After discovering that in order to have any time to talk to Ralla we would have to pay for he services, Oakey, Jäger and myself came up with a particularly odd and perhaps redundant plan in order to get her audience. I have to admit that I believe it was mostly Jäger and Oakey's plan but the confidence they had concerning it I did not have the heart to object. In hindsight I feel that devising a plan of action where ales (very overpriced as far as I could tell from the grumblings of my companions) are served can easily lead to, shall we say, needless plans coming to fruition. Nevertheless, the plan was made and we pulled it off with no problems. I was to pay the 'pimp' (it was Oakey that taught me that bizarre terminology) for the honour of Ralla's time while Oakey stayed downstairs in the bar and Jäger was to leave the establishment and scale the outside to her window to inform Ralla of my visit.
It was only after I had given over my coin and managed to speak with Ralla did it become overly clear that either my own part in the plan or Jäger's was some what redundant. Nevertheless, it all came together without a hitch so I would not dare to comment to my friends concerning that as it would only upset them.
So, once up the weak, wooden stairs leading to rooms, I knocked rather delicately on the door as I wanted to come across as gentle as possible. Thankfully I had taken long enough for Jäger to have completed his part of the plan and warned her of my arrival. I heard a rather apprehensive, female voice call me into her room. I opened the door to find a rather confused, young woman mixed with a slice of fear in her eyes. Across the room I could see the window ajar which must have been where Jäger had managed to speak to her. I began to introduce myself to her but she informed me that she knew who I was as the scary man at the window had told her who I was and why I was coming to talk with her. I could tell Jäger had used his blunt talk with her. I admire his straightforwardness but it certainly has its place, perhaps this was not the time to have used it. It took me a little while to undo the affect Jäger had caused with her but ultimately it worked out well. The comparison of my composure against Jäger's helped her to trust me more which helped to forge the trust.
According to Ralla, the group of children would often play together and would some times head off to the abandoned Orphanage named Ilara's Halfway House. It had been burnt down a while ago and had a reputation of being haunted so naturally the children were attracted to such a place. It made sense that was a good place to start.
As I got up to leave and thank her for her answers, I noticed that she did not want me to leave her. She let me know that she liked my company and has never met a man who did not want to 'use' her and requested I sat with her for a little longer. I was happy to oblige. I felt sorry for her, the poor woman was missing her young brother and the only reason she was in this line of work was to support her and her brother. That I could respect. As our time was drawing to a close I gave her my word that once we returned from looking for the children, I will make sure she has the means to start a new life at Cobham. That was the first time I saw her smile.
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