The room they had claimed for themselves turned out to be as fine as the innkeeper had promised. Heavy curtains kept the chill away, a great feather-stuffed bed sprawled across the center, and a small table held a tray of dried fruits and bread. Yet none of these comforts mattered as much as the laughter that filled the chamber when Lucas and the three women collapsed onto the bed together. The drink still warmed their blood, and though exhaustion tugged at them, they lingered in soft conversation until sleep claimed them all, tangled together beneath the same quilt.
When dawn broke, faint golden light filtered through the curtains and stirred them awake. One by one they roused, stretching and murmuring. Nyx was the first to rise, padding across the floor with graceful steps to find the basin of water prepared the night before. She leaned over it, splashing cool water on her face before glancing back. "Up, the three of you. We look like vagabonds if we linger in bed all morning."
