Leaving the Slums

Satisfied with the way her negotiations went, Alice left the tavern in a rather happy mood. Having accomplished all that she set out to do,{if orb = true} as well as getting her hands on a valuable artifact,{endif}there was no more reason to stay in the slums. Plus, it would be night soon, and even Alice wasn't foolish enough to brave this lawless place when the sun no longer shines. Making her way out of the tavern, she returned to the dirty, desolate streets. She was definitely going to need a bath after this...

Alice first noticed that she was being followed about one block down from the tavern. Her keen senses alerted her to danger, and her composure allowed her to analyze the situation calmly, without her pursuers realizing that they've been spotted. Still, she could feel a powerful fear clench at her heart, causing her heart to pound madly within her chest. She was still quite a ways from making it out of the slums, and owing to her lack of familiarity with the environment, didn't know any shortcuts that she could take to cut that distance down. She doubted that anyone here would be willing to help her, even if she were to scream and shout. No, she would have to rely on herself for this one. Next time, she was definitely bringing Finley.

Turning her head slightly, Alice saw two tall men, walking on either side of the road, the lower half of their faces obscured by cloth masks. They walked quickly, each stride of theirs matching two of her own, and soon, they would catch her. Her thoughts going a mile a minute, Alice tried to think. She couldn't lose them, they knew this place better than her. She couldn't outrun them, they were taller and probably faster, with more stamina to boot. Plus, there's always the chance that they could have someone waiting in her path to cut her off too. Her only saving grace was the dagger hidden in her belt.

Still, Alice couldn't help but wonder if she was just a random target, or if they actually knew she was the crown princess. She couldn't discount the possibility that her enemies or one of her brothers had put a hit out on her, however unlikely it was. If they were just normal thugs though, perhaps they can be reasoned with or bribed, if she had sufficient coin.

By now, their footsteps were loud enough to be heard right behind her, and they were not longer being sneaky about their approach. Alice estimated she had about two minutes before they caught her at this pace.

What to do...?