Akael was found lurking in the marketplace, though not without some difficulty. Despite his strange appearance the Elf was adept at blending in with the impoverished and down-trodden, his clothes seeming thread-bear and strictly practical his unusual characteristics were not evident to most. It would take an uncommonly observant man to spot the Elf in the crowd, fortunately for the Tengu who sought his particularly cold set of skills; he had such a man in his employ. Akael noticed him only a few moments after he himself had been spotted, but before he could prepare to escape the man raised his hand in a sign of peace. Akael’s eyes narrowed, one hand clutching the knife sheathed at his side as he turned his body, hiding his intent.

[b]“Akael, I am from the resistance, I’ve got a message for you.”[/b] The man said, his words formulaic and practiced, as if he was resisting the urge to return to the gutter speak he was likely born into. Akael’s response softened somewhat, but he was still ready to slit the man’s throat as he got close to him. Akael suffered a minor pain behind his forehead as his pangs hit him, always at the most inopportune time. Gritting his teeth, he nodded his head slightly.

[b]“You’ve been asked to work for the boss, the Tengu, he wants to see you, if you’d follow me I’ll be able to lead you to him, he isn’t easy to find.”[/b] The man told Akael.

[color=00a651]“I’ll find him.”[/color] Akael said, refusing to follow someone into what could possibly be an ambush. The Tengu was unique, Akael was confident he could find him. If he couldn’t it was really no concern of his, he wasn’t all that interested in what the strange bird-like man had to say at any rate. The man frowned, but Akael had already made efforts to melt into the crowd, disappearing in the press of bodies around him. 

It took him perhaps half an hour to pin down the Tengu’s location, mostly from a smattering of conversation and one nonchalant question asked in a crowd where his appearance would not alert the people to his identity. He worked from these clues to find the tent, conspicuously set against the side of the cliff, and after a cautious moment peered inside, to find that as he suspected it was a front for a cave entrance. He followed it with careful steps, knowing all too well how his steps could echo and reveal his presence to enemies, but as he ventured into the strange obviously crafted-room and spotted the Tengu within, he knew he was in the right place. He had managed to arrive first, despite almost an hour since his messenger had been sent out to find him, suggesting that the others were dawdling for whatever reason.

[color=00a651]“I am here, Tengu.”[/color] Akael said, his deep voice resonating as he spoke in a reserved, almost quiet, fashion.