There is a brief silence, followed by the grinding of teeth, and finally a long-suffering sigh.
"They should have given us better intel, and a whole 'nother team to deal with you folks. We're... I'm with the Brotherhood. All I know is that someone wants your employer, and you, dead. You might as well kill me, the Brotherhood doesn't treat failure kindly."
He sighs again.
The "Brotherhood" can only refer to the Brotherhood of Silence, the infamous thieves' guild.
Lotti raises an eyebrow at the theatrics, but keeps her mouth shut. After the assassin speaks, she waggles her fingers slightly to catch Marius's and Konstiantina's attention. Once their eyes are on her, she holds up two fingers, then one. She pantomimes counting coins to each of her companions (including His Grace, who is currently busy cleaning his hindquarters), then motions first to the halfling, taps her finger against her temple, and then to herself with a questioning look on her face.
Two fingers, then two again. Point to the halfling, then turn them upside-down and make them walk from as high as she can reach down to the floor. Trace the path in the air back up to the top with a single finger. A questioning look.
Rose, who'd sat down near the unconscious halflings partly to keep an eye on them in case they suddenly started waking up too, tries to maintain a neutral expression throughout this first exchange. She was partly fascinated and partly caught off-guard by the somewhat macabre techniques employed by Marius, but apparently, fear seemed to be working.
...Bummer.
She'd expected better after their earlier willingness to die. Maybe she wouldn't get to practice playing Velvet.
Still, maybe she could support Marius and Konstiantina a little bit, especially if Lotti was also helping out, and simply get on with it the quick and easy way. This wasn't a game, after all, and not all plans could be put to motion.
She nods silently at 'her servant's' suggestions, then opens her purse to take out a small knitting set.
Then, she keeps her gaze on the awake yet blinded halfling's features as she begins to knit a small finger-puppet that vaguely displays his most prominent characteristics.
"Let's see how much else he's willing to tell before further encouragement is needed."
She points to Lotti, then the doll, then herself. Then makes a 'scare' motion with her hands gestures to the halfling, then her ear, followed by a questioning handraise. She seems to wiggle her fingertips a bit afterwards and tightens her grip on the fabric of the doll.
Konstiantina stands with her arms crossed, looking imperious, disdainful, expression as hard as marble. Her braided golden hair falls like twin thick ropes down over each shoulder, its metallic sheen betraying her angelic heritage, and in the garb of her goddess she appears more an angel of retribution than the young noblewoman her companions know her to be.
Her gaze slides over to her companions as they mime and convey their queries, and then she stares down at the confessed assassin with no pity.
"Whom do you believe our employer to be? How did you get to these chambers, and what is the way to the surface? Were you aware of the king's plans? Do you have any idea as to what's to happen next?"
The halfling snorts. "The Grand Prince's plans? Waaay above my paygrade, lady. We were just hired to deal with Martella and her associates." He lifts his head a little, trying to orient himself. "We came through... that way, I think. There's a door that leads to the Senate basement, it was plastered over and hidden behind shelves."
When the assassin mentions Martella aloud, Marius sighs softly. "So it wasn't me after all," he shakes his head in mock disappointment. "Where were your teams to meet up, after you'd dealt with your respective targets? I want Wyssilka."
Konstiantina turns to stare in the direction the halfling points, her heart beating strongly at the indication that there is indeed a way out. After so many hours spent stumbling through these ruined halls and chambers, she was beginning to fear - childishly, perhaps - that they'd never escape them.
"And *why* did you come down here? Did you somehow know where to look for us?" Rose asks from the side. "Because if they know, chances are Pythareus and the phalanx, as well as the rest of these assassins, also do."
She tried to sound a little lower than usual in case the 'dead' halflings were starting to wake up and the second part of the interrogation act still had to be done. Though at this rate, with him telling everything up front, it was becoming more and more likely there was no need to make things any more complicated. She was now willing to hedge her bets.
The halfling hesitates for a long moment before answering Marius's question, but then smirks to himself. "The Dignified Repository. It's a warehouse in Crownsgate, Martella's safe house." He cocks his head towards Rose. "Wyssilka instructed me and my colleague to investigate the sudden disappearance of our other colleague, as well as yourselves, from the gala. We scoured the Senate basement, but when we didn't find anyone we had a suspicion that the badges transported you somewhere even deeper."
Lotti raises an eyebrow. Remarkably well-informed, she muses. Both of the badges' abilities and where they were set to transport their wearers. But with her most pressing questions answered, she remains silent and waits to see what Marius and Konstiantina want to do with the loose-lipped liabilities.
Likewise, Rose glances between the holy warriors. She points to the halflings and makes a questioning gesture.
It could refer to anything, ranging from what to do right now: Were there any more questions?
To the obvious follow-up: What to do with them? Take them prisoner? Leave them? ...Kill them even, perhaps, in lieu of a missing prison and/or court of justice?
Or something else? Let (a few of) them go intentionally to perhaps gain their trust and use it to everyone's advantage later? But they were assassins...
Rose was peering at them intently, but what she thought remained a mystery.
Marius' jaw tightens when Martella's safe house is mentioned--it's wasn't a subtle message. "I see. Thank you for your cooperation," With brutal efficiency the inquisitor draws back his boot and plants it in the halfling's face.
Turning back to the others, Marius just grimaces. "Sorry you all had to see that. Whoever dispatched these ones after us knows a hell of a lot--perhaps they already knew of the senate badges' effect, or maybe they used magic to locate Imistos and pieced it together. Either way, we must decide what to do with them."
"No problem, and well done. They said a lot more than I expected. Seems I am prone to overthinking things indeed. And here I had the whole script ready, too!" Rose laments, pouting slightly.
She regards the unconscious halflings again and her features settle back to a more serious tone. "Normally, I'd be in favor of arresting them. They are assassins, after all - not the usual thieves from this guild we Nobles sometimes use in political games. However... given the situation we're in, such luxury isn't open to us. What passes for the law now is the two of you, Marius and Konstiantina."
There's a touch of discomfort as she averts her eyes. "That said, I see only three real options. The first..." she hesitates. "...We kill them here and now. I don't like being an executioner of helpless prisoners. But... that's safest to both us and those with us. However, it gains us nothing else in the long run. What else they might know is lost forever, as is how we could have used them to our advantage."
"The second option: we try taking them prisoner and with us - presumably to hand them in to whatever passes for the law upside now, or hopefully an ally of the princess instead. Risky, as we have no idea if we can manage that, and they could escape or attack again on the way. And if it's Pythareus or Stavian in charge, they'd probably be released. However, maybe our friends can get more information out of them later."
She yawns for a moment as all the day's fighting, searching and worrying starts to creep up on her more. "Lastly... we could still do a bit of theatre and let them go. Or at least, the two of them who didn't tell us all this, and don't know we know they're about to hit our Patron. If they believe one of us is on their side, it might provide opportunities later. If this thieves guild is starting to become an assassin's guild, maybe that could lead our side - probably the Lion Blades - into their base to take them out. But that requires letting two assassins walk out into the open, and the plan is risky. Also, now that these people know how strong you are, they won't underestimate you again. That could cost us."
Konstiantina stares down at the unmoving halflings, seeming to mull over Rose's words, and then gives a firm shake of her head.
"Chaos stalks the streets above, but that doesn't give us license for cold blooded murder. Defending ourselves is one thing, but slitting the throats of unconscious people?" Her gaze is bleak as she considers her companions.
"We will bring them to the surface and decide whom to hand them over to when we gain a lay of the land. I know it is inconvenient. I know there is a chance they could escape or be freed and attack us again. But I prefer to risk such dangers than imperil our souls by taking a darker path."
Unless anyone strenuously objects, Konstiantina will search the halflings again to make sure they absolutely do not have any knives or wires or other thieving implements secreted about their beings, then bind their wrists behind their backs, and fashion two leashes with which to pull them behind her with their hoods on.
The corners of Rose's mouth rise slightly on hearing the words. "Noble, as expected. Workable? We'll have to see. Steering a line of bound prisoners through a city in battle, where just one word from them gives us away to the guards... you certainly don't lack courage. I just hope it doesn't get us killed."
She shift her gaze to Marius and Lotti. "What about you? Are you in favor of this idea as well?"
Lotti chuckles grimly. “I know it feels like we’ve been down here for an eternity, but remember the mayhem going on before we popped down here for tea? Something about the Grand Prince trying to murder every noble and commoner in the Senate? I have a sneaking suspicion anyone who might have looked at us suspiciously will have bigger fish to fry for at least another day.”
“As for walking them out…” The old woman taps a finger against her hand in thought for a moment. “It’s hardly graceful and certainly demeaning, but if they stay unconscious you could just carry them out over your shoulders like sacks of potatoes - one for each of you.”
Malphene speaks up at Lotti's suggestion. "I can help carry them. I want them brought to justice."
The other nobles exchange uneasy looks. "As relieved as we are at the prospect to finally be out of these catacombs... we hardly make for an inconspicuous group," offers Lady Clement, pointedly glancing at their gala outfits - some of them torn and bloodied, and all of them dirty and dusty, but still unmistakeably rich garments.
"Perhaps we'll find something in the basement, then." Senator Amadorian Dou is perhaps the least flashy of the group, in his subdued grey clothing.
Marius shrugs at Rose's query. "Phalanx doctrine says to hog-tie them and leave them separated--either come back for them later or let them be found by their allies later. I rather suspect they don't know much more." He pauses, giving Konstiantina a quick glance. "Turning them over to the authorities, specifically Eutropia's authority, will be difficult and risky to ourselves--but I think we should try."
"All right. Carrying them it is. Assuming we can keep them unconscious-" - Rose glances to Marius' boot, the one he used to kick in the talking halfling's face - "That might be doable. And there might be trick we can use to talk ourselves out of it if we draw the wrong attention."
"Let's check the door leading out. If it's still locked, we could tmporarily barricade this side and rest in relative safety before re-entering the Senate proper. I'd prefer not to take chances now."
The northern door is neither locked nor trapped, and it leads into a series of basement rooms, many of them showing signs of disuse, as furniture draped in dusty sheets, mouldering stacks of parchment, mismatched crockery and broken odds and ends litter the space.
After confirming with a brief look that the basement rooms seems empty, Marius comes back to the prisoners, binding their hands with a few strips of cloth cut from their clothes, then hefts the one he kicked up onto his shoulder.
"Quickly and quietly now, I believe we're nearly there," he reassures the small gaggle of priests and nobles following in their wake.
Konstiantina nods to Malphene as the noblewoman hefts the other halfling, and then moves to take the fore once again, her blade drawn, her expression marred by a slight frown of concentration as she navigates the dusty basement rooms in search of the indicated door.
"We should seek to quit the senate building as quickly as possible," she whispers back to the others. "I'd warrant it still lies under the Strategos' control. The sooner we're on the city streets the better."
So saying, she leads them on.
Rose nods and follows, momentarily switching back to her rapier - it was less conspicuous than the crossbow. Not by much, especially if drawn, but still. "If there's no barrier of sorts and the halflings could just wander over here, I don't think we even have a choice. We have to go - and now. Let's see if we can find some spare clothes for out guests on the way."
She keeps an eye out for wardrobes on the way - or other items in the disused basement that seemed useful or valuable.
One of the storage rooms contains a few chests of outdated and moth-eaten outfits for Senate servants and guards, which are donned with only minimal fuss by Lady Trant, Lady Clement, and Lord Lymere. The Abadaran cleric refuses to abandon the vestments of his faith.
The meandering corridors and stairs finally lead to a familiar sight for some - the servant area in the Senate building, which lay abandoned and in disarray. Beyond them, the sprawling building is a charnel house: the bodies of nobles, servants, Lion Blades, Senate guards, and even the Ulfen Guard still lie where they fell. A few exhausted looking soldiers wander the halls, seemingly taking records of the dead.
One of them halts as she notices the haggard group, straightening up from where she was kneeling next to a body. "My ladies, my lords, glad to see you safe. I must ask you to leave the premises, however, due to the recent... political turmoil."
"Yes, that's an excellent idea, we really should be going my lady." Lotti adopts her cowering servant persona as she hides behind Rose's skirts, using the motion to hide the gentle tug towards the exit. "We really shouldn't be bothering the guards right now, should we my lady, and your mother will be worried sick about you. Let's go find her right away so she knows you're safe."
Lotti seems to be referring to Lady Martella.
At first, Rose has no idea what to say. Her immediate instinct was to ask about what happened as neutrally as possible without giving away where they'd been, but this person belonged to the phalanx, and was probably loyal to Pythareus...
No. Lotti was probably right. If they were given a free pass out by some insane stroke of luck, she shouldn't question it, nor push it even further. There was plenty of time to talk to their allies outside later, who could tell them the exact same things without them being at risk of arrest.
"You are quite right, servant. Normally, I'd admonish you for speaking on my behalf, but the day's events have been very tiring indeed," Rose allows hints of irritation and exhaustion to slip into her tone and body language. "We shall withdraw and rest. Thank you for your good work, madam soldier. I pray this unenviable task won't take too much more of your time."
Unless stopped, she proceeds to walk to the nearest exit and leads the others outside.
Giving the soldier an even, measuring look and nod of acknowledgement, Marius follows the others out.
The sun is just beginning to rise as the group exits the Senate building, casting a pale light on the steps, now strewn with discarded items and stained with blood. The streets stand empty, a stark contrast to the jubilant celebration of the previous evening. Instead of riots and chaos, an uncertain silence fills the air, with only a few people meandering about.
Lord Lymere clears his throat. "My ladies, my lord, I have no words to express my profound gratitude for rescuing us and leading us to safety. These are very troubled times, but seeing you rally together and overcome an almost impossible situation... this gives me hope for the future." He pulls out a small notebook from his coat pocket, scribbling a few lines, then ripping the page and holding it out. "This is a note to my banker at the Cathedral of Coins. Show it to any clerk and they will do the rest."
Lady Zariyah Clement nods, unhooking an exquisite pearl and silver necklace from around her throat and likewise holding it out. "Indeed, we are most grateful. And aside from any material rewards, you have earned the favour of my house. You are always welcome on my estate - it is north of Oppara, near the Verduran Forest."
Senator Amadorian Dou looks a little discomfited at these displays of wealth and power, but raises his chin as he steps forward. "I have no jewels or coin to offer in return for saving my life, but I will put my skills and knowledge at your disposal, should you need me in the future." He glances at Malphene Trant, who looks a little distracted as she chews on her lower lip.
Meanwhile, Mirann has been growing increasingly agitated, and finally the dancer blurts out "I need to find my sister!" as she gathers the layers of silk that make up her outfit and breaks into a run down the street.
"It seems... much more peaceful than I'd have imagined," Rose remarks, seeing the streets mostly empty. "Well... something to worry about later. For now, I am very relieved we got out, and that the soldier didn't even mention the unconscious halflings we carry. Must have been too exhausted to want to bother, or such."
She shrugs and turns to the nobles when they exit, hearing their words of gratitude. When Lord Lymyre pays them, she simply nods and takes the bank note. "As we promised, we delivered. So did you, I am glad to see. Safe journeys, my Lord."
"My thanks to you as well, Lady Zaiyah, for both rewards. For what it is worth, I believe I inadvertidly said something to upset you earlier in the maze. I would very much like to apologize for whatever it was you took offense to before parting."
She nods at Senator Dou and likewise thanks him for all his assistance in identifying items. If he has a moment before leaving, she asks him for the third time if he recognizes either of the two magical rings they found, as he seemed to forget the previous two instances.
Finally, to Malphene, she smiles. "And certainly not least, thank you for all your assistance to us, Malphene. Your aid in the fighting was invaluable. I must confess I've even grown to enjoy our chats! But... more seriously, please be careful. Even if your family chooses to support Pythareus. We were all there when Stavian ordered the attack on all of us. I still think he couldn't have gotten that many assassins in without the Strategos knowing, even if you don't believe we heard him allude to such. May you be well, and may we meet again in better circumstances."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Lady Clement nods at the apology and gives Rose a rare smile. "It seems such a small thing now, considering all that has happened. I was merely... sensitive about my family's origins. I do not like it when people take me for anything other than Taldan."
As Rose addresses Malphene, the young woman starts out of her reverie, looking distinctly conflicted. "I, uh, thank you. I'll think about what you said. I just hope my father is still alive." She hovers for another moment or two, watching the streets anxiously, before turning to the group again and offering a hurried curtsy. "Thank you all, I hope to see you again. I apologize for..." she waves a hand vaguely at the Senate building behind them, as her gaze comes to rest on Senator Dou. "I'm sorry. I have to go now."
Jowuan Zubari, the Abadaran cleric, hurries off after Lady Trant, muttering his own thanks, while the rest of the nobles and senators disperse to seek out their own homes - and hopefully some clarity in the aftermath of the night's events.
As the nobles disperse, Marius rolls his shoulders wearily. "This one," he jostles the unconscious assassin he carries for emphasis, "said that Lady Martella's safehouse was where Ms. TheFantabulous was headed. We should make haste.
"We should indeed," says the paladin, her tone for a moment weary, but then she visibly draws herself up, sets her jaw, and turns to orient herself on the streets.
"Well done, everyone." She sets forth, striding with a purpose. "As dangerous and frustrating as our escape from those rooms proved to be, it's obvious our travails are just beginning. The sooner we reach Martella the better."
The group sets towards Crownsgate, a district on the other side of the canal from the Senate building. Away from the epicenter of the night's events, streets are a little more populated, and people gather in small groups discussing the rumours.
Foreign assassins attempted to kill the Grand Prince and all the members of the senate.
No, it was a coup attempt by the Pathfinder Society.
The Grand Prince is missing, and so is Princess Eutropia.
Princess Eutropia killed the Grand Prince, then fled to Qadira.
The Grand Prince attempted to execute the entire senate.
The Ulfen Guard has secured the imperial palace and no-one can get in.
The Ulfen Guard betrayed the Grand Prince and tried to kill him.
Chelish agents have infiltrated the Senate and summoned demons at the Exaltation Gala.
Walking across the bridge towards Crownsgate, a cloaked and hooded figure leaning on the railing turns to whisper to Rose. "Lady Talbot, a word." The figure twitches their hood aside, revealing the strong features of Lady Gloriana Morilla.
"Lady... Morilla?" Rose asks, eyes wide as she carefully approaches. She looks the other woman up and down and stops just out of striking distance. "I'm sorry, but while I really want to believe I am seeing a friendly face, we've already been betrayed at least twice today. Thus, before anything else, I feel inclined to ask: what was it we discussed in the courtyard, and with whom?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The other woman nods, likewise lowering her voice. "Your caution is wise. You delivered a letter, complimented my gown, and I introduced you to the Marquess Deschamps. Your friend performed for us, and I entrusted you with two messages to deliver."
She narrows her eyes at Rose. "I also remember a rather cryptic warning. I won't waste time now inquiring about that, however - I believe that our mutual friend is in danger. Have you heard anything from her in the last few hours?"
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Leaning against the bridge railing a discreet distance from Rose and Lady Morilla, Marius considers the tangle of rumors and tries to wrap his head around what the Grand Prince and High Strategos could possibly have hoped to accomplish with a bloodbath in the Senate.
"It's all so damned senseless," he growls, his hand curling into frustrated fists.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Not senseless," says Konstiantina, moving to stand beside Marius, hands on the railing as she gazes out over the river. "Irrational, yes, but there's a sense to it. Power is always its own justification. Either the Grand Prince strives to accumulate more, or someone acts through him to do the same. I'd guess his attempt to destroy the Senate failed, else he'd have locked down the building. Let's just hope enough powers survived the onslaught to now stand against him."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
“That’s because we don’t see all the pieces at play yet,” Lotti answers, scooping Wobblekins up and depositing him on the railing next to Marius. “But if you give up hope now, you’re surrendering any chance you might have had to make sense of it all. Chin up and all that - I’m sure there’s a saying in the navy about it.”
The other woman nods, likewise lowering her voice. "Your caution is wise. You delivered a letter, complimented my gown, and I introduced you to the Marquess Deschamps. Your friend performed for us, and I entrusted you with two messages to deliver."
She narrows her eyes at Rose. "I also remember a rather cryptic warning. I won't waste time now inquiring about that, however - I believe that our mutual friend is in danger. Have you heard anything from her in the last few hours?"
Relieved at this reassurance, Rose allows herself to relax and moves to the railing of the bridge next to the other woman. "To answer the implied question regardless, my hands were somewhat tied. Let's say I tried to warn certain friends whom I believed could strike back in case of attack. I... trusted the source and felt the threat was real, but that not everyone on our side took it as seriously. And I wasn't sure who was listening in. Too overt at the wrong time, such as in a crowded courtyard, and the attack might have triggered earlier, before anyone had *any* time to prepare. I was forced to trust these friends to organize our defense and seek eachother out."
Her eyes glaze as she remembers the start and aftermath of the massacre."Though... from what I saw, I don't think my efforts made much, if any, difference. Perhaps I made an error of judgement in how I acted."
She lowers her head slightly towards the other woman by ways of apology, or perhaps respect for her implied superior experience. "Yet, as you say, that is not a current matter of concern. We haven't heard from this friend in the past hours. But we think we know where she is. She has a safehouse, and assassins from the Brotherhood of Silence believe she is there. We learned through interrogation that they intend to strike there. If you can offer any aid as we go to help, we would be grateful."
Lady Morilla pulls the hood over her face again, her expression shadowed and impossible to read. "Do not sell yourself so short, Lady Talbot. From what I've seen, no one who wasn't on Stavian's side was supposed to get out of that room alive. Yet, many of us did. And I know our friend well enough to surmise that it was in part thanks to your warning - she is not the kind of person to ignore danger."
She leans back from the bridge railing, gazing towards the Crownsgate district. "A safehouse, you say? Is that where you are headed now? If you know its location, I can send my remaining agents there to assist you. They're... a little green, so don't expect much from them, but a the very least they should provide a distraction before they have to retreat."
Not seeing an immediate reason to refuse extra help from a party Martella herself trusted, Rose agrees. She'd just have to trust that Martella knew what she was doing, and that her judgement had been sound all the way through. "Thank you, my Lady. It's a warehouse named 'The Dignified Repository'. I don't know exactly where it is, or anything other than its name, as I learned of its existence just now. But we should be able to find it soon enough. Oh... if I may, do you perhaps have a suggestion on where to deposit the unconscious halfling assassins with us? We are looking for any party aligned with us capable of inprisoning and interrogating them further. But we currently have no idea whose allegiance is which, or even whom survived the night. I could always deposit them in the cellar of an aligned business of the family, but that's risky, and might lead to uncomfortable questions."
"Hope is well and good, Ms. Qeb, but I'd like a plan too," Marius scritches Wobblekins' behind his ears. He nods towards where Rose is conferring quietly with Lady Morilla. "Shall we see what trouble Rose is committing us to?"
At that precise moment, Rose turns to face Marius and gives him an over-the-shoulder mysterious smile.
Then she resumes her conversation with Lady Morilla.
"I know the place, and I can explain to you how to get there," responds Gloriana Morilla, an eyebrow raising at the mention of halfling assassins. "I am loathe to involve myself with assassin organizations, but I believe the Lion Blades would be your best bet. They work for Taldor, not for any political faction, and they are secretive enough - which is also a problem when you need to get in touch with them." She gives a faint smile. "I will put the word out that there are some persons of interest to them..." She thinks for a moment, tapping her chin lightly. "There's a boarded up office not far from here, from a shipping company that went bankrupt. You can stash them there."
She turns to look the other way, back towards the Senate building. "I have to take my leave for now. My agents that are still in Oppara will converge on the Dignified Repository and do what they can to ease your task. I hope you find our friend alive and well. Good luck."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Once Morilla leaves, Konstiantina steps in close and smiles tightly at Rose.
"You've done well, Rose. At least, none of the people I spoke with at the reception have sought me out since." There is a tired humor to the words, and then she looks at the bound halflings.
[b]"We should move quickly. There's no telling how much danger Martella is in. Let's drop these assassins off at the boarded office, and then hurry to the Dignified Repository. Agreed?"
And so saying, the paladin takes off at a lope, her garments flapping about her legs, one hand steadying the bound halfling that Malphene had been carrying, the other on the hilt of her blade to stop it from clacking against her legs.
Reshouldering his own unconscious burden, Marius follows.
It is only a short walk to Lady Morilla's indicated halfling assassin repository, which is a blessing as the three bodies, small as they may be, are becoming quite a burden to carry around - not to mention that they attract the curious glances of the few people who venture on the streets.
Upon reaching the former office, pulling out the boards barring the entrance and breaking the lock is no great challenge, and so the three Brotherhood of Silence members are safely stashed inside.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"You've done well, Rose. At least, none of the people I spoke with at the reception have sought me out since." There is a tired humor to the words.
Rose snorts at the notion, bemused. "Well, next time you can wear one of my gowns, and I'm sure you won't lack for admirers yourself!"
Halfway through the motion of re-lifting her very own halfling, she winces and drops him, then reaches for her feet. "On second thought... maybe not. Just so that in case something else goes horribly wrong next year, you won't be stuck carrying around bodies in heels on uneven pavement."
She looks around, then starts for a nearby alleyway. "Excuse me for a moment. I would have done this sooner, but feared such an indecent act would have reached the very heights of scandals among the lords and ladies - and might just have caused them to faint in the middle of a deadly maze."
The next moment, she takes her dagger and opens the lower part of her ball gown with a single precise cut, drastically increasing the available range of motion for her legs. Then, she bends down to her left shoe, takes it, and breaks off the heel. She repeats the process for the right shoe and breathes a sigh of relief when she can finally walk flat-footed again. "Okay... done," she continues, hoisting the assassin succesfully now with but a single grunt. "Yes, let's drop them off first. But, I would suggest we at least buy some overcoats somewhere on the way to the warehouse. We look like the most conspicous group ever - at the very least like Gala survivors out in the open very much against our dear Grand Prince's wishes."