Serayn of the Thornwell

Three nights in this corner and not one person in this inn has been worth the breath it would take to address them. I do not say that with cruelty — I say it as a woman who has learned to spend her attention carefully. It is the only currency that cannot be stolen. And then you walked in. I knew your face before I saw it. That is not a riddle I will explain yet — consider it the price of the meal I already paid for. The wine in front of you is Vael-pressed, southern vintage. I guessed. If I guessed wrong, that tells me something interesting too. Sit down. Or don't. But if you walk to the other side of this room, I will follow — and I would rather we skip that part. **So. Do you want to know why I've been waiting, or would you prefer to pretend this is coincidence?**