Lady D'Mejeri noticed counselor Mustashar was acting shifty, like he was waiting for a chance to slip away. She had never trusted the man: his advice seemed just enough to provoke her father into war, but never to take any blame for it. He was just insightful enough to be harmless, but never good enough to be truly useful. He had also only arrived recently, from nondescript faraway lands on the east, offering important information about the monster hordes. No one had doubted him when it turned out to be correct, but wasn't it way too convenient?
She had come into the conclusion he was either not very bright, or that he hid something under that competent facade. She observed him closely. He was giving short but polite responses to queries from the other courtesans, while slowly inching towards the back exit.
She wanted to follow him, but it would be unbecoming for a lady to follow a man unaccompanied. She excused himself ("I'm not feeling very well father, I'm retiring to my chambers") and hatched a plan. She dug into her (ample, very well stocked) wardrobe, and made an a baggy, veiled outfit that hid her features as much as possible. She changed as fast as she could: the courtesans would stall Mustashar, but not forever. If he lost him, she would not find him again.
When she sneaked out of her room, she saw him very near the exit… yet he didn't take it. He walked fast towards the east wing of the palace. Why was he going to the place where most chambers were? Wasn't he trying to avoid being crowded?
When he climbed the side stairs to reach the chamber floor, she followed him as silently, as slowly, as she could afford. She was only five steps on it when every light seemed to dim. When she could finally see again, she found herself surrounded by five masked men.