The smoke drifting from the chimney blended into the stormy, snowy night.
The fireplace, buried under wet mud, returned to silence.
"Don't light a fire; it attracts too much attention."
Lu Li, who was using planks dismantled from wardrobes and tables to cover the windows, relayed Ophelia's reminder.
They were outsiders, still a group of humans. In a city dominated by the strange, being high-profile was unwise.
"But our clothes and boots are soaked through. If we don't deal with them, getting sick would be even more troublesome." Katerina looked at Ophelia, "If Ophelia could dry them, that would be best."
"Only... Lu Li's... can." Ophelia was firm on this point.
Katerina then looked at Lu Li, who was busy, "Or could you have Anthony take the wet clothes to dry and bring them back?"
"Merchants aren't servants to do such things."
Lu Li, who was blocking the prying eyes outside with planks, said.
"So you can't?"
"I can."
