Anastas adjusted the collar of his cloak. He was tense; the thoughts of what might be happening to Thomas behind these doors gave him no peace, but he forced himself to pull it together.
Eist, on the contrary, felt quite confident in such places. He shifted his baldric slightly, checking if his dagger would draw easily, and smiled relaxedly, settling into the role of a bored patron.
"We are simply looking for entertainment here. Leave the talking to me."
Anastas nodded.
They stepped out of the shadows and headed for the doors. Two bouncers, having sized up their fine woolen cloaks, silently stepped aside, clearing the way.
Inside, it smelled of perfume, tobacco, and alcohol; the laughter of patrons and snippets of music could be heard.
From the outside, it seemed as if they were merely inspecting the decor, their gazes gliding over the stucco molding and the rooms. In reality, both were memorizing the layout of the stairs, the number of guards at the doors, and possible escape routes.
The madam of the establishment immediately came out to meet them, her gaze instantly evaluating their appearance.
"Do the noble gentlemen wish to relax?" she smiled, fanning herself. "We have the best selection in the city. For every taste."
Anastas allowed himself a slight, somewhat patronizing smile, but did not speak, leaving the negotiations to Eist, as they had agreed.
Immediately, several girls fluttered out of an adjoining hall. They wore a minimum of clothing: lace that barely concealed their figures and open corsets. They surrounded the men with a chirp, filling the air with ringing laughter and sickly-sweet aromas.
Two girls immediately clung to Anastas. One of them boldly placed her palm on his chest, looking into his eyes, while the other grabbed his elbow, pressing her whole body against him. Everything inside him shrank with repulsion. He was disgusted by these feigned caresses, the explicitness of the outfits, and the place itself. But his face remained calm. He softly, even gallantly, covered the girl's hand with his own, answering her with a polite smile.
Eist put his arm around the bare waist of a dark-haired beauty who approached him. He leaned right to her ear and whispered something that made the girl burst into ringing laughter, playfully hitting his shoulder with her fan. Eist's movements were so natural, and his gaze so relaxed, that it seemed as if he were a regular at such salons, and this played right into their hands.
Then he gently freed himself from the girls and took a step toward the Madam, who was watching the scene with a smile.
Eist leaned slightly toward her.
"Your wards are charming, Madam," he said in a half-whisper, so that only she could hear. "Truly, they are beautiful. But, you see... long travels make tastes rather specific. A woman's caress is a classic, but today my friend and I are looking for... a somewhat different variety."
He paused, looking meaningfully into her eyes.
"We need something unusual," he continued, taking a purse from his pocket and letting the coins clink softly.
The Madam's gaze changed instantly. Her smile grew even wider.
"Ah, is that so," she replied quietly, making a slight hand gesture, after which the girls obediently, albeit reluctantly, stepped away from the guests.
"I understand you. True connoisseurs of beauty do not limit themselves. I have what you are looking for. Please, follow me. I will show you the way."
She turned and headed toward a wide staircase leading to the upper floors. Anastas exchanged a glance with Eist.
They climbed the wide, carpeted staircase to the second floor, where the Madam led the guests into a small, secluded parlor. The room was luxuriously furnished, and it was significantly quieter here.
The Madam turned to the men, smoothly lowering her hands onto the folds of her gown.
"So, gentlemen," she began ingratiatingly, tilting her head slightly. "What exactly are your specific preferences? My house is famous for being able to satisfy the most refined and demanding tastes. Tell me, what exactly can pique your interest?"
"You see, Madam... ordinary, obedient dolls, of which there is an abundance in any establishment in London, bore us to death. We are, frankly, satiated with excessive submissiveness. Our taste leans toward fair-haired youths. But not just pretty porcelain faces, rather those possessing a lively mind and, more importantly, a vivid, perhaps even obstinate character."
Eist subconsciously assumed that Thomas would under no circumstances submit meekly to his kidnappers and had surely already managed to show his character.
While he spoke, Anastas seemingly casually shifted the flap of his traveling frock coat. A weighty, tightly stuffed suede pouch showed on his leather belt. With Anastas's every movement, the clinking of gold coins came from it.
Eist leaned a little closer to the woman and added in a quiet, intimate half-whisper:
"We need someone new; we want to be the first. And, I assure you, we are ready to pay generously for a genuine treasure."
"Certainly, we have such specimens."
"Sounds intriguing," Anastas spoke up. "In that case, may we take a look at him right now? Before we conclude our little deal."
With a light, barely noticeable gesture, the Madam snapped her fan open and softly shook her head.
"Unfortunately, gentlemen, the policy of the house does not allow new, unverified guests to fully inspect all... the merchandise. But I give you my word: you will be delighted."
Tension hung in the air for a second.
"Well, rules are rules," Eist uttered, taking a step toward the mistress of the house.
He gracefully took the Madam's lace-gloved hand and, slowly, without taking his piercing, seductive gray eyes off her, brought it to his lips. Eist placed a barely perceptible, gallant kiss on her fingers.
"Lead us. We rely entirely on your impeccable taste."
The Madam stopped at a fork in a long, secluded corridor on the third floor.
"Our house honors the privacy and peace of its guests, gentlemen," the woman said, pointing to two opposite doors. "A separate room has been prepared for each of you."
Anastas frowned imperceptibly, exchanging a quick glance with Eist.
So, there are two boys?
Anastas literally prayed to all known powers that luck would be on their side, that fate would take pity on them, and that the one behind his door would be Thomas.
A servant gestured for Anastas to enter. The door closed behind him.