Though they were basically cowards, gully dwarves had a reputation as very nasty fighters when backed into a corner.
Bupu brought the group to a halt in front of one of the darkest, dingiest, filthiest alleys Tanis had ever seen. A foul mist flowed out it. The buildings leaned over, holding each other up like drunks stumbling out of a tavern. As he watched, small dark creatures skittered out of the alley and gully dwarf children began chasing after them.
“Dinner,” shrieked one, smacking his lips.
“Those are rats!” Goldmoon cried in horror.
“Do we have to go in there?” Sturm growled, staring at the tottering buildings.
“The smell alone is enough to knock a troll dead,” Caramon added. “And I’d rather die under the dragon’s claw than have a gully dwarf hovel fall on top of me.”
Bupu gestured down the alley. “The Highbulp!” she said, pointing to the most dilapidated building on the block.
“Stay here and keep watch if you want,” Tanis told Sturm.
“I’ll go talk with the Highbulp.”
“No.” The knight scowled, gesturing the half-elf into the alley. “We’re in this together.”
The alley ran several hundred feet to the east, then it twisted north and came suddenly to a dead end. Ahead of them was a decaying brick wall and no way out. Their return was blocked by gully dwarves who had run in after them.
“Ambush!” Sturm hissed and drew his sword. Caramon began to rumble deep in his throat. The gully dwarves, seeing the Hash of cold steel, panicked. Falling all over themselves and each other, they whirled and fled back down the alley.
Bupu glared at Sturm and Caramon in disgust. She turned to Raistlin. “You make them stop!” she demanded, pointing to the warriors. “Or I not take to Highbulp.”
“Put your sword away, knight,” Raistlin hissed, “unless you think you’ve found a foe worthy of your attention.”
Sturm glowered at Raistlin, and for a moment Tanis thought he might attack the mage, but then the knight thrust his sword away. “I wish I knew what your game was, magician,” Sturm said coldly. “You were so eager to come to this city, even before we knew about the Disks. Why? What are you after?”
Raistlin did not reply. He stared at the knight malevolently with his strange golden eyes, then turned to Bupu. “They will not trouble you further, little one,” he whispered.
Bupu looked around to make certain they were properly cowed, then she walked forward and knocked twice on the wall with her grubby fist. “Secret door,” she said importantly.
Two knocks answered Bupu’s knock.
“That signal,” she said. “Three knocks. Now they let in.”
“But she only knocked twice-” Tas began, giggling.
Bupu glared at him.
“Shhh!” Tanis nudged the kender.
Nothing happened. Bupu, frowning, knocked twice more. Two knocks answered. She waited. Caramon, his eyes on the alley opening, began moving restlessly from one foot to the other. Bupu knocked twice again. Two knocks answered.
Finally Bupu yelled at the wall. “I knock secret code knock. You let in!”
“Secret knock five knocks,” answered a muffled voice.
“I knock five knocks!” Bupu stated angrily. “You let in!”
“You knock six knocks.”
“I count eight knocks,” argued another voice.
Bupu suddenly pushed on the wall with both hands. It opened easily. She peered inside. “I knock four knocks. You let in!” she said, raising a clenched fist.
“All right,” the voice grumbled.
Bupu shut the door, knocked twice. Tanis, hoping to avoid any more incidents and delays, glared at the kender who was writhing with suppressed laughter.
The door swung open-again. “You come in,” the guard said sourly. “But that not four knocks,” he whispered to Bupu loudly. She ignored him as she swept disdainfully past him, dragging her bag along the floor.
“We see Highbulp,” she announced.
“You take this lot to Highbulp?” One of the guards gasped, staring at the giant Caramon and the tall Riverwind with wide eyes. His companion began backing up.
“See Highbulp,” Bupu said proudly.
The gully dwarf guard, never taking his eyes off the formidable-looking group, backed into a stinking, filthy hallway, then broke into a run. He began shouting at the top of his lungs. “An army! An army has broken in!” They could hear his shouts echo down the hallway.