No, it's too dangerous

Teysa shook her head. "There's got to be another way, Dom. We can't go there. What would we even tell them? If we were drow, maybe... but what cover story could we have.

Dom shrugged. "You have a point, I suppose. But you have to talk to this woman. We have no idea who she is or what she looks like. You may have noticed-- it's kind of a big city. Do you have any other ideas?"

"Not so far," Teysa replied. "Li, what do you think?"

Aliara considered. "If we can't go to her, maybe she can come to us. Dom, running an establishment like this, you must have your ear to the ground. Who's running the underground these days?"

Dom gawked. "Miss Aliara, what are you talking about? What would you know about-"

"Cut the shit, Dom. I've been here before. I knew Jerath, but that was more than a decade ago, and I doubt he's still operating. So who is it?"

Dom narrowed his eyes and favored Aliara with a sliver of grin. "Jerath got himself lost about four years back. Nobody's managed to get as much of a lock on things as he used to have, but the biggest piece of the pie went to an operator who goes by "the Eel." She runs protection, takes a cut from the Thieves' Guild, and moves contraband. I can get you a meeting with her if you're sure this is what you want. Are you sure?" He shrugged. "If you're thinking of dealing with the Eel because it's safer than waltzing into the Precinct, you might be mistaken, but it wouldn't be by much either way."

Aliara turned to Teysa. "So, what do you think, Tey? You in?"

Teysa nodded. "I'll follow your lead on this one, Aliara. Just tell me what to say and when."

Dom crossed his arms. "Ok then. I'll shoot for a couple days from now. Stay safe, ok? And don't promise her any cash without consulting me. I'm not made of money!"

In fact, it was three days before they heard. Teysa and Aliara were breakfasting in a corner booth when Dom sauntered over and dropped a chipped square of tile on the table. "You must have caught her in a good mood, ladies. The Eel will meet with you after the sixth bell tonight. She sent a courier over with this." He turned the tile around. On its front face, a crude map showed a path from the Stone Egg to what looked like a warehouse. "She says bring weapons if you want, but just you two. Nobody else." He leaned in. "Just safer to assume that you're being watched from here on out... and probably after your meeting, too. Take care."

Teysa finished up her omelet and turned the tile over in her hand. "Is this normal, Li? You always handled this kind of thing for us."

Aliara grunted noncommittally through a mouthful of egg. She swallowed, then shrugged. "I'unno, Tey. It's been a while for me. I guess we'll find out tonight?"

The map took them through a winding series of alleys, past shops that grew more decrepit as they walked. Some thin, foul-smelling drizzle was pelting down from the gloomy heights of the cavern; Teysa pulled her cloak tighter around herself and shivered. Aliara didn't seem bothered by it at all. "You get used to it, living here for a while," she offered by way of explanation. She seemed to be opening up a bit the longer they stayed in the City. Teysa took that as a good sign.

Up ahead a row of forbidding warehouses loomed out of the darkness. Most were shuttered and padlocked, but light shone from the windows of one. A pair of merrily burning torches flanked the door, which was left invitingly open. No guards seemed in evidence. "This must be the place," said Teysa.

Aliara nodded. "Tey, I say this with love, but stay quiet unless spoken to in there, alright? Some of these types get very tetchy about protocol."

Teysa blushed but nodded. "Don't worry, I won't embarrass you."

"Not what I was worried about," muttered Aliara, and headed through the door.

Inside, the warehouse was a cavernous space, the walls lined with scaffolding. Against the back corner rested a stack of massive crates, each taller than a human. The center area of the warehouse had been cleared out to form an arena. Teysa flashed back to the drider warren-- here, dark, gritty sand formed a circular pit ringed by wooden walls. Inside, a pair of male drow were wrestling, each stripped to the waist. Their bare skin gleamed with sweat in the torchlight as they grappled. Spectators sat on benches and overturned crates all around the ring, cheering and waving bets. Overlooking the whole spectacle was a raised dais on which perched a heavy wooden throne. A surprisingly young-looking drow woman occupied the seat.

Telling age was difficult with drow, but this one looked barely out of adolescence. She wore a silvery gown that shimmered in the torches' flickering glow, and a wide-brimmed black hat with an incredibly long and elaborate veil. The veil was parted in the front, revealing a face that bore more piercings than Teysa had ever seen in one place. Nose, lips, eyebrows, ears... every inch of the woman's face dripped with silvery jewelry. Some of the piercings bore opals, amethysts or pearls; others were silver studs carved into fierce animal shapes. Teysa noticed herself staring and quickly dropped her gaze.

The woman draped herself languorously over one of the chair's massive arms and clapped twice. Her fingers, Teysa noticed, were likewise covered in rings, and they tinkled like bells when she put them together. Instantly all activity ceased-- the drow in the ring each took a knee, while the spectators hushed and sat back. Every eye in the room turned to Teysa and Aliara. For a moment, nobody spoke.

"Welcome, my friendth!" The drow woman's voice was light and merry, but the jewelry she wore caused a noticeable lisp. She smiled and tipped her massive hat. "You mutht be Teytha and Aliara. My dear friend Dom told me you had a problem and I thaid 'of courthe I can help. Anything for you, Dom.'" A snigger came from somewhere in the audience, and the woman's head snapped around like a snake's. She glared for a moment, then returned to the women and beamed.

"Apologieth for our... ditharray. We're a relaxed bunch, here. Now, please come closer, and introduce yourthelveth."

Aliara walked forward, dragging Teysa behind her. The drow sitting in their path cleared out as they passed the arena. In front of the throne, a pair of heavyset drow in crude but solid-looking armor blocked their path with crossed glaives. Aliara took a knee and, following her lead, Teysa knelt as well. The half-elf spoke first.

"My lady, I am Aliara. Dom is correct, we came to ask a boon." She elbowed Teysa.

"I am Teysa, milady. It is a pleasure to meet you."

The drow laughed and straightened up. "A pleathure! Oh, your mannerth are motht exthellent, Teytha. Tho rarely do people find it a pleathure to meet me. I am The Eel." She stood up and curtseyed. "Tho what can I do for you ladieth? I don't think you came to bet, no?" She giggled, and the drow in the audience laughed obediently. Something flashed across the Eel's face-- a quick spasm of anger. She balled up her fists and screamed. "THILENTHE! WE HAVE VITHITORTH! I WILL HAVE THILENTHE, OR I WILL THTART TAKING HEADTH!"

Teysa flinched at the Eel's outburst. She was starting to understand Aliara's warning. Above her, the Eel smiled down beatifically. "Tho thorry for their lack of mannerth. Now, how can I help you?"

Aliara spoke up. "Milady, we are hoping to speak to a woman named Mish'li. All we know about her is that she is at the Chapel of the Veil of Sorrows. We cannot safely travel into the Temple Precinct, but we were hoping you could help."

The Eel reclined into the chair and crossed her legs. "That ith it? That ith what Dom thent you for? You wathte my time on thith triviality? I am not a pothtal thervithe! I am not your courier! How dare you?!" She raised an arm. "Guardth! Theithe them!" The armored drow guards bulled forward, dragging Teysa and Aliara to their feet. Teysa struggled, trying to reach her mace, but the guard's grip was unbreakable. She could feel the metal of his vambraces digging into her wrists, and writhed painfully.

Aliara cried out. "Milady, please! We didn't-" The Eel cut her off with a hiss. She steepled her fingers. "Oh? Pleathe, you thay? Well that changeth thingth. Guardth, let them go." Immediately the pressure on Teysa's wrists relaxed and she sagged in relief. The guards stepped back impassively in front of their mistress, their expressions betraying nothing. Teysa tried to rub feeling back into her hands.

The Eel smiled. "Pleathe. I like that. I like politeneth. All you had to thay wath the magic word. Do you know how few people in this wretched, vile, contemptible pit of a thity know the magic word?!" She composed herself and took a deep breath. "In any cathe, yeth, I would be happy to help you. I'll even waive the fee. I know Dom ith having thome trouble thtaying afloat. In return for my help, I need thomething from you." She put her hands together in a supplicatory gesture. "Pleathe help me. I am begging you! On my kneeth!" She crawled down off her throne and knelt. "On my kneeth, I beg! Help me, and I will help you."

Aliara's face was unreadable, but she nodded. She shot Teysa a warning glance. "Of course. We would be happy to help."

The Eel stood up. "On the other thide of the Warehouthe Dithtrict ith the home of Kelikke. He'th a lithardman, him and hith whole thtinking crew. I'm thick of dealing with him. Take him out and burn hith hidey-hole to the ground, and I'll deliver you your priethteth." She waved a hand, and turned her back on them. Her guards stepped forward to usher Teysa and Aliara out.

At the warehouse entrance, an emaciated-looking drow man stopped them. "The Eel sends her best wishes for success in your venture. She wants you to have this," he wheezed, pressing a scroll into Teysa's hand. She unrolled it to find a map leading to a warehouse a couple of miles away. The drow bowed low. "Forgive mistress her moods. She is wiser than she seems. Be careful-- the lizardmen are wary."

Teysa didn't dare to speak until they were a half mile from the warehouse. She exhaled heavily and leaned against a nearby wall. "Agamor's light, Li, that was intense. Is that what you expected?"

"I don't know what I expected," replied Aliara. "Probably not that, though. She's nuts. Let's just do this and get back as soon as possible."

"Why do you think they call her the Eel?"

"Tey, I hope I never find out."