The interior of the inn was even more surprising than its façade. Delicate lacquered wooden furniture, soft embroidered cushions, and even a murmuring fountain in the centre of the main hall were like a desert mirage in this most inhospitable corner of the world. The entire room could easily accommodate well over a hundred guests, though at that moment it was completely empty. This, however, was hardly surprising given what had just happened outside the building.
Darius cast a sceptical glance at all the delicate chairs and finally decided to sit on a white marble casing. It was the only one that wouldn’t crumble under the weight of a man in armour. He scanned the room once more. Two Ruby Guards had already taken up position at the entrance, whilst the Azure Guards were beginning to check the adjoining rooms. From somewhere in the square outside the inn, Rex’s voice could also be heard shouting orders or reprimanding some onlookers. All in all, he didn’t care either way.
A few paces from the fountain, the participants in the argument came to a halt. It seemed that only the priest was pleased with the turn of events. Bleist scrutinised the City Watch, but they didn’t appear to have anything to hide; rather, they’d simply let their emotions get the better of them earlier. The innkeeper, on the other hand, was simply surprised, a little confused and irritated by the trouble in his business. One could understand him.
‘To clear everything up, let’s start from the beginning,’ said the colonel, taking off his helmet. ‘What was happening outside the entrance?’ He glanced at the dwarf and the two young men.
‘We wanted to get our things back, Colonel,’ one of the Watchmen said, clicking his heels as if reporting for roll call.
Darius turned his gaze to the innkeeper, who merely sighed heavily and shook his head.
‘I explained that I couldn’t give them anything back, sir.’ The innkeeper looked up, but avoided Bleist’s eyes. ‘After the murder, the investigator from Bushtabhar ordered the crime scene to be sealed off and no
