Sleep.

I sleep like a log, a longer and more refreshing slumber than I can remember having in quite some time. I dream about being a queen, sitting on a golden throne on a mountain of light with handsome concubines chained and mewling at my feet while I laugh and command fire to rain from the heavens with a wave of my hand. The black stone I stole from Rinelda is built into my crown, and I can hear its voice calling my name. I wake, renewed and rested, ready to greet the brand new day with a smile on my lips.

I bathe in a basin of warm water, dress in my shirt and breeches and go downstairs for breakfast. The only other person in the tavern's spacious dining-hall is a bar-wench, a curvy blonde strumpet in a low-cut gown who's busy cleaning up from last night's debauchery. I order a plate of griddlecakes, fluffy and warm with melted butter and blueberry syrup, just the way I like them. As I'm sitting by the fireplace, savouring each bite of my cakes, the merchant from earlier walks in. He's still wearing his black cloak.

He comes right up to me, wasting no time. "Did you get the stone? I've got your money right here. It's a fortune, enough to let you move right up in the world."

"Let me see it first."

With no hesitation he plants a bulging sack of gold coins down in front of me. I reach out for it but he pulls it away and shakes his head. "The stone first."