51 Zhi Ruos athletic body (1/2)
The clapping sounds of the thunder bulls' hoofs on the cobbled road came to a halt at the inn, this area was the Rema district, the equivalent of the Verbena district in the Calabar province. Only a lot less affluent.
This was the business sector, pedestrians moved up and down and private carriages rattled, shook and bounced in and out of vision down the cobbled streets. The streets were lined with shops and restaurants on both sides. There was hustle and bustle but it was a lot less energetic than other places Hartley had been. It was if the residents were preparing for some kind of a storm.
The sun glinted off the stationary dark carriage which by now had a look of being used for many miles, the polished dark wood now had a thick layer of dust obscuring the intricate carved patterns on the side panels.
Hartley looked at it with a frown as Qin Li hopped down from his position, ”can we have this thing cleaned and polished?” Hartley asked Qin LI ”I don't know I'll see if the stable boys can do it.” Qin Li replied.
The flame haired beauty, Zhi Ruo joined them shortly after with a long sigh,
”I need a long warm bath, its been so long” she yearned, Hartley smiled and asked, ”can I join you? I feel so dirty” he gave her a cheekywink. She looked at Hartley with a stern blushing face and harrumphed to the sky.
The inn that they chose was a two story stone building grey in color. The outside of the building looked as weather beaten as a grape turning into a raisin, it had scratches, peel marks and discolored botches on the paintwork in abundance.
Qin Li called the stable boy over and gave him instructions, tipping the young boy with a silver coin, they boy's face brightened in delight as he gave a respectful bow from the waist and carried the dirty carriage towards the back of the inn.
A white haired shriveled old man looking older than god himself was sat behind the front counter at the inn, his skin sagged with endless wrinkles around his gaunt cheekbones as if there was no flesh between his skull and his skin.
His clear eyes brightened as he saw the trio approach the desk. He got to his feet.
”I'm glad to see there are still some nobles left” he said.
Harley had no idea what the man was talking about.
He asked ”are there rooms available?” ”yes, yes...ever since the the friction between the Hung clan and the Tiger mercenary guild,business has been stifled,” the talkative old man continued with a long sigh ”all this for control of those wretchedgold mines, blessings can really turn out to becurses,and the royal delegates will do nothing because their cut is the same no matter who is in control of the mines.” his face radiated a look of sadness, then he snapped back. ”Ah the second floor is empty, how many rooms would you like?”
In his heart Hartley rolled his eyes, wishing the man would just rent them the rooms without the unnecessary info dumping, if he gave the old man the chance he would probably start talking about the state of the province again..