Page 41 of Fire in Stone

The woman wore boots, long pants, and a thick sweater under a waterproofed jacket. Her gray hair was tied back into a knot. She eyed my short skirt, then Elex’s bare feet. I dreaded to guess what she might be thinking about us.

“We’d like accommodation for the night, please.” Elex beamed at her.

“What kind of accommodation?” She set down the bucket filled with rocks.

At least, we didn’t frighten her enough for her to throw those rocks at our heads. Despite her advanced age, the woman certainly looked capable of defending herself.

“We were wondering if you could recommend an inn or a bed-and-breakfast in the area?” I explained quickly. “Just for one night.”

“An inn? Here?” She gaped at me as if I’d requested she’d call a limo.

The woman didn’t seem overly friendly, but I hoped appearances were deceiving in her case. After she’d realized we weren’t from around here, she promptly switched from the local dialect to the version of English I could understand much easier. That was very considerate of her and a good sign. I held on to that shred of optimism.

Elex stepped forward, speaking slowly and pronouncing every word especially clearly, as if doubting the woman’s comprehension abilities, “Would you kindly point us in the direction of a lodge, good woman? A tavern? A guest house? A—”

“How did you get here?” she interrupted him, not looking impressed by either or us.

“We came by plane,” Elex blurted out. He gave me one of his blinding smiles, clearly proud of himself for remembering the mode of transportation used in this world.

“What plane?” Her frown deepened with suspicion. “There’re no planes here. We have a boat come to the island twice a week. The next one will come tomorrow if the weather holds.”

“He meant asmallplane. Averysmall one.” I jumped in, trying to salvage the situation. Elex clearly had no idea about everything that air travel entailed in this world. One could safely assume there was no airport on this tiny island. “We’re with an expedition.”

“What expedition?”

“We’re biologists. Here to study…” I glanced at the flocks of screeching seagulls fighting over something they found in the surf. “…birds. We’re…” I strained my brain, trying to remember the word I’d heard once or twice in my life. “Orni…thologists. We’re ornithologists, scientists who study birds.”

“Birds?” She looked over her shoulder at the seagulls. “What’s there to study?” She shrugged, shaking her head. “City people,” she muttered under her breath like a curse. “There are no inns here, no hotels. Folks don’t come here unless they live here.”

My heart sank with disappointment. I rubbed my arms, trying to warm them up.

“In that case…” Elex took another step forward. I reached for his arm, afraid of what else he might say, but failed to stop him. “In that case, my lady, it would be exceptionally noble and generous of you to share your dwelling with two weary travelers.” He bowed gracefully to the woman, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips. “Just for one night. We’ll be gone at sunrise.”

The woman blinked at him, holding her hand in front of her even after he let go of it.

“Where on earth did you come from, lad?” she muttered finally.

He tilted his head, never dimming his smile. “From far away, my lady. The journey was perilous and taxing. We are in dire need of some rest.”

“Ha!” She slapped her thigh with a laugh, shaking her head. “Aren’t you something?”

Now they both were laughing, like two good friends sharing a joke. I moved my eyes from Elex to the woman, then back again, unsure if I should join them in their merriment.

The woman gave us another long, assessing look, but it was a much friendlier one this time.

“Is it just the two of you?”

I nodded, my teeth snapping from the cold with the movement.

“We’ll pay.” I pulled my wallet out from the kangaroo pocket of my hoodie. Our travel expenses had been low so far. I certainly could afford to pay her for the accommodation. “Euros or dollars?”

“I have no use for either.” She made a face, moving her penetrating stare from me to Elex. “Are you two married?”

Something in her voice told me that “yes” would be the only acceptable answer to that question.

I nodded again, avoiding looking at Elex.

Her stare shifted to the ruby salamander on my left ring finger. Its placement appeared to satisfy her.

---