Koe's eyes moved to the portraits that hung above the fireplace. There were two of them. One of Mirram, and one of a man - dressed much as the knight was, in plate armor that clothed his person, with a hard set in his eyes but kind folds in his face. An older fellow, older than Mirram, but certainly not so old as Horon. Maybe a student of his? His footsteps were not apparent. Horon said that no one defended the street but him. So whoever this fellow was he was gone. Away in a war, somewhere? Or perhaps deceased? He would not ask. Koe directed his gaze back to Mirram with a friendly smile. She had noticed him taking in those portraits, apparently, and she was none too pleased with this development. Yet she had not taken down the portraits. It was not that the portrait was being studied, then. It was that Koe had studied the portrait. She was suspicious of them but did not want to be.
He supposed he could understand that.
"I couldn't agree more, Lady Mirram," Koe said as warmly as he could.
"Just Mirram," he gave both of them irritable looks. "Would you like something to drink, Lady Bard, Master... Apprentice?"
Koe's smile grew wider, but not mocking. "Thank you. The mulled wine smells delicious."
The look she gave him was odd as she began to disappear into the rear of the inn, through a side door that he had not noticed. Koe shifted his boots to break the sudden silent monotony. How loud could they speak without being overheard? Something about this was all very strange. And he did not think that it was related. Did he? As soon as he assured himself that he did not, he began to speculate. How would dragons figure in to all of this? Had they stumbled onto the one city that knew nothing of the rampaging beasts but had encountered some other trouble? It seemed impossible, but he had seen many impossible things in his life. Koe was even responsible for some of them. It was not out of the realm of possibility that this small village was connected somehow.
"There was a master of the house," Koe tilted his head sideways, toward the portrait. "But I don't think he is still here. That could account for her paranoia."
The rose had been deposited on the common room's only table, he saw. Mirram had quick hands to accomplish that without giving a sign. Koe smiled at the sight of it.
"She seems a nice girl, but she knows something that she cannot tell. Don't you agree?"