Finding a money lender was difficult in the relatively modest town. Finding a few merchants among the various sellers upon the central road willing to give ludicrous sums of money for the golden trinkets and strange foreign coins they had accumulated. Of course they bought clothing first, eagerly provided by a traveling Ostlander merchant. He'd only been able to provide men's clothes, but it led them to both sport fine breeches and loose work-tops one could roll their sleeves up for. Their shoes were made well and sturdy as well. 

By the time they were done, they had a small fortune in gold schillings, and they only kept a few of the items to keep as reminders and souvenirs. The gold they had was placed in a special leather bag they had bought, zipped up and unlockable only with a key that had been provided for them. The man who sold it to them seemed a sullen, dark sort. But that only led Amal to think he really knew what he was selling, plus the thief could simply pick the lock to get in if it truly came down to it himself. 

Finally after an hour of bartering, the two weary travelers were pointed to the Great Oak Inn; a large three stories structure mastered by the Murmann family. It sported a huge imperial oak arbored to the front of the place, hence its name. Inside, Amal and Emmaline looked far less conspicuous, but Amal did stick out a bit for his skin tone, and Emmaline her beauty. 

"Dev Murmann, how can I help you." 

Amal hadn't known where to go, but at Emmaline's insistence he found the front desk, where a middle aged man, hairy on the arms, made it back from running some errand to speak to them. The booth he stood behind was well made with a display of charging horses carved just under the desk-top. Behind Amal and Emmaline, the common room was moderately full and with customers from all across the empire (at least it was evident to Emmaline). The town itself seemed a waystation for traveling merchants and people looking to flee the attentions of the Drakwald. 

"Hello yes er...I would like your largest room. With your very best wine and a two course dinner." 

Dev Murmann blinked, eyeing Amal and then glancing back at Emmaline. "You one of those southern merchants herr...?" 

"My hair is my busines-" 

Emmaline slapped her palm on the oaken desk. "Yes! Yes he is, and I am here to assist him! He's very rich and demands only the finest as you can well see." She slipped between Amal and he, clearing her throat. "We hear your wine is particularly good and he wishes your best bottle to taste. Only the best for Ali Baba!" 

"Yes, I am Ali Baba!" Amal said, crossing his arms to make his already impressive biceps larger. "I am very rich! And handsome too, just ask my assistant." 

Emmaline blushed furiously, and tried to laugh it off. "Yes, pardon him. How much would that be?" She pinched Amal when she saw his eyes focused on the ornate brass bracelet Dev had on his thick wrist. Amal cleared his throat, pounding his chest with his fist. "Oh and silk sheets with many pillows." 
[@Penny]