Dragon's Fire

About a block from the house, she ducked into the same dark doorway and removed the invisibility. As she stood there, Talon wondered where she could go until the next morning. She needed time to sleep, and get ready to leave the next day with Shadow. Suddenly, it came to her. What better place to spend the night than the same inn that the cleric was staying? It would be convenient, after all. She judged it to be approximately two hours before midnight, not a strange hour to check into an inn, particularly in a large city such as this, with people coming and going constantly. The city gates never closed, after all. After changing her appearance to that of a moderately wealthy woman, she began to walk purposefully toward the quarter of town that the inn was in. She had gone most of the way when a group of town guards came around the corner toward her.

"You, there!" The one of the guards called to her. "What are you doing in the streets at this time of night unescorted?"

"Good sirs! Just the men I was hoping to find," Talon called to them, "could you be so helpful as to escort me to the... Inn of the Dragon? I seem to have lost my way." She smiled at them charmingly.

The first guard looked her over appraisingly, and then replied, "Oh, Im 'sorry, ma'am, but we're extremely busy just now. I could give you directions, though."

"Oh, dear. I just don't feel secure wandering around in the dark by myself. And my companions will be so worried about me. Couldn't you spare just one man? Please?" Her expression was an artfully done show of worry and hope.

"Well... I suppose. Jon, take her to her inn and then come back to this area. We'll continue to search."

"Yes, sir! Come along, ma'am." The soldier waited for Talon to catch up, and then began walking at an easy pace through the city.

"Oh, thank you, sir. I had despaired of ever finding my way back to the inn."

"It's really not difficult. You were closer than you realized." As the guard said that they turned a corner to see the Inn standing in front of them, with the city gates just two blocks away.

"Oh, I'm so relieved! Thank you," Talon told the guard. "Please, take this as my reward", she said as she removed a gold coin from a small pouch at her belt and tried to hand it to him.

"No, ma'am, I cannot accept any reward," the guard replied.

"Are you sure?" Talon asked, playing the part she had cast for herself.

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you, anyway." The guard looked to the Inn. "You must go inside, so that I may get back to my duties."

"Very well, sir. I will join my companions. Once again, thank you, sir." Talon walked into the building, smiling to herself.