I want you

"I want you," you say.

The mistress stares at you for a long moment, her sharp eyes scanning your face. Her gaze drops to your fine clothes, evaluating your worth. "A bold demand," she says, her voice dropping to a low, husky register. "A woman who knows more costs more."

Without a word, you reach into your cloak and drop a heavy silver coin onto the wooden counter. It lands with a solid, echoing thud.

The mistress looks at the glittering silver, then back up at you. She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes.. "Keep your coin for now," she murmurs, straightening her posture. "Let's go somewhere more private."

After gesturing for someone to take over her, she leads you away from the noisy taproom, guiding you up a narrow set of wooden stairs to a quiet room at the back of the building. The room contains a large bed, a single washbasin, and a small table with a burning candle. She closes the heavy door behind you, shutting out the din of the brothel below.

She turns to you, crossing her arms. "Now, strip off that hood. Who are you really, and what is it you actually want from me?"