Get back to the tavern.

It's a long, nervous jog through the dark streets at night, with the wind catching my skirts and threatening to expose me at every opportunity. More than once I run into a band of late-night revellers who laugh and hoot at my outfit, taking me for an escaped servant or a refugee from some debauched aristocratic party. I sneak in through the back door of the tavern, not wanting to show myself off to the other adventurers who congregate in the main bar, and make it up to my room without getting into too much more trouble.

I set the black jewel down on the table in my room. In the moonlight from the window there's an oily glimmer to it, a fiendish glint like the eye of an animal. But I can worry about that later. I hide the jewel in the toe of my left boot, strip off the maid uniform and climb into my narrow bed, thinking about everything I'll buy with the reward money. I can make more plans in the morning.