Raise and raise well. It was not an ideal situation- my mother dying and leaving her debt and another mouth to feed- but they took care of me and the other children; made certain none of the customers ever were under the impression we too might be bought, and ensured we were not hungry or beaten for scampering about as children are wont to do. Most trouble we found came from wandering the market beyond the brothel, finding trouble as street urchins are wont to do.

[ He never spoke much of those women, the life he led in that warm, colorful building. It all seemed too personal to share with most but Araceli...Araceli would understand. ]

It is where I learned how to braid my hair and apply basic makeup- I could never quite get the hang of the way they would line their brows or eyes when I was that young, but I could color their lips quite well. [ Ah, memories. ] I think it is because the Inquisition was founded as a branch of the Chantry- and the chantry mothers and sisters might find a brothel on the grounds to be sinful? I do not understand it myself, Sorellina, I truly do not.