Four hours later Hellrien lifted her face from a puddle of ale on the table. She had a headache, the nasty taste of a dozen pints of ale on her tongue and her purse was a few pieces of silver coins lighter. The tavern was emptying, and Miss Bulrush and a couple of waiters were lifting chairs on the tables, sweeping the floors, emptying half-drunk tankards and yawning.
As Hellrien stood up unsteadily she heard a door opening up on the balcony and saw Lily descending the stairs with Mr. Toadflax on her heels.
When she noticed Hellrien Lily flashed her a radiant smile. ”Well, have we been enjoying ourselves?”
”D’nno ’bout you, but I’ve been havin’ a (hiccup) bloody great time!” Hellrien responded, slurring.
”Leaving already?”
”Otterwise I’d be thrown out, shurly”, Hellrien said, throwing a glance at the waiters, who responded by grinning.
With a smile Lily grabbed Hellrien’s arm as if it was the most natural thing to do. Toadflax shambled after them. Stars were shining outside. Hellrien stopped to lean on the wall in the warm darkness.
”Mibbe your friend has had a (hiccup) rough night, eh?” she said. ”Mibbe you should let him go home and walk wit’ me a little bit, eh? I need some fresh air and company, and my home is not faraway.” Hellrien was feeling very clever and confident in her plan to… to do or make… whatever.
”Sure”, Lily said. ”Good night, Bill. We’ll see first thing in the morning.”
”Good night, Miss Lily, Miss Helen.”
Lily helped Hellrien up and half-supported, half-dragged her through the side alley towards the boarding house. Full moon hung on the southern horizon, and the sky was full of twinkling stars. The wind had calmed, as it always did at nights north of Bree, and Hellrien’s feet were dragging.
”Have you been looking around the town?” Lily asked, breaking the silence.
”F´r shure.”
”Found anything?”
”Well no, but…”
”What then?”
”I been in th’business too long to to come up wit’ (hiccup) anythin’ speshul”, Hellrien said. ”A calm tavern in a peaceful town is all right, but (hiccup) not a lot of money there. In Bree there was too much o’ ev’rythin’, but here it’s too quiet. Where’s th’middle ground?”
Lily said nothing to that. Hellrien wondered if it was safe to step into the slippery slope with her and press for more information. Before she could make up her mind, Lily asked:
”Is money everything there is for you then?”
”What else is there? I’m not old enough to want peace and quiet (hiccup) at any cost.”
”But a woman doesn’t need to spend her whole life in a tavern, selling herself. There are other things you can do to make ends meet.”
”F´r sure, but Trestlebridge is too quiet f’r any o’ that.”
”That depends on what kinds of things you’re talking about.”
Hellrien sighed. This kind of theater annoyed her. She would have rather grasped the woman by the shoulders and asked straight up: ”Tell me, what’s your relationship with Seyton Redweed?”
”Let’s talk about risky business then”, Hellrien suddenly said. ”The Bree Watch is too diligent, and there’re too much of them in Bree to make it worth the risk. Up here there are not enough opportunities.”
”Don’t be so quick to judge”, Lily said. ”You just got here, after all.”
How would you know? Hellrien thought.
The main road spread out before them as they reached the entrance to the alley. Two watchmen were guarding the stairs to the boarding house to their left.
”Thass’ where I live”, Hellrien said.
Lily helped Hellrien across the road.
”Are you sure you don’t want to spend the night at my cottage? It’s not very far, just down by the river.”
”Nnooo no, I… (hiccup) best be off now. Good night, miss Lily.”
”Good night, miss Helen.”
Lily’s tall, slender form was swallowed by the darkness and then she disappeared into the night. Hellrien stumbled towards the stairs.
