They were only a block away from the rental house when Jen jerked to a stop, stuck her nose in the air like a dog on alert, and said, “Shit Sam, I was hoping your gut was wrong. Someone just pinged Pudding’s location. I wasn’t able to follow the ping back to its exact location, but it generally came from the direction of the City. I don’t really have any idea of how far away they are; let’s pick up the pace.”

Jen asked Pudding, “Are you sure you don't want us to take you to the shop in crossroads and transport you somewhere from there?”

“Noo, Ms. Jen, those pointy ear elf tracker mages be finding me anywhere on the second or third decks. You know Ms. Jen, they torture me for all your information, and I sure No want to tell dem, but theys awful good at the giving of pain, and I am sad to say, they would eventually get the information out of me.” Jen nodded in understanding, as Pudding continued, “Da elf tracker mages guild no sell their services on the Oracle Deck. If I can jus make it to a transport pad outside da city, I will go to da Oracle deck and hide out while gaddering more of my sanity and strength.”