Arisa was oh-so-aware of the ripple of discontent spreading, as the others realized that this wasn't a good thing...For *anyone*. Still, he *was* their tax collector...She didn't want to risk an incident with the Duke, if at all possible. Which meant getting his money - Or getting him to back down, somehow!<br/><br/>It took all of her self-control to keep her expression friendly...The luscious innkeeper's hand coming to rest on her curvy hip, her mind working - Doing her level best to think of a solution to this-! Not for the first time, Arisa was glad that Uther<em>wasn't</em>around...She certainly didn't want to trouble him - Especially not when he was leaving for another long stretch as a porter-!<br/><br/>Not for the first time, she thought of her sword and shield, stowed away - and lovingly maintained - in a truck within the attic.<br/><br/>Arisa didn't answer right away - Instead, she busied herself with pouring his drink. The stone pitcher of milk, clasped to her full bosom, gurgled as she filled the mug...Setting it down on the table, with a grace borne of long practice! She'd given herself time to think, but this was a thorny problem...When it came down to it, there had to be<em>some</em>way to pay him off - And it wouldn't be coming from the village. They simply couldn't afford it-!<br/><br/>No...Best to play for time, while she thought of a solution-!<br/><br/>"I'd say..." she murmured, her voice low, thoughtful - "...Enjoy your breakfast, goodsire."<br/><br/>The honey-blonde beauty favored him with a carefully-measured smile, canting her head in a slight bow - "Please, enjoy your morning...And let me know if there's any small service we can do for you."<br/><br/>Given what he'd been doing with Shayla, she phrased her answer so as not to give him any ideas...Though she had no doubt he was thinking of something like<em>that</em>.<br/><br/>Coin - How would she get<em>enough</em>~! Perhaps there was something to be said for an adventurer's life, after al-<br/><br/>Wait. An<em>adventurer's</em>life? A thoughtful expression flitted across Arisa's lovely features - Even as she carefully dried her hands on her apron, her brow furrowing ever-so-slightly! Perhaps...There *might* be a way. Though it'd mean visiting the Adventurer's Guild...Or rather, their outpost in town. Not that she'd ever *been* there, for...What, ten years now?<br/><br/>There<em>might</em>be a way after all...