The innkeeper gazed out his window worriedly. The area had been put under martial law to quell any remaining resistance in the kingdom. He nervously returns to his station as he begins serving his patrons. But a slam of the door reveals a trio of soldiers, who wore chainmail and tabard, one of those foreign soldiers from the look of it. The other customers were intimidated by their presence. Not only by the fact that they were soldiers, but also their physique.
These foreign soldiers were much taller than the men of Thore. They had a very fit physique that boasted health and vigor. Their youthful faces indicated their young age and their dirty shave showed their ruggedness. It was clear that these men had their fair share of scraps. The men ignored them as the soldiers walked to the counter and sat there. The tallest one of the bunch spoke up.
"Keeper! Three mugs of your finest ale!" the soldier requested with a jolly voice.
The innkeeper timidly gets their drinks. While he does, he whistles at a girl, who approaches the soldiers sitting at the bar.
"Is there anything else you would like to get?"
"That depends, do you accept payment in shillings?" one of the soldiers asked.
The girl looks uncertainly at the innkeeper, who lips out.
"Say yes!"
The girl nods at the innkeeper and turns back to the soldiers.
"Yes, we will accept any form of payment."
"Ah, good." the soldier expressed in a satisfied tone. "I would like to get a small meal for my friends and I."
"Nonsense! You couldn't even pay the bartender in the last town!" the other soldier laughed.
"Bugger off! I just got my wage early!"
"Hahaha! Okay then! It's not like I would turn down a free meal anyway!"
The waitress was amused by the friendly banter between the soldiers. But she takes a look at them again. These were the men who fought valiantly against the Black Dogs and lived. The very men who drove them back to the dark pits they came from. They would be considered legendary. Their physique and looks certainly live up to their achievements. They very much reminded her of the heroic stories her father told her as a child. All of a sudden, these men suddenly became a lot more dreamy in her eyes.
"Say, is that innkeeper your father?" the black-haired soldier asked.
The girl nodded with a bit of a blush.
"Figures, you both have the same eyes." the black haired man observed with a nod.
"Anyway…" The waitress trailed off shyly while handing the menu to the soldiers. "What do you wish to order?"
The soldiers took a moment to examine the menu carefully. They were quite surprised with the wide array of choices that she offered.
"Bread and roasted fish for me." the blond man said.
"I'll have some bitter vegetables and marinated rabbit."
"I would like the boiled beef and carrots." the black haired man added in.
The waitress bowed and left them to get their orders. The men had their conversation while waiting for their meal.
"So Jaune, how goes the refugee guarding?" the blond man asked the black-haired man.
"Ah, they are still settling in." Jaune said while leaning back. "There were plenty of empty houses in this kingdom to accommodate a few thousand. The rest will have to stay in tents until we can build more residences."
"I heard that Ibrahim is opening a bar in his residence downtown."
"Really? We must visit there soon, the man knows how to make some good tonic."
"I'd like to try this land's cuisine also." the brown-haired man expressed.
"Why Jardin, I didn't think that you had refined tastes!"
"Smart-arse…"
The waitress returns with the food that the men ordered. The men made a Sign of the Cross as they muttered.
"In nomine Patre, et Filii, et Spiritui Sancti. Amen." they said in unison.
"Benedicat nos, Domine! et haec tua dona quae de tua largitate sumus sumpturi, per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. " Jaune recited as he closed his eyes while clasping his hands together.
(Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.)
The girl was curious about their prayer, as she never saw patrons practice such things in the inn. They usually gorged in right away. The language they recited sounded so graceful and eloquent, it made them look sophisticated. She worked up the courage to ask.
"What you muttered, what did it mean?"
"You are aware of our one true God? We are giving him thanks for this meal, because we are taking it from his bountiful creation to sustain ourselves."
"Oh, okay."
The men did the Sign of the Cross and ate their food. Their faces showed delight as they swallowed the food.
"Goodness, this meal is delightful!" Jaune expressed with a full mouth. "Who cooked this wonderful dish?"
"T-That would be me milord."
"Well, you are certainly a very good cook, any man would be lucky to have you as his wife."
The waitress blushed even deeper, as Jaune felt a slap on the back of his head. He glared at Jardin, who was also returning a glare at him.
"What did I do!?"
"May I remind you that we are in a different land and culture?"
Jaune glances at him, then at the waitress, then back at Jardin, before realizing his mistake.
"A thousand apologies to you milady! I did not mean to be so tactless!"
"It's okay…" the waitress said blushing, using the end of her apron to cover her red cheeks.
"It's normal for women your age to marry in our culture! That's why I didn't think it would be such a sensitive topic!"
"So that does that mean you're already married?" the waitress blurted out, before looking completely mortified from what she said and goes back to covering her blushing face.
"Er… No. I've never had a lass in my life."
"Only his mum!" Jardin quipped.
Jaune glared at Jardin, before noticing that the waitress still had a mortified look on her face.
"Don't look so abashed. I bet you'll look much better smiling!"
"Y-You really think so?" the girl asked, her blush deepening, but her face still covered.
"I'm sure of it!"
Before the conversation could be heard much longer, some commotion could be heard outside.
"HELP ME PLEASE!"
Jaune and his group were alarmed. The woman's voice sounded like one of the refugees as they left their unfinished meals to the front door.
"Wait! What about your—" the waitress called.
"Just pack it in for us! I left the money on the table." Jaune said before chugging his ale down. "Tell your father to keep the change!"
As soon as the three mercenaries composed themselves, they scrambled for the door. Though they were all outside, but Jaune peeks his head through the door.
"Say, what's your name?"
"Marin…" the waitress replied shyly.
"Well Marin, it was nice to meet you! I hope we get to meet again soon!"
"Come on Jaune!" Jardin shouted from outside.
"Okay, see you!" Jaune saluted as he went out.
Stunned at what happened, the waitress Marin takes a moment to walk to the back. From there, she uncovers her face, revealing a growing smile as she squeals.
"Kyaaah!"
Tonight was a good night for her, she finally got to talk to one of the soldiers who fought the Kuro Inu. Jaune was so charming and nice, he certainly made her night.
But sadly, the rest can't be said for Jaune and his companions as they see a few men attacking a veiled Arabic woman. They rush in to save her as the townsfolk peeked out to see the ongoing commotion.