"I'm Meli, to my friends, anyway," the woman said, introducing herself.
"I am Blackbird Sonder," Sonder replied.
"Blackbird? That's a strange name. And your companion?"
"Me? I'm just plain ol' Vell," he answered for himself.
"Well, Sonder, Vell, follow me. And thank you again. I don't think I'll forget you anytime soon."
Meli led them towards the inn, carefully stepping around the broken stones scattered across the wet road.
Sonder and Vell followed her, and Vell felt rather pleased with how things had turned out.
They might have a place to sleep for a few days without having to pay for it.
It was a good beginning.
Then another rumble rolled across the sky.
Sonder glanced upwards. Vell did the same.
"I hope," he said, "that the roof of our room will be a little sturdier than the church tower."
Sonder hoped so, too.
"Lightning never strikes the same place twice, so I wouldn't worry," Meli said carelessly.
They entered the damaged inn. It was warm inside, but a draft blew through the holes in the roof.
A few people were gathered by the fireplace, peering upwards, while several others were clearing away the debris.
The inn itself was not especially large, but it looked comfortable enough. There were several tables, a long counter, and a staircase leading to the upper floor, though more than one step was broken, with chunks of stone lying on them.
"Mind your heads!" someone shouted.
"Is the roof going to cave in?" someone else asked.
"No, no. The roof'll hold. Most likely, it'll just be another bit of the tower falling."
The man reassuring them had broad shoulders, a thick beard, and a face that had turned quite red.
His sleeves were rolled up, and his clothes were covered in stains and patches of dust.
He stood alone behind the counter, his head lowered as he muttered to himself.
"What in the blazes am I supposed to do? Just look at the place. A roof full of holes, half the front covered in rubble, and when it rains, the water'll go where it pleases."
He took a breath, but it did little to calm him.
He looked towards the entrance, where distant thunder could still be heard.
Meli cleared her throat. The innkeeper turned towards her.
"You saw what happened outside?" Meli asked.
"What happened outside? I know what happened. I heard the crash and ran out to find half the church tower scattered across the road, and the other half falling onto my inn."
"Yeah, but there were people standing right where the stones fell."
"And?"
"And this girl saved them."
The innkeeper's eyes shifted to Sonder, who had been standing quietly beside them.
"She did what?" He sighed. "How about you help clean up instead of telling me your fantasies?"
"I'm not lying. The stones fell, but not a single person was hurt. She's a magician, I'm telling you."
"If she's one, why couldn't she have saved my roof as well?"
"I don't think she had time to." Meli waved a hand. "But anyway, she really can do magic. I saw it, and so did the people outside. I'm not making things up here."
The innkeeper sighed again. "If you're really serious, then I'll believe you. I know you're interested in such things."
He turned to Sonder. "I suppose I ought to thank you. If those stones had landed on the people outside, we'd be carrying bodies away instead of sweeping up rubble. So, thank you."
He sounded as though the words had cost him something.
Sonder inclined her head. "It was nothing."
Meli glanced at Sonder, then at Vell. She hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"There's something else."
"Oh, what now?"
"These two are travelers. They have nowhere to stay, and they don't have much money. I was wondering if you might spare them a room for a few days, free of charge, as thanks for saving those people."
The innkeeper stared at her.
Then he stared at Sonder and Vell.
Then he looked up at the damaged ceiling.
"Free?" he repeated.
Meli's shoulders drew in slightly.
"Just for a few days. Until the repairs are done."
"Free," he said again, as though the word had personally offended him. "My roof is broken, my inn is going to be closed, and now I'm supposed to give away rooms?"
"I thought it would be a kind thing to do."
"A kind thing!" He threw his hands into the air. "Of course it would be a kind thing. Everyone wants a kind thing from me when something goes wrong!"
Vell watched him with mild interest.
He had met people like this before. They complained loudly when faced with trouble, and sometimes they complained even when things went well. It didn't necessarily mean they were unkind.
The innkeeper rubbed his face.
"Fine. Fine!" He threw up his hands. "A room. For a few days. They can stay until the repairs are done, and I can open up again."
Meli brightened. "Thank you."