As Jenn reached the inn they'd stayed at the night before long after the sun went down, she couldn't help but blame her mouth for ruining the chance to spend the night in the palace. While she got the feeling that they were losing their chance to get the contract, she felt she could have come up with something that would have saved their chance. Yet, she had to mention about how she could treat the spotted plague, which in turn led to her challenging the chief healer on the fact that she could treat the plague.
While she had to head back to the settlement anyway, she still would have rather had spent the night at the palace rather than heading back to the inn before starting out on the trip back to the settlement.
She didn't complain about the need to return to the settlement as it would give her a chance to give her gift to her stand-ins, it was just that she'd rather not have to walk so much after the sun went down. At least with how tired she'd been when they'd gotten to the capital.
However, she also knew that what happened, happened. Which meant it would be pointless to try and go over what she could have done differently and the likelihood of everything happening as a result of those different actions. Meaning that it would be a better use of her time and energy to consider what could be done from this point onward rather than complaining to herself about how tired she was.
"So, didn't go well, huh?" the innkeeper remarked as they entered the busy common room of the inn. "Well, I'm sure there's other contracts young mercenaries such as yourselves can get."
Jenn was pretty sure she hadn't said anything to the innkeeper or her husband the night before, but she wouldn't be surprised if one of her guards revealed to someone what their purpose was for being in the capital. Not that she had thought of trying to keep it a secret. Though, she wished someone had given her a heads up about that purpose being revealed to at least to the innkeeper here, at least. Though, she wouldn't be surprised if it had been shared in a way that the general public would know what they were up to.
"Actually, we were sent to prove my claims to the chief healer," Jenn grumbled. "I'm sure we'll get the contract when we get back, but until I get what I need to prove my point, we're stuck finding our own place to stay."
"What kind of claim did you make? Usually the chief healer isn't the kind to get in a dispute from what I hear," the innkeeper replied, her usual jovial expression turning serious.
"She mentioned about how she's treated the spotted plague in the past and the chief healer seemed to take offense at that assertion," Yaelish answered before Jenn could think of an adequate response.
While it was the truth, Jenn had a feeling being straightforward about it would only create more of a buzz, which is exactly what happened when Yaelish finished speaking. The entire common room seemed to hear what Yaelish had said, despite the noise that was filling the room.
"I've heard rumors about that."
"You really know how to treat it?"
"You really are going to defy goddess?"
Jenn was only able to make out those statements among all that was said, and she wasn't sure if they'd be able to get any peace the rest of the night with this crowd.
Not that she knew of any other alternative location they'd be able to stay. Plus, even if they moved on to a different inn, Jenn wouldn't be surprised if the rumor of what her claim was would follow them. Which was why she hadn't wanted to be direct with what she had been planning on saying to the innkeeper, but like with other things, there wasn't anything she could do at this point. No matter how much she wanted to do something about it.
Jenn wished she didn't need to make a stance on this right then, but she didn't see any alternative. At least if she wanted to get somewhere she'd be able to sleep, that is.
"Alright, yes, I know of how to treat the spotted plague. What is needed for me to prove that claim is something I have to get from somewhere outside the city. So, once I return, I have a message from the queen to give to her guards at the gate who will escort me to the palace once I return," Jenn said, not caring anymore to hide anything. "I know this treatment works because I've used it on myself and others. Though, I'm not sure what goddess has to do with the plague, so I guess I will defy any goddess who would try to stop me."
While Jenn had hoped that she'd be able to get through the crowd at that point, she was surprised when the clamor started to get even louder around her. It was even to the point where she couldn't make out what anyone was saying with how much noise was being made.
Fortunately for her, her guards were quick to push their way to a table where Jenn was able to climb on to keep the crowd from crushing her while her guards kept the crowd from mobbing the table.
Jenn wasn't sure how long this would last, but she could already feel her eyelids getting heavy. She had originally thought about getting something to eat when they returned to the inn, but the longer this went on, she suspected that she'd care more for some sleep rather than something to eat eventually.
Jenn wasn't sure how long it took before the crowd started to calm down, which Jenn suspected was more from fatigue rather than enthusiasm dying out, but she felt herself start to relax when that started to happen. Some of the people were still calling out how she was 'defying goddess by daring to try and treat her divine punishment' or something. While she recalled hearing about it from the chief healer, she still wasn't sure what to make of that claim.
Jenn supposed that it was similar to various superstitions she'd heard about in the past where people believed various things that just weren't credible when looked at it through a scientific lens. Such as determining a person's guilt by if they would float in water or not. Which was what Jenn was associating the idea of an illness, or plague, being a method to show divine disfavor or whatever. As it didn't account for things that she even knew about through taking basic biology classes where it explained about concepts of bacteria and viruses.
Not that she blamed the people for thinking those things, as she just knew they weren't aware of such things and couldn't be blamed for lack of knowledge that wasn't available to them. Though, if they had the knowledge but refused to accept it, then she wouldn't be as understanding as she was right then.
When the crowd grew tired, they started dispersing themselves, with only a few needing the innkeepers bouncers to get them moving on their way before Jenn felt safe enough to climb down from the table she'd taken refuge on.
"I've never seen a crowd get so out of hand like that," the innkeeper remarked as she came over, with a tray full of bowls of stew. "Here's my apology for not taking action sooner."
Jenn gratefully accepted the free stew. While she didn't blame the innkeeper for what happened, she wasn't going to refuse free food when she was already hungry and had hardly had anything to eat all day. Besides, she knew who was responsible and she planned on talking with her in depth once they were on the road and away from the crowds so they couldn't mob her again.
"Do you still not have any rooms?" Jenn asked in between bites of the stew.
"No, one opened up, but it'd be cramped if all of you were in there, which I suppose might be better if you did take the room. As I think if even one of you is seen out here, I'll probably have an even larger crowd to deal with in the morning."
Jenn could appreciate the caution the innkeeper was taking and while she wasn't looking forward to a cramped night, she knew she'd had to deal with worse situations to be in since she left Earth.
"Thanks, we'll take you up on the offer," Jenn said before any of her guards could say anything. "Though, tell us how much the room costs. We wouldn't want to make you lose that amount as well as however much this stew cost you."
"I assure you, I'll be fine," the innkeeper assured Jenn. "If a room isn't rented by now, it typically remains empty until the next day. Especially with how the guards keep the gates closed all night. Now, if this inn was outside the gate, then maybe I could get a visitor or two who might want a private room in the night but in the city, I don't have to fear that happening."
While Jenn couldn't say that she really agreed with the innkeeper's statement, she was too tired to argue. Plus, a free room would probably help them out with their budget since she doubted she'd be able to get her advisors to approve more money for this endeavor. As she suspected that they were of the opinion that they'd be staying in the palace anyway.
Although, she supposed she might be able to get some funds if she took the point that it would be good to have a place to move the queen if they felt the palace was unsafe, as Jenn recalled hearing all sorts of stories from medieval times in regards to betrayal by people who the betrayed trusted and had a feeling the reason the royal guard all became mysteriously ill or whatever probably wasn't a coincidence. Not that she had any evidence to point to that, it just felt like it made the most sense.
"Jenn? Are you feeling alright?" Yaelish asked, pulling Jenn out of her thoughts.
"Yeah. Why?" Jenn asked, a little uneasy to find how each of her guards were scrutinizing her closely.
"You just look almost… I don't know, angry?" one of her other guards said, looking like she was afraid of what Jenn's reaction would be for saying that.
Jenn sighed. She had hoped that her guards would have learned by now that she wasn't going to lash out at them for voicing their thoughts or opinions, but she supposed it was too much to hope for in a society that hadn't yet taken any steps towards being able to have freedom of speech. Which was something that she hoped the children of her people would be able to learn as they grew up, though she suspected that some of their parent's influence on watching what they say would still be instilled in them, if only because it was likely a process and not something that happened overnight just because Jenn wanted it to.
However, it never hurt to try and reinforce their opinions of being able to speak freely. Plus, she felt like she still should come up with an answer anyway. As she had a feeling if she didn't, that it would only reinforce the wrong impressions of speaking openly to Jenn.
"Don't worry about what you think I'll do if I don't like what you have to say," Jenn said, not sure how to address the suspicion of her being 'angry'. "I'd rather all of you feel free to express what you're thinking. Although, there is a time and place for what you're thinking, but at times like this, when we're not dealing with others, on duty, or keeping an eye out for anything, I don't care what you say about me or anything."
Jenn looked at her guards to see if her words were sinking in, but it was clear with their dubious expressions that they weren't quite convinced.
Not that she was surprised about that. She actually would have been more surprised if she'd managed to make noticeable progress on that front.
_
Four days later, Jenn stepped through the gate and was surprised at how it felt to her like she'd just returned home. It didn't make any sense to her, with how short of a time she'd spent here, but somehow it had become 'home' to her.
Behind her followed her guards, each looking like they were relieved to be here as well. Much more than when they'd arrived at the capital or any other city. Which made Jenn wonder if she wasn't the only one who'd started thinking of this place as home.
Though, rather than letting her guards go their own way and take it easy, she had them accompany her to the central building. Mostly because she wanted to spend as little time here as possible, especially given how it was still early morning, and she'd like to get back to the capital as quickly as possible.
While she could have picked up a mushroom already, she knew that they worked best when they were fresh and so wanted to make sure that when she picked one, it'd be the freshest it could be. Even though she wasn't quite sure if it worked exactly that way or not.
All she could be certain of was that it would be something else for her to keep an eye one while she took care of this. Which she really didn't want to deal with. Not when she was already rather tired and just wanted to get back to the capital so she could be done with this whole ordeal.
Part of her wondered if her friends would still be there, for whatever reason, but she was pretty sure that they'd moved on by this point. Mostly because she doubted that they'd wanted to stay at the settlement for as long as they had with the quarantine and Amelia treating her people.
It didn't take long, as far as Jenn was concerned, for them to reach the central building, where Jenn walked right in, not caring what might be going on as she did so. Though, she doubted that there'd be anyone in there at this time, since it was still early in the day. Or at least aside from the guards stationed at the top of the stairs to guard her stand-ins.
So, rather than waiting for anyone to appear for her to either send to collect her advisors or anything, Jenn immediately started up the stairs, ready to give her gifts to her stand-ins when she was sopped by Tchisa entering the building while she was only halfway up the stairs.
Jenn looked at Tchisa as she walked in, feeling torn between taking care of business here so they'd be able to continue on as quickly as possible versus giving her gifts to her stand-ins and seeing their surprise. While she knew that she'd be able to get both things done while she was here, she wasn't sure which she wanted to get done more.
Such as with Tchisa, she knew that it'd take time to get everything sorted out, all those who had agreed to go guard the queen to arrive, as well as the supplies for the trip to the capital. Though, while she'd be able to give her gifts to her stand-ins during that period, Jenn didn't want to wait for however long it'd take to discuss the details with her about what they'd need and everything.
Yet, she knew she needed to make a decision quickly or the decision would be taken out of her hands and she'd likely have to deal with Tchisa first. Which, as she thought about that, she realized it would be the most efficient use of her time. Especially since she wanted to also get back on the road as quickly as possible. Though, since she didn't know what kind of condition all the volunteers might be in, she supposed that it was possible that they might be waiting for at least a portion of the day for at least some of them to recover enough to travel.
Not that Jenn suspected that would be the case for the most part. As she was certain Tchisa would have already taken that into account. As Tchisa did seem like she understood who'd be able to withstand certain stresses that Jenn doubted she'd likely recognize herself.
So, Jenn slowly started going back down the stairs, wondering if it was coincidence that Tchisa arrived at that time and had been on her way to this building in the first place or if she had seen them arrive and started towards the central building then.
Regardless, Tchisa was there now and Jenn could at least start getting the ball rolling on gathering those who would be accompanying her to help guard the queen.
"Well, I don't exactly have the contract, but I'm confident I'll be able to get it once I demonstrate treating the spotted plague," Jenn said as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Hold on, you know how to treat the plague?" Tchisa asked, looking at Jenn like she'd said that she was revealing herself to be the Blue Rose.
"Uh, yeah, I mentioned that I was friends with Amelia in the dream conference, right? Well, I was the one who showed her how to treat the plague. I found out about it when we all had the plague ourselves. So, I guess it's more along the lines of coming up with a solution when we were in the middle of the problem ourselves… or something like that."