"Where could the bookstore be?" Countess Maria's servant walked into the forest.
I saw the cloth bag on the side, with the silhouette of the mask I needed. Slowly, I started following him from behind.
After a few minutes of walking, I decided it was the perfect time to strike.
From the floor I grabbed a bite-sized piece of wood and held it in my right hand. In my left hand, I held the small handheld knife I bought.
So as I slowly sneaked up on him, the closer I got the more noise I made.
"What's that nois-?"
I shoved the piece of wood into the servant's mouth and shoved him to the ground.
He was trying to scream for help but I shoved the wood deeper into his mouth.
"Quiet, and I'll let you live."
"MhmmmhmmMMm!" The servant mumbled.
"Calm down, I won't kill you," I said. "I just need you to tell me some stuff."
As his breathing slowed, I released the piece of wood from his mouth.
He was still pinned down on the ground.
"You lied to me!"
"If you want to live, stay quiet."
"What do you want from me!" the servant tried reaching for a stick beside him, so I stabbed his hand to the ground.
Before he could scream, I shoved the wood back in his mouth.
"Just cooperate and I won't kill you," I pulled the knife out of his wounded hand. "Write down everything you know about Countess Maria, and speak every word out loud as you write it."
I grabbed his cloth bag and pulled his paper and pencil out of it. It was pretty common for people to carry paper and pencil while traveling. It served as sort of a 'travel journal' or for letters.
After an hour of writing the servant was finished.
"Can I go now?"
"I have one more thing to ask of you," I said.
"What more could you want?"
"Strip."