The innkeeper thinks I’m crazy as a loon. I believe the innkeeper is a complete and utter fool, so I guess we’re pretty much even. These horse stalls all need cleaning, and their hooves need attention. They need to be brushed, and their manes and tails need combing. I pay for the extra feed, water, and care. I ensure the horses understand that their coats and hooves should be tended to, not to attack those who groom them. Then I turn around and tell Yoshida to ensure they receive triple rations of grain and hay, and a double ration of water.

  I even show him what a destrier’s portion of grain looks like so that he knows. When the spell takes hold, these horses will need to have all that in their system for it to be maximally effective. I don’t trust this innkeeper. I suspect he’s planning to pocket the coin, even though I’ve already paid for it.

  Yoshi gives me a smart salute and eyes the innkeeper, who shifts uncomfortably, before announcing, rather loudly, to all stable staff to make sure it's done since it’s been paid for. He reeks of deception and greed, even after his announcement.

  Inaba laughs and tells Kenric, “If it hasn’t been done, Yoshida might take his head for stealing. That’s something that’s not tolerated well in our culture.” I shrug. Anyone low enough to steal from animals will do as much, if not more, harm to a person.

  The innkeeper overhears this and blanches slightly before catching some of the staff in a quiet but intense conversation. I don’t tell the innkeeper that I can hear them, but I’m smirking at Inaba and Kenric.

  I sign to Miyabe. “He was planning to cheat me and not give them anything but half a bucket of water. He’s making sure that they know to really give them the extra hay and grain because I told your friend to double-check it.”

  Miyabe signs back, “Can you really hear them from where you’re standing?”

  I nod and reply, still using the hand signs. “I need them to have it so that my spell works right tomorrow. These horses will surprise you. You’ll have to stop and adjust the cinch on the saddle once we leave this place. Maybe the bridle and other things, too.”

  Miyabe laughs and relays this to Yoshida. Yoshida nods at me.

  Miyabe signs to me. “He understands. It will be done, or the innkeeper won’t be very happy.”

  I grin and sign back. “Try not to kill him. If being a fool were a killing offense, there wouldn’t be many people left.”

  Miyabe finds this hilarious and relays it to Yoshida, who finally smirks at me for a moment.

  “Tell him I’ll make sure the innkeeper saves him some dinner, and if it’s burnt, I might take it out of his hide myself.”

  Miyabe passes this to Yoshida, who bows to me before stalking off after the innkeeper. The innkeeper looks terrified as the taciturn Yoshida follows him around, waiting for the grain and hay to be dispensed. Finally, the innkeeper realizes that if he wants to get rid of his silent and intimidating shadow, he’s going to have to deliver what was promised and orders the staff to take care of it. Yoshida goes to observe the staff to ensure that it's done correctly.

  Satisfied, the rest of us head into the inn to eat. I sign to Miyabe to take Yoshida’s plate of food, a waterskin, and his mug of ale out to the barn. Miyabe returns and signs to me that Yoshida will be staying on guard duty for now after he caught them trying to take the hay and grain back. I frown and go looking for the innkeeper. This won’t do. I don’t want my men staying up all night to make sure that this rat doesn’t try to steal the grain I need these horses to eat.

  Kenric notices the look on my face and follows me as I confront the innkeeper. “I have not complained about the substandard accommodation. I have not complained about the substandard food. I have not complained about the substandard service. Perhaps that was my mistake, which I will correct immediately. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Princess Víl? of The Fey. As a princess, I have certain expectations, and nothing about this place meets any of them.”

  I emphasize the word "nothing" heavily and wave my hand around at his inn, encompassing everything. “This place is filthy. You haven’t even bothered to sweep the floor. The hem of my dress is likely ready for the rag bin just from stepping through your door. A dress, I might add, that costs more than you do. The mattress is lumpy, and the sheets haven’t even been washed since your last guests left. Your food is greasy and burnt. How dare you serve that to me? The ale is almost gone bad and tastes rancid. You have a lord and a foreign princess on the way to visit your king. Is this place as poor as that? Can you truly not afford to open a decent bottle of wine or at least a fresh barrel of ale? I paid for the grain. It stays with the horses. Stop trying to take it from them. Try it again, and I’ll have my honor guard start taking heads. I paid for the hay, same deal. I paid for the water, same again. I shouldn’t have to post a guard to make sure I get what I paid for from you. You will start respecting me and my honor guard, or I’ll have one of them take your head. ARE WE CLEAR?”

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  The innkeeper is starting to piss a little. Good. I truly hate this man.

  Kenric starts trying to shush me, but I’m having none of it. “You’re a Viscount. We travel with your guard as well. I know that the Sergeant sent a rider ahead to tell them we were coming. And THIS… this is how they show their respect? I should have Yoshida, Usami, or Nabu flog him at the very least. I know you said things would be different here, but this… it just won’t do. If everything here is going to be like this, I want to go home. Trade deal be damned. I doubt that The Hamadryad has left port yet. I’m certain I can get Captain Mabry to take me home.”

  Kenric drops a wink where the innkeeper can’t see and quickly turns to the man. “Damn it, man. You’re about to cause a diplomatic incident with King Oskar and King Ellisar. I’d suggest you get your head out of your ass and fix this mess. NOW.”

  I look at Kenric and shrug. “If your country is this poor, no wonder you needed a trade deal with us so badly. I’m not sure you can afford our goods if how you receive foreign dignitaries is any indication of the wealth of this place.”

  I am playing the princess card, so I stare at the innkeeper, daring him to challenge me.

  He bows and swallows hard before making abject apologies.

  I let him go for a moment before I break in. “I don’t want your apologies. If you are truly contrite, then take action.”

  Swallowing hard, he begins shouting orders to change all the mattresses and bedding. I hear maids upstairs scrambling.

  I frown at him as a thought occurs to me. “I expect that none of us will leave here with any unwanted bugs either.”

  He frowns at this and shouts more orders. Gods above! We are in a flea-ridden, bug-infested inn. I’d rather camp out and sleep on top of the carriage with some blankets.

  He goes and wakes a sleeping girl to sweep and mop the floors. I follow him into the kitchen, where he begins shouting more orders to cook something fresh.

  I stop him. “Not until this kitchen is clean. No wonder everything tastes greasy and burnt. Look at this place. It looks like a midden. Clean the kitchen and then prepare a fresh dinner for us. Something edible this time.”

  The woman cooking looks at me and grins before curtsying. “Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

  She seems delighted by my orders, but I’m not in a mood to trust any of the staff here.

  I add, “Come and find me when you think it’s clean, and I’ll tell you if it meets my standards.”

  “Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

  I nod and walk back into the taproom of the inn. I gesture to Miyabe, Nasu, and Usami to follow me. “Now we’re going out to the barn where my newly acquired horses are, so I can bring my other guard back inside. We are NOT going to have any more problems.”

  The innkeeper follows me to the barn. “Call all of them out here.”

  He begins shouting orders again, and the stable staff quickly assemble in the stableyard.

  I turn to all of them. “I have paid for the hay, grain, and water. You will leave it with the horses. If you don’t, I’ll know, and I’ll have these men flog all of you within an inch of your lives. I advise all of you not to try my patience. Otherwise, you will have to deal with a furious princess. I shouldn’t have to post a guard to make sure my animals get the hay and grain I’ve already paid for.”

  Another, more disturbing thought comes to me. “If your master isn’t feeding you and you’re forced to eat the horse feed, you can tell one of Lord Kenric’s men, and I’ll see to it that you’re fed and that King Oskar appoints a more capable innkeeper here, someone who will handle things properly and make sure the staff are fed properly.”

  I signal to Miyabe. “Keep an eye on him. If he approaches them or attempts to stop them from speaking with any of Kenric’s men, tie him to the horse trough at the front of the inn. Tell Yoshida he can come back inside now and not to eat that horrible mess. They’re cleaning the kitchen and making something fresh.”

  Miyabe bows and relays the orders to Yoshida. Yoshida walks out and dumps his plate of food onto the innkeeper’s boots. He then pours out the ale down his shirt. I don’t know what’s happened but Yosi’s angry. I see some of the stable staff eyeing the food in the dirt. By the gods! They’re really stealing the grain because they’re that hungry. Yoshida says something to Miyabe that I can’t quite follow yet.

  Miyabe signs back to me. “He doesn’t feed them at all. They’re all on the edge of starvation. They stole some of the grain from the carriage horses to cook and eat.”

  I only know one human well, and even I understand that humans can’t survive on that. Now I’m angry. He’s starving these people.

  I look at the innkeeper and ask, “What did you have for dinner?”

  He mumbles something, and my eyes narrow. “I’m sorry. I missed that. What was that again?”

  This time, he speaks a little louder. “It was a roast pheasant with potatoes.”

  Now I’m furious. “You served them nothing. You served a princess your greasy, burnt leftover stew. You had a roasted pheasant with potatoes. Let me guess, that pheasant was supposed to have been my meal.”

  He flushes but says nothing and suddenly becomes fascinated by the food on his boots. I’m glaring at him, trying to decide what to do next.

  The Sergeant wanders over and looks at me. “He stole your dinner?”

  I nod. The Sergeant nods to himself for a moment. It seems, for just a second, like he’s going to walk away. Then he spins quickly, throwing a punch that lands squarely on the innkeeper’s chin. The man is unconscious before he hits the dirt.

  The Sergeant whistles, and a couple of Kenric’s men come trotting over. “Tie this scoundrel up and throw him in the very last wagon of the caravan. Don’t worry about being overly gentle with him, either. He’s been abusing the staff here, and he stole Lord and Lady Kenric’s dinner for himself.”

  The men search around the barn before one of the staff members hands them some rope.

  He’s bound quickly, and as the men start to cart him off, the Sergeant stops them. “If he gets mouthy, gag him.”

  The men nod and disappear around the inn.