When The Petal Fell

3-2

During the day, the Far View bordello and tavern did not attract as much custom for whores, but it still attracted more than a few shady people. Thus, Klaron did not appear out of place as she sat at the darkened table, facing the door, nursing a mug of ale that the barman should have thrown away days ago.

She had no reason to view the room from which the High Gardener had fallen. Her contacts had given her a thorough description and she felt satisfied that they had not lied. Wishing to stay alive had the effect of drawing out the truth in most people and, even though no-one knew of her connections to the Lord Protector, she had carved out a reputation in the Underside that was all her own.

What she was here for was to observe the people. Her contacts may not be liars, to her face, but the people they spoke to may not have been as forthcoming with the truth. Many of the whores that had worked that night spent their off-duty hours in the Far View, drinking their earnings away and staying within the comfort of known surroundings. Whores in the Underside did not share the prestige and status of the courtesans of the Top-Side.

One young man had seen her and smiled a few times. For the purposes of this visit, she reciprocated, sending the message that she would not be averse to company. It wasn't long before he turned his long legs from under the table he shared with his co-workers, flipping his dark brown fringe from his eyes, and swayed his hips across the room.

"You look lonely." He swung a leg over the back of the chair opposite, making a masculine show of sitting down, and leaned forward, a flirty smile upon his face. "We don't get many Kannai in here, but I don't discriminate. I'm Tam."

"I just came in for a drink." She played the part of a nervous girl, turning the mug in her hand, trying not to catch his eye.

"Of course. But, you still look lonely." He ran his hand through the shoulder length hair, presenting his large biceps for perusal beneath the tight, open necked shirt. He turned to the barman. "Two more ales here, Raelf. The good stuff, not the muck you're trying to get rid of."

"There's no need. I ... I'm just passing through." Klaron made her tail flick. Anyone who knew Kannai would know that as a sign of nerves. At least, those Kannai that had not had their tails docked as slaves. "I'm not used to places like this. It seems so ... rough."

"Maybe you need a little rough in your life?" The young whore reached over and touched her hand and she made a deliberate stiffening movement, then relaxed. She didn't want to appear too skittish. "But the Far View is as safe as anywhere. We have the odd bar fight, but we have bouncers and a Thought Mage for that. Hardly anything happens here, really, except the things that are exciting. And fun."

"Hardly anything?" Klaron realised asking that question could come across as digging, but she felt certain Tam was more interested in the coin for his company than the questions she asked. She thanked the barman, Raelf, as he placed two fresh mugs of ale on the table, giving him some coin and letting Tam see the rest in her coin purse.

"Well," Tam leaned in, taking a conspiratorial look over his shoulder at the departing Raelf. "Just the other day, we had some fool take the Great Leap from these very premises. He didn't even do it right! Landed on a ship instead of the water."

"That's awful! The poor man!" She widened her eyes and held her hand to her mouth, grabbing his hand with the other.

"I can show you the room." He placed his other hand on top of hers and start stroking the fur on her wrist with his fingers. "If you'd like to see it. With me."

Klaron played the part of the nervous, first-time client. Hesitating. Looking around to see if anyone could see her accepting the invitation from the young whore. Turning the thoughts through her mind before giving a meek nod. She flicked her eyelashes at Tam, and his knowing, confidant look preempted leading her by the hand to the stairs to the rooms, their ales untouched.