The Wretched Raven was quiet in the mornings. There are a couple of drunkards that passed out at a table, while Sophie and her girl Greta were cleaning up the mess from the night before. Sophie was always bright and full of energy in the mornings, much to the dislike of many of her guests, Kathena included. Sophie looks up from her cleaning rag and spots Kathena right away. “Yer up early! I’ll get yer a pot of coffee; strong like you like.” Sophie says loudly, making Kathena wince as she’s not quite ready for loud noises first thing in the morning; especially before coffee. She nods at Sophie and takes a seat at a table in the back.
Sophie returns with a pot of coffee and a mug. “Here ye go! I’ll leave you to it, until yer feel human again,” she says and giggles as she goes back to her work. Kathena pours herself a cup of the rich, dark nectar that allowed her to speak to other humans. She takes a long, slow sip and lets it warm her to the soul. “Thank the gods! Without this my mind won’t be sharp enough to do my work.” She smiles and finishes her cup then pours another as she waits.
Two men come into the parlor, quietly shuffling their feet, move to the fireplace and take a seat, warming their hands. The morning chill in this area, is damp and feels like it gets into your bones. Kathena keeps her eyes on them, carefully hiding them beneath strands of her long, thick locks. Her eyes cut to Sophie, wondering if these be the men she’d been wanting to talk to. Sophie nods softly to her, and makes her way to the gentlemen by the fire. “What can I get yer fine gents this morning?” she asks in her cheerful way. The truth of the matter is they are neither fine, nor gentlemen, but she’s always charming to her customers. The men look up at her and ask for coffee with a bit of the “good” cream. Sophie smiles knowing full well, they want some liquor in their coffee. “Aye, that’ll be right up!” She leans over to one of them and whispers in his ear, something Kathena can’t make out. The man turns his head and looks at Kathena briefly, which makes her nervous, but she keeps her calm demeanor.
Sophie heads back to the kitchen to fetch their drinks, and the man whispers to his partner, then stands and makes his way towards Kathena. He’s a bit taller than her, heavy around the middle, but looks strong. She notices the dagger on his belt and the scars on his knuckles. She can see, this man can handle himself in a fight. She’ll have to be very careful. She keeps her eyes on him, as she slowly places her mug on the table and smiles as he reaches her table. “Good morning Sir,” she says in her most charming voice. Her eyes sparkle as she bats her eyelashes seductively at him. “Care to join me?” She motions to the chair across from her. He nods and sits without a sign of a smile anywhere on his face. He stares at her for a moment. His dark eyes narrowed in inspection of her, as he is undoubtedly trying to determine how much of a danger she poses. He finally leans in a bit and says, “I hear yer been askin’ ‘bout my business.” He looks intently into her eyes as if waiting to gage her reaction. Kathena keeps her eyes on his and acts coquettish and friendly, before she responds. “Aye sir. a girl like me needs to find work where she can get it. As I hear it, you’re the man to see about the biggest scores in town.”
She leans on the table and takes up her mug, drinking coffee as if she didn’t have a care in the world. He watches her carefully, but can’t get a read on her. He sits back in his chair and finally responds. “That be true. I am the man to see, but why should I share my good fortune with you?” She realizes she’s not even introduced herself properly, but at the same time, she knows the man will most likely not give her his real name. “Where are my manners? I’m Kathena. I pass through these parts once a quarter to do business with other smu….merchants, such as yourself.”
Sophie comes to her table with a mug of “special” coffee for the gent. He nods and gives her a coin. Kathena eyes the mug, trying to figure out the right time to drop in her potion. She smiles at him, “Mmmm, yer coffee smells different from mine. What do you put in yours?” He softens as her question veers off the job conversation and relaxes him a bit. He grins finally, and leans in. “I have Sophie put in some cream and spiced rum. It gives it a kick!” She giggles and softly touches his hand. “May I try it? If I like it, I might have to get the same.” She plays her flirtation well and he concedes to pass her the mug. Kathena pulls the vial from her skirt and palms it as she takes his mug in her hands, giving it a good sniff. “Oh that smells heavenly!” Just then she does her best to open and pour her potion into the mug without realizing his friend was walking up behind her. The man stumbles and bumps her making her drop the mug and the vial which breaks as it hits the stone floor.
Kathena gasps as she hears the glass shatter in front of them both and tries to cover for it immediately. “Good gods man! What is the matter with you? See what you made me do?” She looks at the man sitting across for her, and tries her best to look like a very apologetic damsel. “Please forgive me, sir. I’ll get you another right away.” His eyes focus on the broken glass right beside his cup and his face turns dark. He looks up at his friend, “Grab her! This devil tried to poison me!” She looks horrified. “Sir, I did no such thing! That’s my perfume. I was just about to put some on when he bumped into me.” Kathena tries her best to make it believable, but the other man already has his hands tightly wrapped on her arms and lifts her out of her seat in one smooth yank.
Sophie rushes over after hearing the commotion. “What’s happenin’ here? Why yer grabbin’ Kathena?” Kathena tries to look as demure as she can. “Tiss a misunderstanding is all. Right boys?” She forces a smile. The one grabbing her looks to his friend, “What ye want to do with her, Gabe?” At last she knows the man’s name; Gabe. He gives the other guy a look and motions to the door. Gabe turns to Sophie, “Oh we are going to take a walk to get better acquainted. Isn’t that right Kathena?” He stares at her with a look that she is all too familiar with. His face strong and rugged, a scowl furrowing his brow. She knows it is not for a walk, yet she smiles and nods along, for she knows to not do so could mean Sophie gets hurt. “Aye, they are helping me around the mess I made. I think a bit of fresh air will do me good.”
Sophie knows something is wrong, but she knows better than get involved so she walks away. The men escort her out of the inn and take her out back to an old cell they have there for when someone gets out of line. She stumbles a bit as they shove her inside and lock the door behind her. She looks about the cell’s tall walls made of iron and knows she could not climb them without being noticed, so she looks at her captors. “Gabe, I swear I meant you no harm.” She tries her best to look weak and scared.
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