Page 62 of Wings of Snow
I smirked.How fitting.
I led Ilara up the walkway to the main door, and it wasn’t lost on me that even here, in the diversified Nolus capital, we still garnered a few stares. I had a feeling most of the fae here had never seen our kind.
When we reached the inn’s threshold, I had to duck to avoid my wings scraping against the rim. Inside, the inn’s height wasn’t much better. The ceiling was so low that it brushed the tips of my talons, and given the screeching sound that followed, I figured I’d inadvertently left a few unintended scrapes on the plaster.
A breeze came through an open window from down the hall.
“It’s so warm in here,” Ilara commented as she fanned herself.
It was indeed too hot for comfort. Despite the open window, the day’s heat made the room unfamiliarly sweltering.
Nish grunted. “I prefer a chilled breeze myself and a bit of snow on the ground compared to this.”
My mate rolled her eyes and elbowed him playfully, getting a chuckle out of my surliest guard.
“May I help you?” the fairy working at the counter asked us with raised eyebrows.
I kept my expression bland as I approached him. The inn employee stood no taller than four feet. Horns sprouted from the top of his head, curling like a ram’s, and hooves peeked out of the bottom of his plaid trousers.
I inadvertently studied him. I hadn’t seen a Silten fairy in many winters. Inhaling, I assessed his damp, earthy scent. Tails, hooves, scales, and horns were the common features of Silten fae.
“We’d like a room,” I replied as I dug a few rulibs from my pocket.
The innkeeper ran a gnarled finger down his open ledger. “Do you have a reservation?”
“We don’t. Do you have any available rooms?”
“I do on the ground floor if that suits you?”
“It’s fine.”
“Very well. Place your hand here.” He waved at an opaque sphere at the end of the counter that looked like a glass ball.
Frowning, I did as he requested. Magic immediately enveloped my palm, its glittering bands holding me in place. I scowled as the sphere glowed brightly. A second passed, and the magic released me just as luminescent words erupted across the innkeeper’s ledger, as if being written out of thin air.
My name and place of residence appeared in ink across the page.
Crown Prince Norivun Deema Melustral Achul. King’s castle, Solisarium, Prinavee Territory, Solis continent.
The innkeeper’s eyes grew as round as saucers. “Oh my. Oh dear.” He bowed deeply. “A thousand apologies, Your Highness. I did not realize that you’re of royal blood. I had no idea you were the crown prince of the Solis continent.”
“No need for apologies.”
“Just the key then.” Nish held his hand out.
“Nish,” Ilara hissed. “Manners...”
Haxil snorted but Nish only shrugged and replied, “We’re in a hurry.”
The innkeeper’s hand shook when he grabbed the key from under the counter. “Of course. Here you go. Let me show you the way?—”
“No need for that either,” Nish interrupted. “We’ll find it.”
My guard gave the innkeeper his back, his ample wings on full display. He ushered Ilara forward as Ryder gave the inn employee a polite nod.
“Thank you,” I added even though I didn’t particularly care for that magical sphere.
The innkeeper inclined his head. “If there’s anything you need, please let me know!”