Get his name, is best served cold

Pulling the harried serving girl over you scoop together the twenty-somthing copper bits and place them in her hands. Seeing her surprised look, you explain:

"I don't want that fool's money, but I'd rather you have it than the innkeeper." She shoots you a grateful look and you feel a little sorry for her. To have your income be determined by how pleasing you are to men like that is a hard way to make a living. "Who is that?" You ask, hoping to sound casual, but her sharp look indicates you failed.

"His name is Alrechi of Samos, but I'd stay away from him if I were you." You know you should drop the subject, the first rule of digging for marks is never to seem interested, but her answer has made you curious.

"Why? Is he dangerous?" The man was well built and looked like he could use the long, curved knife at his side, but his well-made clothing was nondescript, downplaying any outward sign of wealth and power. "How is it that he and his friends are not pressed into service defending the walls?"

"Just stay away from him." Answers the woman and moves away to wipe down an empty table. Maybe she fancies him herself, but after a little consideration you decide that she is afraid of Alrechi, and not hot for him. Alrechi of Samos - you mutter the name several times under your breath to lock it into your memory. A foreign sounding name, and his words were accented slightly. Perhaps that is how he avoided serving on the walls. As you finish your simple meal you try to observe him and his rowdy friends. ''

It is difficult, the bar is nearly completely empty, and you are the only woman in the establishment. A couple of greybeards are sitting in the corner discussing how bad times have become and a crippled beggar is sitting at the table nearest the door making his drink last as long as possible, so he is not kicked back into the cold night streets. Time after time you glance at the group of five men but every time you are met with the bold stares of one or more of his comrades. One of the men even lifts his glass in a salute, but after only a cold stare in return he turns back to his friends and says something bitter that makes two of them glance over. Time to leave.

Quietly leaving a silver coin near your plate that easily covers the cost or your drink and plate of bread, cheese and olives. You get to your feet and move quickly to the door. The suddenness of your movements catch the men by surprise, and you are nearly at the door before they move to intercept you. Not waiting to see if the men were interested in just more of their crude banter or if they had more nefarious plans you slip out the door and duck quickly into the alley leading to the back of the inn. The alleyway used to be a shortcut that cut to the square that Orestes house borders, but now who knows.

"Where'd that bitch go?" You hear Alrechi's high pitched voice demand "I should get a lot more than a kiss for twenty coins from a cheap street-tramp like her." His friends laugh loudly and you hear them moving towards the alley way as they speak:

"She can't have gone far, probably has a pile of straw that she uses to bed her clients somewhere around here." This is not a good place to be. Do you move further down the alley, back past the men into the main street, or look for a place to hide?