The night sleep shift was 5 hours, when Lucian heard of Ashton's makeshift plan he couldn't stop his eye from twitching. Even without his plan though, yes, he was considered a commoner, many places in the capital barred commoners from entry. Lucian sighed, today was his complete loss, tomorrow he'd have to think of something.
Ashton slept until they stopped in a town to swap horses again. They also bought another carriage; it was basically a box on wheels. Devlin spent the entire morning riding behind the new empty carriage to enchant several precious stones to make the carriage comfortable. Since it was empty and probably wouldn't be ready until tomorrow, only two new horses were bought to pull it.
It took another two days for the second carriage to be suitable for use, in the meantime they had stopped to stay at a hotel in Kodiak, the largest southern city. Ashton didn't bat an eye at them paying for his stay in a nice room, it's not like they trusted him to not run off. He was rather irked at the idea of staying with David and Shawn though... Ashton confidently walked to one of the two beds, set his pack down, then turned to the bellhop, "Could you prepare some hot water? Thanks." He added with a polite smile. The bellhop assured there would be some ready soon.
David glared, "That's my bed." He growled stomping over to Ashton, since there were only 2 beds clearly this brat could sleep on the floor.
Ashton raised a brow, "I sleep in a bed here, or I'll go find one I can afford."
David was ready to strike Ashton down, he was the lowest ranking guard, even if he had a noble background he couldn't demand Shawn sleep on the floor. "You should be grateful to just have a roof, farmer." He snarled as if there was nothing lowlier.
Ashton smiled, "Someone has to do the hard work to feed you, my lord." Ashton added with a bow as if he were at court. While he could have slept on the floor, he had a perfectly good bed at home he'd much rather be in.
David threw his pack at Ashton who dodged, but the crash had shaken the walls. David immediately regretted it as he heard the surrounding rooms burst open, then into his own room. "It's nothing." He forced calm into his voice glaring at Ashton.
Ashton smiled while turning to Devlin, Pat, Lucian and Bret who had burst into the room nearly sending the door off their hinges, "Ah, well I think I'd rather find a bed more... suitable for a farmer." Ashton emphasized with the same intonation David had used as he glanced at the broken traveling pack David had thrown. "It might be safer than here anyway."
Lucian turned his glare to David, "Explain."
David trembled as he turned to face the group, everyone looked downright hostile. "I, Your majesty," He stuttered glancing to Bert.
Lucian turned to Shawn, "Explain."
Shawn reenacted what they had both said verbatim, even copying the inflections. Ashton simply smiled as David withered under Lucian's glare.
Bert was almost apoplectic seeing Lucian so angry, he'd already warned David twice about his attitude, and they'd already called for another bed to be brought in. "Get out, tend to the horses." He ordered before Lucian could do anything.
Ashton pulled his bag on, "No need to make a fuss for a farmer, even I can afford a room at another inn." He informed with a smile. The room froze as Lucian put the full force of a general, and an Emperor into his glare.
"Return to the capital, don't stop." Lucian ordered, David paled as he bowed then went back to gather his belongings. The room was as silent as death except his rustling until David left like a kicked puppy.
Ashton continued to smile as he met Lucian's gaze, "Truly your Majesty, I'm not dumb enough to escape simply because I sleep in a different inn. Besides, such extravagance is wasted on a farmer's boy."
Bert wanted to slap Ashton to death, or at least unconscious. Was David not punished enough over a stupid bed. "What do you want?" He demanded clenching his fist.
Ashton didn't break eye contact with Lucian, "Sir Bert, you seem to be mistaken, I am at the mercy of his majesty, upon his dismissal I will just return to being a farmer's boy back in Palmer town. I don't dare make any requests." He promised. The room seemed to freeze over with the reminder he'd basically been kidnapped, threatened, and neglected to this point.
Bert felt like icy water had been poured down his back as Lucian turned his glare to himself, "As compensation for his rude behavior, he has not been acting how an elite guard to his Majesty should be. He will be punished when we return to the capital." Bert promised not daring to meet Lucian's eyes.
"Surely a noble with such esteemed accomplishments would have been thoroughly trained and vetted prior to being the emperor's escort." Ashton offered as it were all a misunderstanding, "I should know better as an ignorant commoner than to have expected a bed while traveling in such illustrious company." He added as if truly apologetic about his faux pas.
Aaron sighed as he heard the conversation from outside the door, technically everything Ashton had said was correct in a political sense. A commoner usually would be lucky to sleep in the horse stalls when accompanying even a regular noble retinue. Ashton's expectation for a bed was audacious, most commoners couldn't even rent a room in this hotel.
"Please forgive our lack of preparation Master Ashton, we were inconsiderate." Aaron called as he pushed past Bert. "David's attitude was unbecoming of his station, even among his peerage such behavior is unacceptable, it will be corrected upon our return. As for your stay, please accept it as our humble apology, we will also have lord Shawn move into a more appropriate room." He added with a deep bow.
Shawn hesitated, if he left... "I ca-" Aaron cut him off.
"Lord Shawn, we'll add a bed to Lord Bert's room, please move your belongings. A bath is being prepared." Aaron added quickly, then turned back to Ashton who had maintained his smile the entire conversation, "Master Ashton, we intended to dine in the lobby in an hour, should you care to join us please send a servant to inform us. You are, of course, always able to charge any meal to the room and eat wherever you desire. We only ask if you decide to leave the hotel you bring a guard with you. We shall retire to freshen up." Aaron explained with another bow then waved to the door. Everyone left except Lucian.
After everyone Lucian turned to Ashton, "We are sorry about his behavior." He offered sincerely.
Ashton gave a courtly bow, "I dare not accept, please forgive my unreasonable actions your Majesty."
Lucian felt stifled, everything Ashton said was according to noble etiquette, with a sharp nod he left.
Ashton stood up, while he was tempted to try eating outside the hotel, he'd just slapped all their faces collectively and repeatedly over a bed. If he ate alone he'd be at fault for being overly petty, he sighed as he waited for a few pales of warm water to wipe himself down. Dinner downstairs then.