Chorong's throat clenched and she gave a sharp squeak as she pulled her dress close about her. "Who are you?" she demanded, to which the figure laughed.

"I came to check on my employer's investment," he said, his deep voice stretching easily across the room. Chorong shivered as she recognized it as belonging to the dark-eyed man in her kitchen back home. He stepped out of the corner and took a seat on her bed, a bemused smile twisting the edges of his mouth upward. "By all means, continue," he motioned at her state of dress.

Her cheeks flamed and she instinctively pulled the front of her dress even closer against her, though realistically the frabic hadn't even become very loose from the ing yet. "Turn around," she demanded, her voice pitched high in her fright; to her relief he did, turning his head to face the wall, and she reached back to secure the buttons once more. She would rather be in a wet dress than change in the same room as this man. There was something about him that made her feel cold, and she didn't think it solely came from the fact that he was employed by her soon-to-be owner.

Once she was finished, she took a calming breath, then said, "Shall we go sit and eat while we discuss things?"

He turned back with an arched brow and open amusement, but he stood and gave a mocking bow to her anyway. "As my lady wishes." He said, sarcasm thick in his deep voice. Then he motioned at the door. "Ladies first."

Oh, how she did not want to turn her back on him! But propriety demanded it, and she took another bolstering breath before she turned and opened the door. He did nothing to her as he followed her down the stairs, though she could feel his dark gaze on her and it made chills run up and down her spine. She hadn't stopped to get her shoes, and so when she stepped down into the main room, the innkeeper gave a puzzled glance at her bare feet. Then he looked up to her guest and frowned deeper, his eyes taking in the fine clothing and dark aura the man gave off.

Please please, don't cause trouble, she thought desperately: she had no doubt in her mind that the dark-eyed man could dispose of anyone in his way. The innkeeper stood up as he watched the pair sit, but he didn't do anything or say anything untoward, and Chorong settled into her chair with relief.

The serving girl came out with dinner and water for Chorong, and an inquistition for what the man would like.

"What she is having, thank you," he said pleasantly, dropping two fat coins in the girl's hand. Chorong's eyebrows raised as she noted the golden glint of the payment, and looked back searchingly at his face. That he could spend so much on such simple fare... who was he? "And a mug of mead, if you have it."

"Will ale be alright?" the girl asked, her eyes darting over his face: Chorong realized that the server found him handsome. She supposed she could see why, with his sharp features and strong jaw, but his eyes were like looking into the face of death. She supressed her shiver of disgust at that thought and dipped her spoon into the thick stew in front of her, tuning out the rest of the conversation between her companions.

It was only when the girl had brought a bowl of soup and a cup of drink for him, then left, that he spoke to Chorong again. "So you tried to run away, did you?"

She paused, spoon halfway to her lips, and shook her head. "No sir. I wanted to settle all my accounts first." She was quite proud of how she sounded there: business minded and un-afraid. Not at all how she felt!

He nodded slowly, then took a spoonful of his own stew. And grimaced immediately, before swallowing quickly and placing the spoon in the bowl and pushing it away from him. "That's disgusting," he sneered, and she had to admit that she agreed. But it was what she could afford, and so she wouldn't let on to him that she thought so too.

"It's fine," she reprimanded, taking another spoonful, and though the burnt taste was so prevalent, she ignored it and ate as if it were the best meal she had ever had. He watched her in disbelief, but he didn't say another word until she was finished with her dinner.

Once the bowls were cleared away - the serving girl frowned at the still full bowl on his side of the table - and drinks refilled, he leaned back on his chair and lifted his cup toward h