(Collab with [@BlackSam3091]) 

Fridolf declared that he would lead the way towards the Jolly Lion, and so the two riders got lost three seperate times on the way to the inn. He tried to convince Kieran that the detours were intentional, to help familiarise themselves with the new city, but he didn't think the young witcher bought it. 

Still, the sun was still high in the sky when he eventually stumbled upon the Central market, and it wasn't long after that they located the Jolly Lion inn, a large, multi-storied building of wood and stone construction. It looked like the kind of place that had been standing for as long as anyone alive could remember, and the gentle babble of early hour merrymaking (one of Fridolf's favourite kinds of merrymaking) emanating from the inn was a good sign that the place was a favourite with locals and visitors alike. As they got closer the smell of delicious roasting meats wafted out to greet them, Fridolf's belly growling in aching want. 

[COLOR=STEELBLUE]"Praise be, they've got dinner cooking! My stomach was starting to think that my throats been cut."[/COLOR] He said aloud, only part-joking. The anticipation of enjoying a meal that he didn't first have to pick from a bush was mouth-wateringly tantalizing. He half-slid and half-fell from the saddle in his usually graceless manner, narrowly dodging a bad-temperd nip from Flo in the process. The sergeant had told them that there was a livery at the back of the Jolly Lion that they could stable the horses in while staying in the city. Flo would be quite comfortable there for the night, but Fridolf felt he had suffered enough dealing with that bitch horse for one day. Kieran liked horses so much, let him deal with her.

[COLOR=STEELBLUE]"See to Flo, will you? I'll go in and get us settled."[/color] He tossed the reigns to the witcher and hurried inside before Kieran could voice an argument.

Kieran catched the reigns and opened his mouth to speak but the con artist had already gone. He chuckled and slid down from Storm, reaching over to stroke Flo calmly and retracting his hand before she could nip him as well. Kieran quickly looked around to see that nobody was watching and in the grey murk of the temporary respite from the storm, nobody was. He formed the Axii sign and Flo calmed instantly. 

He felt a bit bad about doing so, but she wouldn't suffer any side effects, and it would stop her from kicking some stableboy in the chest before she got settled in. The Witcher walked them both to the stable and paid the head groom for their feed, lodging, and care. The stableboy who came to attend the two horses got a generous tip, and the boy smiled, producing apples for both of the mounts before setting to work cleaning the gunk of travel off of them. 

Kieran stroked Storm's mane and his friend nuzzled him affectionately before the Witcher took his leave. It was refreshing to walk around and talk to people and have them think he was just like anyone else. In most cases, had his eyes been visible, the grooms would not have been no so friendly if they had even taken his coin at all. 

The young man whistled an old witcher's tune, a jaunty and cheerful song, as he made his way to the inn proper, he stepped inside and basked for a moment in the warmth, taking in the scent of good food and drink. It was a friendly, clean, homey kind of place and the atmosphere immediately lifted Kieran's spirits. He looked around for his friend to see what he was up to. 

Fridolf had a claimed a table near the fireplace, where a merry blaze was crackling away. The grifter waved the witcher over, thrusting a tankard of ale into his companions hand.

[color=steelblue]"Drink up pal, this round is on the good guardsmen of Telchar!"[/color] So saying he emptied his own ale in two,steady gulps. He wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt and called to a nearby barmaid, a buxom blonde wench of maybe twenty-one summers, for a second. [color=steelblue]"Ahhh, that hits the spot. Gods, it's good to be back in the lap of civilisation again, isn't it? Make yourself comfy mate, we got eats coming up, and the keepers getting us a room organised upstairs. We're sharing, unfortunatly, but beggars can't be choosers. You'll just have to put up with my snoring for couple more nights, but it's not like -"[/color] 

He looked like he might have kept on yapping, but was interrupted by the re-appearance of the serving girl who dropped two more tankards in front of the travellers, followed by two steaming bowls of beef stew, and a large loaf of crusty black bread. Fridolf smiled his thanks at the waitress, breathed deep of the delicious aromas wafting from his bowl, then got stuck in. The food was divine, though he barely took the time to taste it, so hungry that it was probably more accurate to say that he inhaled the meal. He was just mopping up the dregs of gravy at the bottom of his bowl when the waitress returned to let him know that his bath was ready.

"If you'd like to follow me, I'll take you to your room before the water gets cold." She stepped away from the table and waited for Fridolf to excuse himself.

[color=steelblue]"Righto Kieran, don't wait up"[/color] He pushed himself up from the table and leant into his companion, whispering into the witcher's ear so that the maid couldn't hear. [color=steelblue]"Have a few drinks and make yourself scarce, yeah? It's been a while since I [i]tamed the stange[/i], and I'm gonna chance my hand here. Don't need you stumbling in and interrupting me. I'll come get you when I'm finished." [/color] He slipped a couple of coins into Kieran's hand, enough to buy him a few more ales, and made to follow the maid upstairs. As he dissapeared up the stairway he could be hear entreating upon her to help him scrub his back.

[color=gold] "Have fun." [/color] 

Kieran could only chuckle to himself, shaking his head in mirth as he watched Fridolf walk off with the woman. He had barely drunk from his first tankard or taken a few spoonfuls of the savory stew before Fridolf had already been scampering upstairs and into the serving maid's skirt. He didn't mind in the slightest. His friend needed it. And Kieran didn't need much sleep either. If he took too long, he could just sleep in the barn next to Storm. It wouldn't have been the first time. But, Kieran himself had never been with a woman. Aye he had kissed a few farmer's daughters or serving girls. But he had never shared a woman's bed, or loved one. 

Kieran mused on that a while as he chewed his bread and stew and sipped his ale. He would never have a child of his own, that was for certain. And any woman he did love, he would most likely have to watch grow old and die while he lingered on. If he wasn't killed by a monster first, of course. He wasn't even sure if he was capable of love, with the way mutations had dampened his emotions. 

The good mood he had been in from the food, warmth, and drink started to sour. But he couldn't exactly head to bed at the moment. Kieran gritted his teeth in annoyance. He was a witcher. He wasn't supposed to worry about things like love. He was supposed to save lives. And if he didn't go after that missing girl in the morning, she would never have the chance to have children either. Kieran took his time with the rest of the food, and called for more ale. 

He may not be able to have children. But he could get drunk. 

[color=gold] "I'll have another round." [/color]