The slender woman climbed the wall, careful to make little sound so as not to disturb the sleeping inhabitants. She opened the window on the second floor and slipped inside, heart pounding with excitement. To have her goal so near? It was a bold plan, but one that might be well worth the risk. If she played her cards right.
She cat-walked to the bed and noted that the woman sleeping there must have nodded off while reading the letter still held loosely in her hand. The writing was in a different language but some of the pages looked as if they might be covered in poetry. A suitor, perhaps? No matter, if he were writing letters it would mean he would not be close by. She gazed down at the face that was the mirror of her own and hesitated. Could she really do this? Her jaw tightened slightly and her shoulders straightened. She'd always been a woman of opportunity, and this one was just too good to miss. She carefully drew the vial of sleeping draught from her pouch and with a swiftness born of living on the street, she swept the woman up into a sitting position, poured the potion in her mouth, and held the woman's nose so that she swallowed reflexively to clear her breathing passage.
The woman gasped into wakefulness, and her eyes widened as she beheld her assailant. For a moment they were frozen, a mirror image, and then the potion did its work and one crumpled back on the bed. The street thief grinned a wolfish grin. "Good night, dear. Pleasant dreams." She quickly undressed and traded clothes with her victim. She stood before the mirror for a moment, admiring the quality of the nightdress she now wore. "My name? I'm Melisandre Raphaela de Ramirez, of course." Again the slow smile. This was going to be fun. She glanced across at the other woman and sighed softly. She had little time to accomplish this and must keep moving until it was done. Quickly, she bound and gagged Melisandre and hefted her to the window. Her accomplices waited below to take her captive to a secure location. They'd better do a good job considering the amount they were charging. She lowered the girl into their arms via a rope and as she was reeling up the rope her elbow hit the shutter which banged back against the wall. Anyone who was a light sleeper would have been sure to hear. With a muttered curse she waved her companions away and quickly hid the rope beneath the bed. Within moments she heard movement downstairs and then the sound of a door opening and then closing again.
Then, below her window: "Doña?? Doña?" She sighed, great. She endeavored to look as if she'd just woken and appeared at the window. "Yes? Is someone there?" She stared down at the soldier below. What was his name again? Fernando? He gazed up with concern etched on his features. "Is everything all right, Doña Melisandre? I heard a noise." Time to play the innocent. "A noise? It must have been the shutter banging. I think I must not have closed it tightly enough when I retired. I'm sorry if it woke you." She smiled sweetly down upon him. But he was not to be so easily disuaded. "I saw something too, someone slipping away." She had to bite her lip to keep from cursing. This fool would ruin the game before it had begun! "Well, I'm certain it was nothing." She pretended to glance about her room. "Everything seems in order." Still the soldier stood there, and now someone else was coming. Great.
A large man rounded the corner with sword drawn. "Senor Ferdinand?" That was it. Ferdinand. She'd make a point of watching that one. The soldier turned and she quickly retreated into the room and shut the window since attention was no longer on her. Success! Now she merely had to play the part well enough to go unnoticed and luxury was hers. She gathered up the letter from the bed and put it away and then began to go through 'her' things. Hmmm, the money was nice. There was about 500 guilders, give or take. A few odd bits of jewelry that might fetch a nice price on the market. Letters written in Castillian from Constanza de Orduño, she set those aside to peruse when she was done. Surgical supplies, medicines, clothes. She held up a blouse and gazed in the mirror, fine material and the color was nice, but the style! What was this Melisandre thinking? She tossed the shirt aside and stretched. Ah, well. Tomorrow was another day. The first day of her finest performance, so she needed her rest but first she'd best do a bit of reading. After going through them all she slid under the covers and blew out the candle, falling asleep with a satisfied smile.
The next day went well, her companions seemed to notice nothing untoward. She even was so bold as to make a comment to Don Aldana on how useful family could be. How hard it was not to laugh! And it was a sheer stroke of genius to have Ferdinand introduce everyone to his parents. Names went to faces and she'd not mix them up now. Another hurdle accomplished. And that party! They danced well into the night, eating and drinking copious amounts of food and wine. Now this was living! Too bad Melisandre had to miss it. Don Aldana was certainly an accomplished dancer. She wondered for a moment if he fancied her and whether... no, best not to risk it. Too bad really, he was quite handsome. She grinnned as she allowed herself to imagine showing him a lovely time. Maybe later. If she decided to stay, that is. She had a bounce in her step for the first time in months. How lovely to be so free.
