The inn Sir Gradral chose for us to rest at was called 'The Longing Table'.

Apparently, The Longing Table was a very cozy, well-known rest house-plus-bar among the locals of Eyress. "Very good duck they serve, Your Highness," was Sir Gradral's explanation. I cared not for the duck. Actually, I haven't ever tried duck, ever. And it's not like I want to.

Wrapped up in a cloak, I stepped out of the carriage and flinched when the sudden sun hit my face. I had walked none but two steps when I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. "Now, don't stray away from me, Your Highness," Sir Gradral said, fixing his own cape around his head like a cloak. "It's very easy to get lost in the busy streets of Eyress after all. More so, for it is 'Market Day' today; people would be bustling to get their goods at a cheaper rate."

Market Day? That's the first I ever heard of it after arriving here.

"Grab onto my arm," he said, his eyes wearily raking through the crowds of people ahead. "And grab onto your hood as well." I placed one hand around Sir Gradral's arm and the other one under my chin, clasping the loose cloak around my face. "Let's go."

And we were off.

Sir Gradral kept glancing down at me, making sure I was safe and sound, as we swiftly walked forward. I bumped into strangers several times for I could not see them as my head was lowered down. Some of these people did apologize but most of them were very rude about it. "Watch where you're goin', you stinkin' brat," they'd say, or "Ignorant kids, don't have any respect for their elders." Many times I wished to raise my head and give them a taste of my amazing vocal skills but every time, Sir Gradral put a hand on my head as if to tell me to keep my head lowered. Then he'd 'excuse me, excuse me,' his way out of the trouble, not changing his pace in the slightest.

"How much further?" I asked him.

"Just two more streets. It's the closest inn we could've chosen, so bear with me, Your Highness."

Gosh were my feet hurting. We walked for another three minutes when Sir Gradral stopped. I looked up to see that we'd arrived at a door. Looking further up, I saw the sign which relayed to me that we were at the inn. 'The Longing Table'. Strange name, but I hoped that their services were as commendable as Sir Gradral had made them out to be.

"Let's go in," Sir Gradral said, pushing open the door.

Instantly, I was met by a waft of heat and an aroma of meat and wine.

"Simon! Everybody, it's Simon!" someone called cheerfully followed by lots of golly cheers.

"Trayvil, old fellow! How are you doing? And the lot of you," Sir Gradral let go of the arm that I had been holding on to all this time and went ahead to greet his friends. "Rousskin, good to see you again! And you, Brecht. How's your son?"

It seemed that Sir Gradral was very popular.

Not knowing what to do, I hung around the door not daring to make my presence acknowledged. These people would definitely want to know who I was and why I was with their friend. I can't risk being caught now.

"Simon, who'd ya bring with you today?" I perked up when I heard one of his friends ask. "Surely, that's not Rosa in there, right? Or is it?"

"Old man, your vision needs fixing. Of course that's Rosa," said a younger man, laughing along with the others. "Simon wouldn't bring any strange girl with him; he's just not that type of guy." More laughter.

"My vision's just fine, you pea-brained twit," responded the old man sourly, smacking playfully on the younger man's head. Then he turned to me again. "Rosa dear, why aren't you coming forth? Is something the matter? You didn't leave something outside, did ya?"

I shuffled my feet, not knowing what to do. Right on cue, as if he understood my worry, Sir Gradral moved in front of me, covering my body with his. "Rosa's a bit tired, fellows. I came here to book her a room," he said kindly, moving me along with his hands on my shoulders to guide me. "She's actually a bit sick."

"Whad'ya mean, sick?" called out someone from the group seated at the bar table.

"Oh you know..." Sir Gradral looked for some words to get us out of this tricky situation, then he looked down at me, catching my eye. "She just caught the flu. You all are aware how Amice is already in a very bad, so catching the flu from Rosa would be really bad for her health. I'll just go get her rested."

Most of his friends 'oh'd' and 'ah'd' as they gulped down Sir Gradral's made up excuses. "Rosa, you should probably go take a doze. But you, Simon," said one of his friends, downing a beer in one before saying, "we aren't letting you go back sober tonight."

"Yeah," joined another man. "We rarely see you after you got that guard job up at the palace. Didn't we all tell you not to apply? We knew it'd get too hectic for you."

"Rest assured, gentlemen," Sir Gradral said as he smiled and walked by his companions, guiding me along. "It is far from easy, I do agree. But it's good money and you know Amice needs it." All of their talk died down as they seemed to realize something. I wonder what Sir Gradral's wife could be dealing with? Well, it shouldn't concern me for it was not my place to prod about his personal life, but it did bother me so.

"Sure thing, Simon. We get it," they said. "Anyways, you go get Rosa to bed; she needs the rest."

Relieved, Sir Gradral and I moved along the wooden floor and through another door. Soon the buoyant chatters of the lively men were left far behind us.

"This way, Your Highness," Sir Gradral said just loud enough for me to hear. We were now in a different hall. At the end of the room was what appeared to be a counter and a single old man sat behind it, smoking.

"Simon," he said, perking up to see Sir Gradral approach him. "How long has it been? You rarely come here anymore. Well, how are you? How're your kids?"

"Grand, grand," Sir Gradral said, hinting that he wanted to dismiss this conversation. "Anyways Franke, old friend…I would like to book a room."

"Ah..." Franke exhaled a cloud of smoke. I tightened the cloak around my face because I hated the smell. This wasn't the type of cigarettes people smoked back in my world. This one just smelled straight up disgusting. "Pains me to say, Simon, but we're all booked for the night."

"What?"

"You heard me."

Well, it didn't sound that bad to me. I didn't actually think we might have to stay here more than an hour or so. I mean, how long would it take to fix a wheel? But clearly, Sir Gradral wasn't ready to let me sit down in public surrounded by other potentially-dangerous people.

"Can't you spare us a room? Not even a small one?"

Another puff of smoke. "You heard what I said, big guy."

Frustrated, Sir Gradral paced the floor. And I? I just stood there, by the counter like a helpless little girl who'd just had her plan backfired.

"Sir Grad- uh- Father," I chirped up, keeping my voice low and my face still hidden. "I'll be fine waiting here if you want to go check out another place." Lie. Of course I wasn't fine. What if this old, smoke sucking dude comes up and tries to conversate with me? Besides, we weren't alone in this room. There were almost 7 more people besides us. It looked to me like a living room and people were just sitting and drinking tea and having fun talking to each other. Some of them had even begun to notice us.

"Your High- Rosa," Sir Gradral said, sighing. "How could you be so rash again? You know how stressed I am already, taking you out like this? Now you plan to stay behind, alone? No absolute way."

I tried to say something again but shut up. I knew he was right, of course I did. It was just that I was so used to being left alone and doing reckless things that I didn't understand how it would affect people in a completely different environment.

Surrendering, I flopped down onto an upholstered sofa beside the wall, near the counter. I watched Sir Gradral as he paced the floor, stressing over the situation. Undeniably, I didn't get what he was fretting over so much. I mean, can't I wait here for a few minutes and then we could get going back? No?

"Simon, who's that?" Franke asked suddenly. Sir Gradral stopped in his tracks and I tightened the black cloak around me.

"Why, that's Rosa of course," Sir Gradral said nonchalantly. "Who else could it possibly be?" Sir Gradral was moving towards me now, his eyes transfixed on the old man.

"Simon, you imprudent fool," sighed the old man, leaving behind a puff of smoke. "That's the Princess, isn't she? Since when did Rosa have lilac hair? I'm pretty sure it has always been black since her birth. Oh, I remember how cute of a baby she was, with her tiny tuft of black hair on the front, very adorable. And how she always called me 'dada'. Well, whatever that means. Hope she's doing well now, bless her little soul," he muttered. "Anyways, Your Highness, what brings you here?"

For a second, Sir Gradral and I were left frozen. Our bodies frozen in position yet our thoughts racing, thinking about our next move.

"Listen to me, Franke," Sir Gradral said cautiously, in a low voice as he approached the old man's desk. "I don't know how you found out who she was, but if you dare raise your voice and let everyone know of Her Highness's presence...I'll have to use this sword on you, you see that?" He lifted his cape to unveil a long, covered sword tied to his waist.

Franke was left stunned. Even I was shocked by this side of Sir Gradral. I didn't know he had it in him. Then after a moment of silence, the old man burst out laughing.

"Look at you," he said, laughing as he wiped off a tear. "The nerve. How dare you threaten me like that? Me, your old man?" Again, this was said playfully. "How lowly must you think of me to have threatened me into keeping my mouth shut? I'm really disappointed in you, Simon."

"I-"

"Naw!" he stopped him. "You know I wouldn't disclose Her Highness's location, I would never! I know how seriously you take this job of yours, Simon. And besides, what would I have to gain by letting people know of this? It would just be a disaster. Sudden stampedes of dirty shoes and people coming in uninvited, not even paying a single coin for their stay. I prefer it quiet here, mind you." He let out a long exhale. "You know how much it takes to keep this place running. Once, people actually cared about my inn, but it's all about the friggin' duck now."

Sir Gradral stood there like a powerless child, taking in all of Franke's words.. And I just sat there listening, not realizing that I wasn't holding on to my hood anymore.