"He is so adorable!"
Shrae looked up at the feminine voice to see a very pretty young lady.
"Hi," she said with a big smile on her face. "My name is Mia and I'm supposed to show you your room."
Shrae smiled in relief while trying to get Reen to focus back on his bread instead of holding on to one of her loose locks of hair.
"Oh, good. I was afraid I'd have to find the room on my own."
Mia raised her eyebrows. "My, we couldn't have that! Oh, the tongue lashing I'd get from Bethberry if she even suspected the thought. Now, what could I get you right now?"
"I think I need to get Reen here to a nap first off. He's eaten enough to last him till dinner is served."
Shrae stood up and hefted the squirming boy onto her left hip. "Oh," she added as the thought came to her, "my name is Shrae and this little fellow goes by Reen."
Mia's smile got bigger as she bent down to look the baby in the face. "Well, hello Master Reen," she said as she wiggled one of his hands. He just stared at her with a quizical look on his face, then turned to Shrae as if wanting an explanation for the servers behavior. Both the ladies burst into laughter.
"Well, I did say he needed a nap," Shrae got out when her giggles had subsided.
"Here, this way," Mia said as she turned and led the way up a staircase located near the back of the Inn.
The room was indeed small with only a cot, crib and a tiny dressor filling up all the walls, leaving a small five foot area in the middle to turn around in.
"Whew, it's a little hot in here. Must be because of the kitchens," Mia said as she let out the window above the cot. "There, that should help a bit. Right, the food is included with the room so you can help yourself, and if you need anything just ask one of the servers or come find me."
"Thank you Mia," Shrae spoke to the departing back.
It was a tad stuffy in the room, but compared to the journey they had just completed the room was practically cool with the slight breeze flowing in from the window.
Laying Reen into the crib that eaily held his small frame, shrae quickly unburdened herself by tossing her bundle, carrying cloth and money onto the top of the dressor.
Reen was not happy about being in the strange bed and had stood up with the help of the side board. As Shrae turned to him he started crying. She just sat down on her cot and started to sing a soft melody that her mom had sung for her and Lowfel when they were children.
Reen had gotten to sleep by her side on the journey, but Shrae didn't want to keep it up; she'd seen children unable to sleep without their parents and she didn't want Reen to be so dependent later on in life.
As Reen continued his wails Shrae switched from one song to the next.
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