By the time the afternoon sunlight began fading behind the rooftops of the eastern district, the Black Orchid had already settled into its familiar evening routine.
Music drifted from the lower halls, mingling with the distant sounds of conversation as servants hurried between floors carrying fresh linens, refreshments, and whatever else the arriving clients might require.
Ray had spent most of the afternoon inside his room, occasionally glancing through the window at the carriages arriving in the courtyard below. His thoughts had wandered more than once toward the previous night's outing, particularly the unexpected encounter with the merchants and the small copper token he'd received from Talia.
The token now rested inside one of his drawers, tucked beneath a folded handkerchief where it was unlikely to attract attention.
