The Asterian Dream

II: Leaving and Wandering

"Conrad! Where are you? Customers needs service."

Conrad groaned in frustration and dragged himself out of bed. "How about you tell the customer to wait a damn minute while their chamber isn't even ready."

He quickly threw on some clothes and put on a rather ornate-looking robe. He then exited the room to see his boss, who didn't look happy.

"Always sleeping in with you isn't it?" the boss said. "Oh well, customer's out front. You'd better not mess this up, this is a very important guest."

Conrad went into one of the rooms of the bathhouse. He made sure the temperature of the tub was correct and the salts were all mixed in properly. He then went out to the front of the house. Standing there waiting for him was a finely dressed man.

The man appeared disgusted and turned to another one of the workers. "Really? A draugh? I demand to speak to the owner of this establishment. I can't trust one of these creatures to help me."

"I'm only going to escort you to your room, sir. Your needs will be taken care of by a specialist." Conrad said to the man.

The man looked annoyed but turned back to him. "Very well then. Take me to my chamber."

Conrad led the man through the many halls of the bathhouse until he arrived at the chamber that was prepared.

"Here it is sir. Please make yourself comfortable, someone will be here to assist you momentarily."

The man didn't say anything back. He merely shooed Conrad out of the room. Once the door was closed, Conrad's expression changed from faked friendliness to frustration. He then went to one of the back rooms of the bathhouse.

He entered the door to see many of the other workers either busy cleaning or just relaxing. "Hey, are any of you available to take care of a male customer in number thirty-two?"

One of the women stood up. "Aye, I can. Musty one?"

He sighed. "Yes, very. Give me a heads up if he's causing you trouble."

"Got it," the woman replied. "Hour service as usual?"

"Yes."

"Alright then, I'm off to take care of yet another old man whose wife left him." The rest of the workers in the room laughed at that statement.

Conrad chuckled as well. "Good one Maria. Still got your sense of humor after all." He then left the room and went to his small bedroom.

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It was late that evening. People were beginning to return to their homes after the day's business, as well as head to the local taverns and inns for some good times with friends. Amidst all this commotion, a figure could be seen moving through the crowds towards the city gates. Conrad shoved his way through the crowd, with his bag of belongings strapped to his back. As the sun was setting, he arrived at the gate. The two guards there stopped him. Conrad pulled the hood of his traveling cloak down farther so they couldn't see his face.

"Rather late to be leaving. What's your business?"

"Travel."

"Travel is only allowed in the morning and midday except with good reason or permission. Do you have reason or permission?"

"Aye, here you go." Conrad then handed them a slip of paper. They thought it odd that the man they were speaking to had hands completely wrapped in bandages, but they shrugged it off as nothing. The two guards unfolded the slip and began reading it.