Flamefeather glances sharply at Shekkara and at Lotus. She moves out of the line of sight offered by the stairwell. "I think a mutually beneficial arrangement of some sort is becoming urgent," she says drily. "This is Summer Breeze Plume, as I'm sure you know. You can score points with the authorities by turning us over to her, but chances are you'll seriously damage your family's reputation in, um, other quarters. Or you can help us stay out of sight, for which we can repay you according to whatever agreement we reach."
She pauses and frowns as the murmurs downstairs start becoming more agitated.
At about this moment Flamefeather, looking downstairs, locks eyes with a small child, looking upstairs.
Lotus keeps her gaze fastened on the Plume, but motions to one of her bodyguards. "Take them to guest quarters in Out Keep, see to their comforts." She motions to the other guard. "Come with me." With that she sweeps down the stars in the direction of Summer Breeze.
"Would you follow me, please?" says the guard.
Flamefeather, who is still looking downstairs, raises both eyebrows then narrows her eyes, but she turns back toward Lotus' guard and seems to shake her self. "Lead on," she answers. As Shekkara and her follow the guard, she keeps darting looks around her to spot any additional threats -- or clues.
The boy on the ground floor waves at Flamefeather from downstairs, but she turns and walks away. Not wishing to make too much of a commotion, he darts up the stairs towards Flamefeather. The group of fleeing adventurers are greeted by the sight of a small child with a smile on his face, running toward them as they walk toward their hiding place.
Shekkara's eyes narrow at the Plume but she keeps her thoughts still. Following Flamefeather and the guard, she notes both the small one following them as well as Shadowblade.
Meanwhile, Shadowblade, using the distraction Summer Breeze had created as cover, grabs hold of his walking stick and casually walks towards the stairs.
The guard (it really is a more polite term than "thug") leads Flamefeather and Shekkara up the stairs, seemingly oblivious to running children and the like (there is a lot of chaos in the Fortress of Chance at the moment - what's one more kid?) and turns right past the second floor gaming rooms. Presently the group comes to a door marked "Keep Out" which the guard opens with a key. He indicates with a grunt that Flamefeather and Shekkara are to enter, then turns and frowns at the approaching child.
"Scram," he says conversationally.