The three of them walked around to the side of the stairway as Jacob and Eric each eyed it suspiciously. It looked light and flimsy. “It’s retractable in case of attack,” Jade said in a weak, tired voice. “Yes, I know what you two are thinking. The attackers would just climb the tree or find some other way up. It’s not humans they are worried about.” Jacob and Eric glanced at each other, wondering exactly what that meant. Jade rolled her eyes at both of them. “Many of the threats that roam these parts are certainly dangerous, but not very smart. This method has kept them safe for a long time.” She let out a long sigh as her expression tuned to one of sadness. “You two really know nothing of the world, do you?”
With that, on unsteady legs she began her assent. There was a thin rail on both sides, so it posed no problem. The inn, called “The Acorn,” was truly enormous once they got a good look at it. It seemed surprising a tree could hold something that big, no matter how strong it was. At the top was a thick wooden door with an ornamental knocker in the shape of a hog’s face. The scent of pipe smoke and cooking hit them before they opened the door.
Jade went in first, not bothering to knock, while the other two followed. The place certainly had a festive feel to it. A man wearing a green suit with matching hat and brown boots sat in the corner as he played a lively tune on his fiddle. He stomped his feet as he played while everyone around the room clapped along.
Two couples were dancing while being heavily encouraged by all the loud folk at the bar, who had clearly been drinking for a long time. They whistled and clapped at them as the couples spun in tight circles around the white-walled room. The art hanging on the walls was rather odd. Oil paintings of carnivals and men wearing face paint and fake colored wigs made the place seem more like a playroom for children than an inn.
Jade hobbled straight over to the tall, balding man behind the bar. “I would like a room for the night. Do you have one with three beds?” she asked in a voice that was barely even a whisper.
The thin man seemed more occupied with washing the mug he was holding than listening to anything she had to say. He finally responded in a surprisingly shrill voice for a man his size, “We have a couple of rooms left with two beds only, but I can have an extra blanket and pillow sent in if you want.” He kept wiping the same sparkling glass over and over, as if there were some kind of stubborn spot he couldn’t remove. He held it up in the air to get a good look before continuing to labor over it.
“Yes, that will be fine. Thank you. I would also like whatever tonight’s special is sent to the room, as well as whatever those two...gentlemen...would like.” She gestured toward the boys, who were gazing around the room as if they were lost. She just shook her head and threw a few coins onto the surprisingly clean bar.
It seemed as if the barman had finally removed the invisible spot and set the mug down. After collecting the coins with both hands, he gave a little salute. “No problem, little lady. You go on now and I’ll make sure those two know where you went.” Jade gave a very weak nod in reply as she took the key he handed her and slowly walked off toward the room. There were no stairs leading to an upper level, so Jade just assumed all the sleeping rooms must be down the hall.
The two boys took a table in the corner, since oddly enough there were no booths. In fact, there were only a handful of tables, but it made no difference, since the only two couples in this room were dancing and everyone else was at the bar. A waitress with a tight green dress and gaudy pearl necklace marched over to their table. She had her red hair tied up in a bun and was holding a black tray balanced on one hand, while the other was strapped across her flat stomach.
“Hi boys,” she said with a wink. “Your friend already went to your room, so I guess it’s just us tonight.” She bobbed her head back and forth as she spoke, smiling widely. “She also paid for your food. Pork roast is the main dish tonight. Shall I bring two?”
The two gave each other an awkward glance. They weren’t really in the mood for this right now. Eric finally spoke up. “Yes, that will be fine. Thank you.” The waitress winked one last time, flashing all her teeth like a piranha and strutting away in her tight dress and black high heels. They weren’t acting funny because of anything she did, they just wanted to be left alone for now. As soon as she was out of sight, Eric slammed his hand on the table in front of Jacob. “Tell me what happened after I left! Is Henry still alive? Does Bryer even exist anymore? Tell me everything.”