Aegis’ plan seemed to work. The cultists were splitting up and many were pursuing her. After running a safe distance she ducked into one of the Halfling hovels that lay along the main street, much to the surprise of the dwellings’ inhabitants. She wasted no time, leaping through a window and crashing through another doorway into one of the many back alleys of the district. Sweat pouring out of her despite the cool night breeze, she tore through the back alleys zigging and zagging. Surely there was a way into the city, hopefully the others were able to use her distraction to their advantage. She hugged a wall while she caught her breath, glancing back to see if she was being followed. The coast was clear. She let out a sigh of relief before turning back, only to find members of a Halfling street gang before her.
She smiled. Friends wanting to play! The madness had not quite worked its way out of her system as she drew her rapier and danced with the boys. It was just like her uncle had always taught her, dancing smoothly and gracefully, not allowing their blades to touch her as she danced about drawing pretty pictures with the tip of her rapier. Some of her friends got tired of dancing and decided to take a nap. The last one left seemed to be done dancing, throwing his blade down and raising his hands in surrender.
“You don’t want to play with me?” She asked, innocently. No sooner had she spoken than an explosion shook the hovels around her and fire erupted into the night sky.
“What the hell was that?” Her new playmate asked.
“Probably my friends. Why won’t you play with me?” She took a step toward him.
“What do you want man? Seriously, you’re freaking me out.” The Halfling looked ready to run.
“I just want inside the wall tonight. My friends are expecting me.” The Halfling looked at her in confusion and bolted. She matched pace with him through the alleys and before long exhaustion began to set in. She overtook him and stood over him as he panted, hands on knees, trying to catch his breath. The point of her rapier raised his chin. “Do you know a way through the wall?”
“Whatever, man. I know a guy who knows a guy.” He backed away from the rapier’s point and gestured for her to follow him. A smirk crossed his face as she calmly skipped behind him. This elf had no idea what he was getting himself into. Looking back, the Halfling began second guessing himself. Damn elven androgyny and flippant behavior. If it’s a girl the boss will be pleased. “We’re here.” He knocked on the door to one of the upscale hovels and a grate slid open.
“Who’s the elf?” A coarse voice from behind the grate muttered.
“Someone to see the boss. Business.” The Halfling muttered back. After a second of looking Aegis over, the door was unlatched and opened revealing a much more stout Halfling with a cudgel at his side.
“Alright, I’ll take her from here.” The coarse voice boomed without the grate in the way. The original Halfling leaned in and whispered to the stout Halfling. “Alright” Was his only response.
Aegis looked up from dusting off her cloak to marvel at the hive of new friends she had found. Surely they would help her find her other friends. She followed the stout Halfling deep into a back room, where a Halfling lounged on a sofa, smoking a pipe. The pipe smoker stopped puffing on his pipe as the stout Halfling walked up and whispered in his ear. A smile on her face, Aegis looked about the hovel’s accommodations. It seemed a very nice, clean change from the streets outside. As her eyes met the pipe smoking Halfling, his smile matched hers.
“So I hear you have some business with me. What can I do for you, my tall friend?” Yay! Friends!
“I need to get through the wall. My friends are waiting for me.” Aegis beamed with joy at the thought of being reunited with the others.
“I know a guy who will let you through the tunnel. For a price. And of course there’s my finder’s fee.” He smiled a wicked smile. The elf must be loaded, walking around with that sort of armor on display. “But first there’s the issue of compensation for my boys that you slaughtered.” The stout Halfling drew his cudgel and began tapping it in the palm of his hand. More Halflings surrounded Aegis.
“You want to dance too! I hope you’re not as tired as the other little guys!” She drew her rapier and began dancing with the room full of Halflings. It was harder to avoid their weapons in the close quarters, but before long the room was filled with bleeding men. No blood fell from Aegis’ wounds as her armor slurped it up greedily. The pipe fell from the mouth of the boss. “Why won’t you play with me, mister?” Aegis smiled at him innocently. “It seems like all your friends got tired, but I’m just starting to have fun!”
“Okay, okay, put that thing away, I’ll get you through the wall.” Aegis never stopped smiling. It unnerved the boss. Something was seriously deranged about this elf. He whistled for more of his boys to come treat the wounded and motioned one over. “Take this elf to Rogarr’s tunnel. It’ll be his problem then.”
Bowing graciously, Aegis followed the new Halfling out of the hovel and through the alleys to a nondescript building not terribly far from the moat around the city. A cryptic knock opened the door into a regular room with a dining table and some chairs. Two humans moved the table aside after closing the door and lifted the carpet beneath it, revealing a hatch. Opening the hatch they motioned Aegis into the tunnel. She smiled and bowed to them, traveling down the tunnel. Realizing the Halfling wasn’t following she turned and waved him goodbye. He looked relieved for some reason. Oh well.