Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign - By Phillip Jones Page 0,56

was all I could do. They knocked me to the ground and then ran off. They didn’t even take anything.”

The woman leaned over the counter. “Were you hurt?”

George reached for his lower back and winced, thinking, Let’s see what I can get out of this chick. Maybe she’ll feel sorry for me. “I wasn’t hurt that badly, but I’m still a bit shaken. My back aches, and if it’s okay with you, I’d like to get a room for the night. Oh, and if you have some food and water, I’d be much obliged.” He winced again and then groaned for effect.

As he had hoped, the woman was eager to help. She flipped through the logbook. “Let me see what I have available.” After a moment or two, she frowned. “Drat ... I’m afraid the only room I have isn’t the best one we offer. The bed is dreadful, and it isn’t worth the coin if you ask me.” She rolled her eyes and nodded in the direction of a woman who was standing on the far side of the room at the end of a bar surrounded by patrons. “That’s my mother. She’s the owner of this establishment. She’s also the one who is too cheap to replace the bed.”

George chuckled as he studied the decor of the room. Welcome to the wild, wild west, Georgie-boy, he thought. A moment later, her turned to face the registrar. “Your mother looks like a nice lady. We should give her the benefit of the doubt, don’t you think? I’m sure she does everything she can to make sure everyone’s stay is enjoyable.”

The woman reached down and closed her logbook. “My mother would like you. I’ll tell her you spoke up for her.”

“You do that.” George tapped the top of the counter. “How about that bed? I need to get some rest. I’ll make do with whatever you’ve got.” George grabbed his back, winced again and then groaned as he pulled his backpack off his shoulder. “How much do I owe you?”

“Oh, honey, don’t you worry about that. That room isn’t worth it. Like I said, the bed is dreadful. How about I make up for it and have some food brought up to you? I could even have some hot water brought up so you could soak that back of yours in.”

“That’s very kind of you,” the manipulator responded. “You don’t have to do that.” George was pleased as he put the final touches on his deception. “I don’t mind paying.”

“Nonsense, honey. What would you like to eat? We have boar on the menu, hunted locally, and if you have more exotic taste, sea turtles from the Ocean of Utopia.”

The liar’s stomach did not like the idea of either, but figured he would try the boar since it sounded like the lesser of two culinary evils. “I’ll try the boar, I suppose. Do you have any bread you could add to it?”

“Of course, honey,” she smiled. “You head on up, and I’ll bring it to you as soon as it’s prepared.”

“Thank you. You’re a lifesaver.” With that, George took the key to his room, paid three Helmep for the food and turned to head up the stairs.

“Oh, and one more thing, honey,” the lady said with a big smile. “My name is Athena.”

“Nice to meet you, Athena.”

“Perhaps you can tell me what a ‘lifesaver’ is when I bring up your food. It sounds like a good thing.”

“I’ll do just that,” George responded. “Thank you.” He climbed up two of the steps, stopped and turned to face Athena. “Oh, and I think you know you look great in that dress.” He winked.

A smile stretched across Athena’s face as she responded. “Get out of here, silly.”

As George headed up the stairs, he congratulated himself on a nice deception. As he turned the key and opened the door, he thought about how he had liked Athena’s soft hair and her natural beauty. Something about her had captured his fancy, but he could not pinpoint what it was. It was not like she was drop dead gorgeous or anything.

Tossing his backpack on the bed, he continued to ponder. Other than what Athena had already done for him, there was no need to manipulate her further. He would be nice when she brought up his meal and not try to take advantage of her. He would only see if he could steal a kiss and send her away smiling.

Sitting on the side of the bed, he