The girl pulled her cloak more tightly around her body as the coolness of the night closed in around her. She kept her head down but she was alert, especially for any footsteps that would reveal the presence of someone following her. It was dark already and the law keepers of South Bay had lit the street lanterns. A brown hawk flew high in the sky above her following her every move. The girl either didn't notice or didn't care about its presence. The girl deliberately walked in the shadows, taking a long circuitous route towards her destination. She knew far too well the consequences of being captured.
It took her near half an hour to reach the alleyway she was aiming for. Raucous laughter and the stench of ale drifted out onto the street. She slipped through the door and into the tavern. It was a wide, low-roofed room with an enormous fireplace on one side containing a pig on a spit. On the other side was a long bar with barrels of ale stacked up on the wall where it was out of reach of the clumsy grasp of thirsty men.
The girl walked up to the sweat-soaked bar maid, leaned over and said in a low whisper "I'm looking for a room for the night. It would be best if the room had a painting of the sea".
The bar maid did not show any signs of surprise and gave a quick terse nod.
"Second room on the left upstairs. Four knocks on the door followed by one on the frame."
"Thank-you."
The girl straightened up again, swatting away the advances of a bearded man with yellowed teeth. He staggered after her, but tripped over a chair and lay there howling with laughter. The girl frowned with annoyance and lightly stepped over him and walked up the aged staircase.
She quickly located the room and knocked as the bar maid had instructed her to. She heard someone push back their chair and approach the door. Her hand tightened instinctively around a feather she wore around her neck. The door creaked open, the face on the other side hidden in shadow.
"What do you want?" asked a low voice.
"An orchard of apples."
The door opened further and the man beckoned her in. She stepped cautiously over the threshold, swept past the man and sat down on the chair.