The outer bailey of Castle Cerwyn only covered a few acres. The permanent population wasn't large, numbering only a few hundred people.
Most were knights, squires, craftsmen, or others with some connection to House Cerwyn; very few common smallfolk lived there long-term.
Don Quixote walked on foot along a muddy path shrouded in the bone-chilling night, leading his stocky garron by the reins.
Lined up along the path were the only seven shops in Castle Cerwyn.
The Iron Axe Tavern, a granary, a leatherworker, a smithy, a carpenter's shop, a salt merchant, and Windsor's Lodge.
The granary, leatherworker, smithy, carpenter, and salt merchant were all directly managed by House Cerwyn.
The Iron Axe Tavern and Windsor's Lodge also had inextricable ties to the ruling family.
Originally, Castle Cerwyn was built purely as a military fortress and residence, with no commercial district planned inside the walls.
Trade in the surrounding area usually took place in designated markets on the outskirts of the castle at specific times.
However, Castle Cerwyn sat right next to the Kingsroad.
The Kingsroad was the main artery of Westeros, stretching nearly two thousand miles from Castle Black in the north to Storm's End in the south.
Moreover, Castle Cerwyn was situated along a tributary of the White Knife, allowing access to the main river and eventually White Harbor.
With convenient water and land routes, Castle Cerwyn became a hub not just for the surrounding villages, but also for travelers passing through for various reasons.
As foot traffic increased, the demand for essential services grew frequent.
Eventually, House Cerwyn designated a commercial zone in the outer bailey to satisfy the most vocal demands of the people.
---
Before long, Don Quixote stood with his horse at the entrance of Windsor's Lodge.
If the Iron Axe Tavern provided food and drink for the locals, Windsor's Lodge mainly provided accommodation for travelers.
Knock, knock, knock.
Don Quixote rapped on the door.
Soon, the heavy wooden door was pulled open.
A plump woman looked at Don Quixote with a face full of smiles:
"Ser Knight, what service do you require?"
Don Quixote: "Long-term lodging."
The plump woman replied:
"A spot in the common room is 10 copper stars. A private room is 30 copper stars. That covers one month."
The core currency system of Westeros, in descending order of value, consists of Gold Dragons, Silver Moons, Silver Stags, Copper Stars, Copper Pennies, and Copper Groats/Half-pennies.
The approximate exchange rate is:
1 Gold Dragon = 30 Silver Moons = 210 Silver Stags = 1,470 Copper Stars = 11,760 Copper Pennies.
(1 Silver Moon = 7 Silver Stags; 1 Silver Stag = 7 Copper Stars = 56 Copper Pennies; 1 Copper Star = 8 Copper Pennies.)
In some regions, smaller change like half-pennies was also used.
...A single room was about 1 copper star a day, or 8 pennies. That really wasn't cheap.
It was worth noting that some smallfolk might not even earn 10 copper pennies in a day.
A poor family of three might have monthly living expenses of around 300 copper pennies.
Don Quixote weighed it in his mind for a few seconds, then asked:
"Do you have anything for a longer term?"
"We do. Half a year or even a year. But that requires approval from the nobles of House Cerwyn before we can offer it to a guest," the plump woman smiled.
"By the way, if the guest needs us to look after their horse, there is an additional fee of 1 copper penny per day."
Don Quixote nodded and asked:
"Is it safe?"
Hearing this, Lady Ella raised an eyebrow, though she wasn't annoyed:
"Rest assured, guest. This is House Cerwyn's territory. No one is blind enough to touch a guest's horse here.
"Windsor's Lodge isn't one of those wild roadside inns. The Lord's guards patrol here every hour. It's very safe."
...The money was barely warm in his pocket, and now it was gone.
Don Quixote took out 5 silver stags and said:
"I'll stay for a month. And yes, look after my horse."
"Don't worry, Ser Knight. Windsor's Lodge will provide hay and clean water; we won't let your horse suffer."
The plump woman took the silver stags and beamed:
"Please come in, Ser Knight. Neil, go take care of the gentleman's horse."
Don Quixote handed the reins to a half-grown boy nearby and followed the plump woman into Windsor's Lodge.
The front hall was toasty warm from a roaring fire.
As soon as Don Quixote stepped inside, he felt his body temperature rising comfortably.
It was as if the freezing world behind him had instantly vanished.
The plump woman said as she walked:
"Ser Knight, I am Ella Finch. You can call me Ella."
Don Quixote, observing his surroundings, replied:
"Lady Ella, you can call me Don Quixote."
They walked slowly down a long inner corridor and soon arrived at a door.
Lady Ella pushed open the rough wooden door, handed a copper key to Don Quixote, and smiled:
"Rest for now, My Lord. If you get hungry, Windsor's Lodge offers some simple hot meals. The prices are quite reasonable."
Saying this, she took some copper stars and pennies from her pocket:
"My Lord, here is your change."
...What a tiny room.
Don Quixote scanned the narrow space, which was less than ten square meters, and couldn't help but ask:
"Lady Ella, do you have any larger rooms?"
Lady Ella shook her head and smiled:
"All the rooms at Windsor's Lodge are this size. The noble lords of House Cerwyn don't allow us to take up too much space."
"Fine."
Don Quixote took the coins Lady Ella handed him.
At this moment, Lady Ella pointed to a small pile of firewood on the floor to the left and said:
"This firewood is provided free of charge by Windsor's Lodge. If you get cold, feel free to burn it, but remember to crack a window.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Don Quixote thought for a moment and suddenly asked:
"Lady Ella, do you provide hot water? I plan to wash up."
Lady Ella smiled slightly:
"We provide a small amount of hot water for free. But if My Lord intends to take a full bath, you'll need to go to the bathhouse."
Don Quixote frowned:
"A public bathhouse?"
Seeing Don Quixote's expression, Lady Ella blinked and gave a mysterious smile:
"If My Lord dislikes public bathhouses, Windsor's Lodge has a private bath!
"It's just that the price might be a bit high."
Don Quixote raised an eyebrow:
"How high?"
Lady Ella smiled coyly:
"20 copper pennies a time."
...20 copper pennies was enough for the old Don Quixote to barely survive for three days.
Don Quixote felt a bit disgruntled:
"My Lady, that price isn't just high, it's ridiculous!
"You're ripping off your guests. Careful, or I'll report you!"
Lady Ella looked aggrieved:
"My Lord, you wrong us!
"A private bath means a tub full of hot, clean water. That isn't cheap!
"And..."
"And what?"
Don Quixote knew that achieving "bath freedom" in the North wasn't easy.
At least previously, he only bathed once a month.
Usually, it was just a simple wipe-down of hands and feet.
Firewood and clean water weren't cheap, at least not for the bottom-rung smallfolk.
Some people even bathed only once a year.
Lady Ella suddenly gave a charming smile:
"And there will be someone to serve My Lord while he bathes~"
...