Malcador's vices leaned more towards the flesh than avarice, but he still had to agree with Emmaline with a long, low whistle. "You halflings weren't kidding." 

"Who are they!?" The guard with the blunderbuss demanded, raising the firearm. The movement nearly pitched him over, and Malcador was certain his unsteadiness would discharge the gun, but by the grace of the gods the halfling caught himself. The halfling guard that led them into the room raised his hand to calm his fellow. 

"Easy, Humper! They're with me!" 

Maclador burst out laughing. He did not mean to, but it erupted out of him with the force of a flood. He couldn't keep ahold of Clodfoot's feet and dropped him, which caused Clodfoot's prone form to knock into the guard, who reeled back and nearly fell to the floor. As Malcador wheezed, he bade Emmaline close the door. She did so, locking it tighly for good measure. The myriad of complaints that rose up were silenced after Mal caught his breathe, holding up two hands to placate them. "My apologies, good mootlanders. I don't know what came over me." 

"You better make sure he wasn't bruised!" 

"He's fine, he's fine. In fact, it's because we helped you that he's fine and not chopped to bits. I also warned you about the assassin, did I not?" Malcador reminded them. 

"What assassin!?" Humper asked excitedly, and Malcador and Emmaline ducked as he swung the gun again. 

"I don't know, yet! But they're like as not to strike tomorrow! I only know what I heard, now please give us s bit of gold as the reward you promised, and we'll be out of your hair." 

"Help me put him on the bed." The guard told Malcador, and reluctantly the debonair mage helped him do just that, making certain to be gentle this time. Clodfoot was not man, but he was heavy for a halfling. Luckily, the both of them did it with relative ease. Once they did so, the halfling fixed his pillow, set it under him, and gave a sigh. "Okay... Humper, give them a couple of sacks." 

Malcador looked away, vainly trying to hold off the laughter. Emmaline placed a hand on his mouth to keep it from bursting out as Humper grabbed a few coin purses.