Chapter 155: Bread and Breakfast
Morning came and Balthazar woke up to the sounds of people on the streets, their chattering, the wagon wheels rolling against the cobblestones, and the horses neighing on their way to the markets.
He yawned and stretched as he peeked outside the cat-free window with groggy eyestalks. He missed his pond and its peaceful quietude, where he could sleep without the rude awakening of humans and their noisy city life. Except when some adventurer decided to show up at his bazaar as soon as the day dawned, begging for the supplies they’d forgotten back in town.
He almost missed those too.
Still trying to snap himself properly awake, the crab wondered what the strange nightmare he had was. All he could remember was the smell of burnt hair, and the rest escaped his memory like sand through his pincers.
Probably nothing…
After much effort, the merchant got Druma to wake up from his food coma and, along with Blue, the trio exited their rented room to find the main hall of the inn much more lively now that it was daytime.
The small dining area off to a corner near the kitchen had a few patrons sitting at their tables, enjoying a quick breakfast before leaving back to their travels or a day of shopping in town.
Balthazar could tell this place was on the upper-end of what Marquessa had to offer in terms of bed and board both because it was right at the center of town, next to the city hall, and because the renters occupying it all looked like wealthy travelers. Just like himself.
After the man who owned the inn told them to have a seat by a table they’d saved for the trio, his wife came out of the kitchen with a large platter. Apparently, the mayor’s office had already arranged for a full breakfast to be provided, sweets included.