Lilla knocked on the inn door. It was late, and she was soaked. The inn door was opened by a grubby looking fellow. "Can I help you, miss?" he asked, irritably.
This was the hardest thing she had ever done. "I was wondering if you might have some... spare food and a dry place to sleep."
"I got both, if you got the money for it." She looked down, uncomfortably aware of how hot her face was. "But you haven't got it, have you?" She remained silent. "Well, I might could get something together, if you made it worth my while..." His voice trailed off, and he looked her over, leering suggestively.
Lilla slapped him. She had fallen on hard times. But not that hard. Never that hard. Even a beggar had her pride. In fact, at the moment, that was all she had.
The innkeep looked shocked, then outraged. He grabbed her arm and flung her away from the door. "You better just get the hell on your way, or I'll set the dog on you." He slammed the door as Lilla picked herself up.
She glared at the door, uttering incharitable things about the man's personal hygeine, his parentage, and his relationship with livestock. She made her way around the building, contemplating forcing a window and sneaking inside anyway. No. She could see lights in some places, and low voices drifted from behind the ill-fitting windows. She sighed, and headed for the stable. At least it was dry. She huddled near the wall, hoping that the stable hand would make enough noise to warn her. It was unlikely that she'd get any sleep, but then, she hadn't been sleeping well anyway. And if she couldn't sleep, she couldn't have nightmares. She'd been having nightmares with increasing frequency. She assumed that the nightmares were the result of all that had happened. It was to be expected, she supposed. But it didn't matter. As uncomfortable as she was, and as much as the prospect of nightmares didn't appeal to her, she still succumbed to exhaustion almost immediately.