The buildings to either side of her were made of wood and thatched with layers of straw. The windows were boarded up and not a sound could be heard from within, but smoke billowing out from the brick chimneys gave hope that the town was still inhabited; she had come to learn not all of the villages in Ustalav were.
"Can we have a bed tonight, Mistress."
Xella glanced over her shoulder at the ghoul following her. His hood was pulled high, and in the dying light no one saw the exposed bone on the left side of his face.
"There were beds in the last town, but I couldn't risk the Church of Pharasma finding you." Xella whispered back. "Now hush, love."
Xella knocked on the door of what looked like an inn. It was the only two story building she had seen and was built of brick and mortar. The roof was thatched in slate, she noticed.
The door opened to reveal a middle aged man. He glanced at Xella and the form behind her. "It's late," he croaked. "What do you want?"
Pulling back her hood Xella smiled at the man. "Do you have a room for myself and my manservant?"
"We don't take kindly to late visi---" he started to say.
"--Hubert, who's there? Is it those Darly boys again?" A woman's voice called from within. Hubert turned and yelled something back.
Xella used the distraction to recite the words to a charm spell.
"What a lovely inn you have, Hubert," Xella said, smiling sweetly. Hubert turned back around and smiled down at her as she continued, "My friend and I would be very grateful if you could spare a couple rooms."
"Sure, sure. Come on in. Beth has a stew prepared and the bread is cooling."
