other Tetimi motioned for him to sit at. He noticed a scar across this man's cheek that tugged his mouth into something like a sneer, but his eyes were kind. Once he had sat down, the men introduced themselves as Cayrin and Zemry. Cayrin had been the first to speak, Zemry the one with the scar.

"Do you know the owner of this establishment well?" Meyrin asked, hoping they weren't terribly fond of her.

"She's been here for some years," Cayrin replied. "Why do you ask?"

Meyrin carefully explained how badly she was overcharging and what she had offered him in exchange for a lowered fee. Both Tetimi appeared troubled, but whether it was because they believed him or thought he was making up a tale, he wasn't certain. The answer about knowing Rochellia hadn't put him at ease.

"I'm going to go speak to Gralien," Caylin declared. He didn't seem to be hurrying out of the building, but he did move with purpose between the tables. 

Zemry, he noticed, had his eye on Rochellia. "I, for one, believe you. She doesn't charge us for food or drink when we're here, but I have heard grumbling about her prices. I was not aware she offered patrons the opportunity to reduce their fees."

"I confronted her about the price," Meyrin confessed. "I was raised in an inn and know something of how they are run."

"Where are you bound?" Zemry questioned, barely taking his eye off Rochellia to glance at Meyrin.

"Solaris," he replied. He thought a moment, then admitted, "I'm going to apply to the Tetim Lanali. I'm an archer. A pair of Wanderers came through and stopped at my aunts' inn. They seemed to think I have some skill."

Zemry fully glanced at him for a moment and nodded. "Good. Long-range weapons skills are always needed. Especially if they partner you with a mage."

"Assuming I'm accepted and pass my training," Meyrin added.

Zemry chuckled. "Of course. It's good to know the Wanderers didn't cause you to hope too highly just yet."

It was some time before Cayrin returned, and when he did he did not look pleased. 

"Gralien says he speaks the truth. I took him to our house until we can help him find other work and so he's away from the inn when we arrest Rochellia."

"We had best do it soon," Zemry observed. "I believe she suspects something with her free labor sitting at our table."

Meyrin looked to the bar where Rochellia had been all evening, and saw her gazing directly at him.