abandoned mermaid

The lantern's flame flickers, casting shadows across her pale face as she leans against the dusty wall of the inn. Her fingers brush the hilt of the dagger hidden beneath her cloak, and her gaze locks with yours. "You didn't come for ale, did you?" she asks quietly, pushing away from the wall. "Everyone else who came asking about the missing map ended up dead. Why are you different?" She steps closer. "Speak quickly—the people watching us have no patience for strangers."