Try the subtle approach

“I’m just not Sir Roderick,” thinks Alex. “And I doubt if I will ever be like him — at least as far as women go.” He decides to be a little less direct in his approach.

“As Sir Roderick said, we are in town in preparation for our quest, Miss....?”

“Eloise... But everyone calls me Ellie.” Again, her eyes dart toward the bar. When Alex follows her gaze, he sees the bartender looking toward them. Ellie quickly returns her focus on the table and continues wiping it with her washcloth.

“Miss Ellie,” continues Alex, “you might be able to help us. We are unfamiliar with the area, and we....”

“Not here,” she whispers urgently, without looking up at him. “There are too many eyes.” Alex feels immediately nervous and tries his best not to spin around and figure out who might be spying on them. “You see that hallway leading to the toilets?” Alex looks around until he sees what she is talking about. “Wait five minutes and then go there, as if you have to relieve yourself. Instead of going into the toilet, go through the door opposite it. Don’t let anyone see you.”

Without waiting for a response, Ellie grabs her tray of dirty glasses and departs.

“Well, that went in a decidedly different direction than I expected,” thinks Alex, as he returns to his stool. Although he did not really expect to actually score a sexual conquest in his first conversation, he had hoped that he could at least spend some enjoyable time in conversation with the young woman. Now, however, it appears that there is some great conspiracy afoot. He is eager to talk to Roderick about it, but the knight’s stool is empty. A partially-consumed stein of ale on the counter is the only thing that points toward the knight having been there.

Alex asks the bartender, “Do you know where Sir Roderick went?”

The bartender scowls and nods toward the stairs. “He’s keeping one of my employees from getting her job done is what he’s doing.” He nods toward Roderick’s ale. “Do you want that? It’s getting tossed if you don’t.”