SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO)

EVERYTHING CRUMBLES

The widow had just said “Four months”. To think that the wet rot had been going on for this long, I was shocked at the integrity of the inn.

“Four months?” I looked at her with a surprised look. I concluded that her husband must have been the one in charge of the inn, thus, the wet rot must have spread after his death.

Also, it seemed that the widow didn't know of wet rot and its dangers to wooden establishments such as this inn.

“Yes... sire?” she began to feel worried from the expressions I was showing her.

I needed to confirm my conclusion so I asked, “Wait, tell me this, the...‘wet spots’ when did you first notice them in the inn?”

What she said next sent shivers through my spine...

“Well, I first noticed the wet patches a month before my husband passed away.”

I stepped away from the pillar immediately. “A month? You're sure you had these wet spots a month before your husband died!? That's almost 5 months since your inn's been infested with wet rot? Do you not realize the risk you