A Songbird's Lament

Chapter 11½

Author's Note: I've decided to do little 'half' chapters for details that are too short to be their own chapter. Enjoy this small fight between Gabriele and the piece of shit innkeeper. This one's dedicated to my friend Esmer, who was no doubt looking forward to this moment!

As he had prayed against, there she was. Standing outside the door was the innkeeper. Her arms were crossed over her chest as her pockmarked face scanned the street. Raising a hand, she scratched at the scalp under her thinning hair. Her eyebrows were pushed together angrily and her jaw was set rigidly.

Gabriele pulled Gaetano's hat and veil lower over his face as the carriage rolled to a stop. His slightly trembling hand reached for the door as he took a deep breath.

"A-Are you certain you wouldn't like me to accompany you?" Gaetano asked, looking up at Gabriele.

"No need to trouble yourself, I'll return in..." Gabriele paused, comfortingly laying a hand on his companion's shoulder and leaning down to caress his face, "Well, I am not quite sure when I shall return,"

With that, Gabriele opened the door to a chorus of urban cacophony. On the street corner, a girl barely older than Gabriele stood. Her face was caked with rouge and plastered with artificial beauty marks. A large, dark sore shone out on her neck. Gabriele sighed at her plight before averting his eyes.

Suddenly, a cry of recognition.

"You, it's you!" the innkeeper cried while pointing accusingly at Gabriele and hoisting up her skirts with her free hand, "Did you not promise to come this morning?"

"I did no such thing," Gabriele replied, suppressing a laugh. He was free; he no longer had to be polite to his tormenter.

The innkeeper's eyes shifted to something behind him, and dramatically, she gasped. Raising her trembling finger, her eyes filled with angry tears.

'A creature so withered and wrinkled is yet able to weep, how interesting,' he thought, a lopsided smile appearing on his face before he suppressed it.

Letting go of her poor, poor skirts, the innkeeper grabbed Gabriele by the collar and pulled him inside while he held his hat to his head. Red in the face and letting out a loud exhale, she finally let go of him.

"Do not take your anger out on my clothing, Signora," he said to deaf ears as he adjusted his veil.

"Is your new lover, 'she more beautiful than I?" the innkeeper demanded, "Richer as well, I can presume, from that carriage,"

"Yes, in fact. Far more, you are a crow in comparison and on your own," Gabriele said, a dreamy expression taking over his face momentarily as he thought of beautiful Gaetano waiting for him outside, "Dark hair and bright, lively eyes, a true beauty,"

The innkeeper spat and her hands clenched into fists.

"Beautiful women, no, harlots," she said, "Will only care for you for a while before leaving you! What does she have that I cannot give you even more of?"

"Let us see..." Gabriele said through gritted teeth, making a list on his fingers, "Happiness, comfortable lodgings, a face one would enjoy looking at, pleasant conversation, love rather than lust..."

At a loss for words, the innkeeper stumbled back a step, her angry expression melting.

"P-Perhaps I was a little bit too..." she said, dabbing at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, "All I ask for, before you leave is-"

"Money, Signora? That is the single reason why I stayed, so I would not starve to death on the street," Gabriele said, exhaling through gritted teeth.

"No, no. I'd like a final chance, perhaps even just for a few minutes. You know where my bedroom is, do you not?" the innkeeper said, her sadness giving way to lust, "You may do whatever you wish..."

"What I wish to do as of now, Signora..." he said, feigning temptation. Gabriele's eyelashes grazed the tops of his cheeks as he bit his lip.

"...Is to collect my belongings and leave!" he shouted, striding to the room that was once his.

As quickly as he could, Gabriele stuffed his meager belongings into a time-worn bag. Exiting the room, he spotted the innkeeper breathing heavily while sitting at the table. Her knuckles looked ready to tear out of her leathery skin.

"Whether you have a good life is out of my control and rather the mercy of our Lord," Gabriele said, scornfully looking down at the innkeeper, "However if I were in control, I would make the rest of your days as miserable as you have made my stay here. Addio!"

"I wish you luck with finding new lodgings!" she retorted sarcastically, not lifting her head up from the table.

"I expect I will have much luck, seeing as I am off to Venezia!"