he replied. “Until then, I have arranged better accommodations for you. But mind that you do not try to leave. You will be killed on sight if you are seen wandering about without an escort.” He glanced down at the Mora fruit peeking out from the sack on the floor and grimaced. “Did you actually eat any of those?”
“They did,” said Ethan. “It was a bit too much for me to handle.”
In spite of himself, Birger smiled. “Foul tasting little things. Good for only two purposes. Bat food and troll repellant. Even the young ones won’t touch them.”
He turned to the door. “I’ll have proper food brought to you as soon as I can. If you die here, it will be by steel…not starvation. Now come. You’ll be housed in the building next door for now. There are beds and showers waiting.”
The dwarf opened the door and led them outside. The crowd was now all but gone. Only a few small groups remained, but the moment they caught sight of the humans their hostile whispering resumed.
The three story building alongside was made from a polished azure stone. It had superbly crafted windows and a small porch. Immediately inside was a staircase leading to the upper floors. To the right was a parlor featuring two sofas and an assortment of comfortable looking chairs. Unlike the prison, which had been lit by a single rajni stone fixed in the center of the ceiling, the room here had brass lamps hanging from silver chains in each corner. The red tile floor had a black rug in the center, while the walls were decorated with numerous paintings of dwarves and animals. Some of these were set in unfamiliar looking landscapes, with plants and trees that Ethan had never seen the like of before. On many of these artworks, the sky was filled with exploding stars, streaking comets, and three blood red moons.
Birger took them down a hallway just beside the stairs with three doors on the right. “These are your rooms,” he told them. “There’s a kitchen further down, as well as a bath and shower. I have no clothing that would fit you, so you’ll need to make do with what you have.”
Jonas bowed low. “I thank you, Birger. Your hospitality is most welcome.”
The dwarf sniffed. “Enjoy it while you can. King Halvar will not be easily convinced of your intentions.”
Jonas smiled. “I appreciate your kindness, regardless of what else happens.”
Birger frowned. “Be thankful that I am a great fool. If I had a brain in my head I would have left you to the Rakasa. As it stands, I am in nearly as much peril as you.”
“I swear that I’m not lying about who I am,” said Ethan. “Once the kings sees that, we’ll both be out of trouble.”
“Actually, the more I think about it, the more I hope you are lying. Because if you’re not…” Birger shook his head and heaved a sigh. “Well, it’s too late for that now. Keep to the ground floor…and do not leave this house under any circumstances.”
After he had gone, they each took a room. The beds were built for someone of dwarf height and the mattresses were rock hard, but it was still better than a cold floor. Other than a chest and dresser, there was little else furnishing the bedrooms. The kitchen was spacious though, with a sturdy dining table opposite a cast iron stove. Beyond that was the bathroom. Ethan was amazed at how similar it was to those back on Earth. The oval tub in the far corner was equipped with a brass shower head that came down from the ceiling. Two chains hung on either side to control the temperature of the water, and a valve at the head of the tub controlled the flow.
Markus seemed unusually pleased by the sight of this. In fact, Ethan could swear he saw tears forming in his friend’s eyes. “I haven’t seen a shower since I left England,” he explained. “Only the very rich can afford such luxuries in Lumnia.”
“Then you can go first,” said Ethan.
Markus smiled excitedly. “I will.” For a moment there was something uncharacteristically boyish about him.
Not long after they were clean and changed, a dwarf woman brought them a tray of fruits, together with bread and a pitcher of sweet smelling blue liquid. They thanked her, even though she did not so much as acknowledge their presence while in the house.