Aleksandra sat down in what she now thought of as her sewing chair and watched Aulfr go about his business. She pulled her legs to her chest as she went over the plan in her head, hardly noticing how much younger and sweeter the position made her look. She'd have to use pressure points to kill him if Aulfr didn't want any blood. Or maybe poison? She could buy something extremely potent with the money he was allowing her. She pulled the token he'd given her from her pocket and ran her thumb over the face, then rolled it over her knuckles and back again, a trick she'd learned while at sea.

"There will be rumors that I've seduced you. That I'm making a play for your throne, or even that I'm trying to become your queen. I'll be targeted mercilessly. By man and woman alike," she murmured, having seen the glances the court ladies gave Aulfr. Jealous women were as poisonous as vipers, and just as deadly when stirred into a frenzy. She wasn't looking forward to all the banter and snide remarks. She'd heard it all before when taking on similar clients. [i]Little whore, slut, Ardanian bitch. Ugly, scarred gremlin.[/i] She much preferred to run people through, not listen to mean remarks from petty brats.

She glanced up at the servant from before entered and set a tray of food on the table before her. She slid from her chair and settled herself on the floor, beginning to scarf down the food like a beast. She wasn't much for table manners, and it would be only the second thing she had eaten since waking up. She didn't touch the wine, instead choosing the water. She never drank if she could help it, for a few reasons. She was too small for large quantities of alcohol, and she got drunk impossibly fast. She was also not the most reserved drunk. In fact, she was quite the opposite. She was the type of drunk who pulled off most of her clothes and cuddled the nearest warm body. Which is why she never drank.

She finished her meal in record time, sitting back with a satisfied sigh. "I don't think I'll ever grow tired of castle food. Much better than burned rabbit and questionable mushrooms." She pushed away her plate and stood up, pushing her hair from her eyes. "Now, is there anywhere I can bathe before leaving?"