The room inside was nice. Nicer than Jake had expected. Two beds. A window that looked out over the town's eastern quarter. A small table with chairs. Everything was clean and well-maintained in a way that said this was a good establishment that charged appropriate prices.
Ankerita closed the door behind them and locked it.
"We wait here for Maudlina," she said.
Jake sat down in one of the chairs because his legs had informed him that standing was no longer a service they were interested in providing. His ribs sent in their report. His chest sent in a different report about the place the cauldron had drained from. The system was quiet but present. Stabilized. Waiting.
He looked at Ankerita.
"How long do we wait?" he asked.
"As long as it takes," she said.
She sat in the other chair, and they waited.
The first hour passed in near silence.
