After bringing my packs up to the room, and discarding my sword and armour, I went to the common room for some food and a few cups of ale. At one of the tables, a tall, red-haired woman was sipping a glass of wine. When she spotted me, her eyes widened and she let out a small gasp. She then immediately turned her eyes away, pretending she hadn't looked at me, and her face was pale.
From her reaction, she knew who I was, but it was clear she did not wish to speak to me. I decided to eat my dinner and pretend to ignore her in return, while I occasionally glanced subtly at her to figure out how she knew me and whether I had offended her in some way. Her dress looked far too expensive for a peasant, but not expensive enough for a noblewoman, nor would I expect one of the nobles to slum in this inn with us commoners. Was she a merchant, maybe, or a merchant's wife? I searched my memory, but I could not remember seeing her before. Maybe I would recognize her if I heard her voice, but I could not think of a way to achieve that without approaching her, and I did not want to be rude.
Having eaten, I ordered another ale and rested a bit before the fire before heading to my room. The woman was still at her table, and while she did not lift her head as I left the room, I could almost feel her eyes on me.
I had been reading for a bit by candlelight and was pondering whether I should go to bed early or take a small walk, when the door suddenly opened. A tall, red-headed woman wearing a long-coat and breeches, with a cloth covering the lower half of her face, entered the room. My eyes widened as I recognized the highwaywoman who had tried to rob me a month before.
"It's you. It's really you," she whispered, staring at me as if expecting me to disappear in a puff of smoke. "I've found you at last." She took a step forward, closing the door behind her.
I swore under my breath; my packs were at the other end of the room, so once again, the woman was standing between me and my sword. At least I was wearing clothes this time, but I still didn't have my armour. Rising to my feet, I slipped my hand subtly into my pocket and found a pen knife. Not much against an armed opponent, but if I charged and caught her by surprise…
" You have no idea how hard I've tried to find you," she said, still in that quiet whisper, as she walked towards me. "I cannot stop thinking about what you did to me."
I tensed my muscles, ready to leap at her, when I suddenly realized that her scabbard was empty, and so were her hands. I frowned. What sort of highwaywoman leaves her sword behind while seeking her vengeance on a man she hates? We already knew she couldn't take me in unarmed combat.
I stood unmoving, muscles still tense, as she slowly approached me. "No one has ever taken charge of me like that. The way you disarmed me, then dragged me over your lap…" She blushed. "Lying over your naked thighs, feeling your… manhood… poking me in the stomach…"
I said nothing, but my hand was still closed around the pen knife, just in case this was some bizarre bluff to get me to lower my guard.
"I cannot decide whether I want you to take me over your knee or to your bed," she whispered. "Do as you prefer, Sir Knight." She briefly met my eyes, before glancing shyly at the floor. "Please?"