Ardor closed the heavy tent flap behind him and inhaled the air thick with incense. The inside of the tent was different from what he had been expecting, but he didn’t really know what to expect in the first place. The ground was covered with colorful rugs and blankets with plush pillows thrown every which way. A small candle burned next to a woman relaxing on a large cushion.
“It was awfully rude of you to enter with your shoes on,” the woman said without looking up from her book. “And without knocking, too.”
“There, well, there was nothing to knock upon,” Ardor stammered.
“Your shoes still muddy my rug, boy.” Ardor saw the womans green eyes as she looked up from her book.
Ardor hastily removed his sandals. He put them down by the entrance and looked over to the woman. He felt awkward and uncomfortable in front of her.
“Well?” The woman asked. She eyed him expectantly.
“I heard rumors, madam, of a woman in a tent outside town who offered…” Ardor paused shyly. “Services.”
“Is that so?” The woman set her book aside, marking her place with a carefully folded page. “Where did you hear rumors of such a woman?”