Vell sat down on a stool on the other side of the counter.
"We're very fortunate to have met such a generous man," he said to the innkeeper.
"Generous? Is that what you call it?"
"Certainly. A room, free of charge. I can hardly imagine a more generous offer."
For a moment, the man seemed uncertain whether he was being mocked. Then he grumbled something under his breath and turned away.
"After the rain, the fog, and now this, what could happen next? Will the whole city fall into a hole? Maybe I just need to repent more and try to get into the good graces of the gods," the innkeeper complained.
"About the weather," Vell continued. "I can only assume this isn't normal?"
The innkeeper gave him a look and furrowed his brow. "Does it look normal to you?"
"No, I suppose not."
"Then there's your answer."
"When did it start?"
The innkeeper leaned against the counter and let out another sigh. He seemed to have plenty of those to spare.
"A few weeks ago, more or less. It started with rain. Nothing too strange about that, of course, but it kept coming. Then it got worse. The winds grew stronger, and the rain started coming down so hard that some of the streets flooded. And now we have fog, thunder, and lightning striking wherever it pleases."
He glanced up at the damaged ceiling.
"Not that it was always this bad. If it had been, I would have closed the inn days ago."
"I see. And has anyone found a reason for it, or is it just bad luck? Maybe the seasons have changed rather abruptly?"
"If they have, nobody has told me. Coincidence, I say. Some reckon it's the gods. I don't know. I run an inn, not a temple."
He shook his head.
"Whatever the reason, it's bad for business. People don't travel when the roads are flooded, and the ones who do come here are more interested in finding shelter than spending money."
He looked at Vell with some curiosity.
"Why? Are you going to tell me you can fix the weather?"
"Me? What can I do about it?"
"Then why are you asking? I don't see what good knowing about it will do."
"Perhaps it won't do any good at all," Vell said. "But I'm curious."
The innkeeper grunted.
"Curiosity won't fix my roof."
Vell looked towards the opening where part of the roof had once been. The remaining beams were dark with moisture. He could hear the wind moving through the gaps.
He had seen many strange things over the years. Weather was hardly the strangest of them. But there was something peculiar about this.
Maybe he was just imagining it.
"Has anything else happened?" he asked. "Anything unusual, I mean. Aside from the weather."
The innkeeper frowned.
"Unusual? What do you mean?"
"I'm not sure. Could be anything. Just tell me if anything comes to mind. Strange noises, or creatures at night? Those are usually signs that something's wrong."
"Not that I know of. Though I don't spend much time wandering the streets these days. There's enough work here without going out looking for more." He paused, then added, "You might ask Meli's master. He's a scholar. Even if he doesn't know anything, he's bound to have a theory."
"Her master?" Vell asked, turning towards Meli.
"I think that's the only reason she cares so much about you- or rather, your little companion. It isn't just gratitude. Meli's been studying to become a wizard herself, haven't you?"