Visiting the Assassin

{if Lunch = true} Lunch was a simple affair. Perhaps if the royal family was dining together, the meal might've been a lot more luxurious, but as it stands, the dining room remains vacant. Katherine had carried a simple tray of food to Alice's chambers for the two of them to eat. The princess had gotten dressed again, this time in a far more attire made of form fitting leathers, giving her the appearance of an adventurer. It was one of the few outfits she had that actually involved pants, and for that, she was very thankful. After munching on some bread and downing the bowl of soup, Alice and Katherine debated the next step to take. There was plenty of time this afternoon, and the princess should be able to get a lot done, depending on how much time she spends with each task.{endif}

{if Lunch = True} They decided that meeting the assassin first made the most sense, as people in his line of work tend to be fickle. Who knows if he'll still be around tomorrow, or even in the evening. It was best to strike while the iron as hot.{else} She decided that meeting the assassin next made the most sense, as people in his line of work tend to be fickle. Who knows if he'll still be around tomorrow, or even in the evening. It was best to strike while the iron as hot. {endif} Plus, this was a rare opportunity for Alice to blend in with the people, hence the getup. After all, a royal princess visiting a tavern to talk to an assassin is certainly not news that she wants broadcasted. For now, she wanted to keep her murderous plans on the downlow.

Alice also didn't want Finley to accompany her either, as he would stand out far too much. Unlike her, who is more than capable of high level deception, her knight couldn't lie to save his life. Plus, he wasn't nearly as useful without his armor and weapons, all of which were far too eye-catching. So, she opted to do this one herself. Without a bodyguard, she would have to be careful, especially in an unruly environment such as a tavern, which is why she brought along a dagger, just in case. She was no fool, and she knew she would never win an honest fight, so the dagger is just a last resort.

Or a nasty surprise, Alice thought to herself as she made her way out of the palace through a hidden entrance in the walls. This was a secret only the royal family had access to, in event of a coup, but the princess found it useful for her clandestine activities. Raising a hood to cover her golden hair, she quickly jogged from the palace to the city proper. According to the information Katherine had provided her, her destination was a place called the The Little Buck, within the slums.

The slums weren't a place Alice visited very often, or even at all. Filled with the city's most downtrodden, it was comprised of genuinely good people who simply lacked the opportunities to show their potential, as well as the worst dregs that society had to offer. Quite the dichotomy, and Alice did find it to be a bit of a shame that there was so much untapped potential in there, but the sheer number of dangerous criminals made it difficult for her for her to approach. That, combined with the slum dweller's distrust for nobility meant that she couldn't really offer aid, even if she wanted to.

Upon stepping foot in that district, the difference was very distinct. The houses were rundown, the streets have never been swept, and the people glared at each other with hostility and suspicion. A far cry from the town center, where the laughter was still ringing in the princess' ear. Keeping her head down and making no eye contact, Alice made her way through the alleyways, trying to ignore the stench of booze and human excrement as she did so. A couple of dangerous looking thugs glanced at her, but she wasn't dressed well enough to appear rich, so she was luckily ignored, though by now she was second guessing her decision not to bring Finley along.

The tavern was probably one of the biggest buildings in the whole district, and it was one of the only ones that looked like it didn't have any holes in the roof. Even from across the street, the raucous yelling and laughing from within told her everything she needed to know. Drunks, congregating by the dozen, wasting their hard earned coin for a few moments of temporary relief from their miserable lives. Whores in skimpy dresses stood outside, soliciting anyone who looked like they could afford an hour, be they man or woman. In short, this place was a hive of degeneracy. Makes sense that an assassin would hide there though.