"Boy!" A harsh and familiar female voice made Mika jump, and he turned to look toward the stable entrance. Audrey was standing there, glaring angrily at him.
Putting the muck rake down, he automatically scrambled over to see what she wanted, lowering his eyes as was appropriate for one of his much lower station. But even as he did that, Mika felt annoyed. He hadn't done anything wrong. This was the female warrior's way of treating everyone. "M'am?"
"I'm looking for a ma..." She broke off as her gaze travelled down to Mika's enormous endowment and a smirk twisted her lips. "A scrawny young guy who looks like he's never done real work in his life. Dark hair, tall, dressed like a fop. Came in with me yesterday. I haven't seen him since. You have any idea where he might be?"
"Who are you looking for?" Robin's gruff voice made Audrey turn around, hand on the hilt of her sword.
"The young man I arrived with last night. I expected him to be waiting for me this morning. We have more traveling to do." Audrey scowled. "And I am not carrying everything myself."
So, all she really wanted was him to be a pack mule again? Mika was lucky his own angry look went unnoticed by the warrior, though Robin gave him a warning look.
"Your traveling companion did not take a room in the Inn last night. I did offer him accommodations, but he must have chosen to sleep elsewhere. There is another, smaller Inn at the other side of the village." The Innkeeper shrugged. "No one meeting his description has been seen around here since before nightfall."
Mika had to admire Robin's careful wording. Nothing he said was a lie. Maybe Audrey sensed something was off, because she turned back suspiciously and stared at the two mules in the first stall. However, they were both bigger and darker than the animal Mika had become, and she moved on to inspect each stall.
Then he was struck by his own stupidity. Audrey was here looking or him! He only had to tell her who he was and what had happened, and she'd probably dispatch the Innkeeper and they'd be on their way.