"I'm so sorry there's so little variety," the wife said as she kept the steaming pots coming, always refilling the travellers' cups. "We never expected anyone to come in this late, though with this early storm I'm sure you're glad to have found us." She refilled the mug of the littlest girl, who sat shivering with her cloak wrapper around herself. "Here, deary, have some more. We'll get you warmed up soon." The innkeeper handed his wife some towels as he passed through the room, headed for the coal bin for more fuel. The wife handed out the towels to the travellers, taking special care to wrap one around the young girl's hair, gently rubbing it dry. "Soon the bath will be ready, and well get you out of those wet things."
She turned to the two young men and the other girl. The tallest of the two men was vigorously rubbing at his blonde hair, while the red-haired girl wrapped the whole towel around her body, also shivering. The other young man stood a bit back in the shadows. He made no effort to dry himself, though his white clothes clung to him from the water. The innkeeper's wife noted this, but politely refrained from commenting. This stranger's eyes, though bright blue, seemed to forbid any questions. He simply sipped at his tea. She also noticed that he didn't shiver like the others, though he was furthest from the fire.
"Bath and sauna's ready," called the Innkeeper. "I've got them going full blast, with plenty of towels, and warm dry robes for you." He looked at the littler girl, her black hair clinging to her cheeks which were so pale, he fancied he could see right through her. "I'm thinking this little one ought to go right in."
The taller man stepped up. "I'll carry her. I don't think Amelia can walk any more."
"Right," agreed the red-headed girl. "I'll bring her cup with more tea."
The tall man nodded, and lifting Amelia, followed the innkeeper to the sauna. "Lina, hurry up, I don't wanna have to..... um.... well, she really ought to get out of these clothes..."
"I'm right behind you, Gourry! I want to get warm too, you know!" She turned to the other man. "Zel?"
He shook his head. "I'm fine. Go help Amelia."
"The bath is this way, sweetheart," the wife said, leading Lina down the hall. "If you'll hand out her clothes, and yours, I'll hang them to dry in front of the fire." The two women left the main room, leaving the last man alone.
With a sigh, he pulled off his hood and mask. Silver-blue hair glinted in the firelight as he shook his head, sending drops of water flying. He ran his towel across his face, the blue skin darkened by the rain.
Zel felt exhausted. They'd raided a bandit camp earlier in the day, and the bandits had had a fairly skilled sorcerer with them. Though he'd never admit it, he'd been hard pressed to keep Amelia and Gourry protected when the enemy had cast a strong Burst Rondo. Lina had, with her usual flair and ease, killed the sorcerer and looted the camp. But Amelia had been injured, and Zel had barely had the strength to cast enough Recovery.
The problem with Recovery was that it used the patient's own life-force to heal. Gourry had had to carry Amelia for a whole, and though she'd been walking by the time the storm moved in, she was still weak. Gourry was tired from all the sword work he'd had to do in the camp, and though the big mercenary never complained, Zel knew he was beat too. This inn had been their saving grace, though it was oddly enough all alone in the woods. No town, no major trade route stood nearby. Zel wondered how the couple who ran it got by.
Just beside the bath room was a good sized closet. Gourry ducked in there to change. He was tired, but he didn't fell like he needed a bath, certainly not as much as the girls. And of course, Zel woulnd't need one at all. Gourry idly wondered why Zel was still so intent on turning himself back to normal, when it was clear he had so many advantages in his current form. Not that Gourry thought that exactly -- he just thought that Zel was lucky, not being cold. He toweled himself dry, rubbing hard to get the blood going again, and wrapped himself up in a robe. Stepping out of the closet, he startled the innkeeper's wife.
"Sorry!" He gave her his usual charming grin, and she relaxed at once.
"Here youngster, give me your clothes. I'll hang 'em to dry. Your young girlfriend is warming up nicely. She'll need to go right to bed."
"Huh? Lina's not my girlfriend!"
"I thought her name was Amelia?"
"Oh, yeah, well, Princess Amelia's not my girlfriend either. I'll just stay here and carry her to her room if she needs the help. She was hurt earlier, and she's still not herself yet." Gourry leaned against the wall by the bath.
"Princess? Of where?" The wife was aghast. All she'd had to offer royalty was tea and plain brown bread?!? She instantly made plans to butcher a piglet for bacon in the morning.
"Uhhh, Saillune, I think." Gourry guessed. He often had a hard time with names and faces. "Lina could tell you for sure."
"That Lina's a good girl. She's in there washing the Princess, and making sure she's not got the chilblains or anything...." The wife bustled off, plotting a big breakfast for these poor kids, caught out in the storm. As she passed through the main room, she saw the other man had moved close to the fire. He still wore his wet clothes, and from the flutter of its edges, she knew he'd pulled the hood back on before she came in. Swallowing her suspicions, she stepped up to him. "Anything I can get you, son?"
"No, thank you." His voice was so deep and melodious. It gave her flutters. He glanced up at her. "Amelia?"
Giving herself a little shake, the wife smiled at him. "Wel, now, she'll be fine! And your friends will tuck her in bed cozy, and a good night's sleep will set her right." Daring greatly, she stepped even closer. Looking him straight in the eye, she said, "You can relax here. The inn takes care of you. You're among friends."
A flicker in his eyes told her she'd be right on the mark. Thought the little girl was fragile, the other one tough, and the big man warm and open, this one seemed to have experienced only the worst life had to offer. She just knew that safety and relaxation were strange to him. But she had faith in herself and her husband, and she knew something they didn't -- the inn itself did take care of those within its walls.
"You just warm yourself there. And once the others are done, you take a good long soak in the bath, and you'll be all right." She patted his shoulder and went into the private living section. She didn't notice the slight flinch he made at her touch, nor did she see him turn and stare. She hung the guests' clothes by the fire, and went to the room where she and her husband lived. The innkeeper was already prepared for bed, but stood staring into a fireplace. His wife walked up behind him and put her arms around him.
"They need this." He said.
"Umm-hmm," she agreed. "Those poor kids need help badly. I'm glad they found us."
"Think the domovoi can do it? They seem real hard luck."
"She can do it. She can do anything. Just like she helped us." The wife smiled up at her husband, then led him to bed.