Everyone behind Tor suddenly went for weapons, but Tor just walked forward and tapped the Ancients clothing amulet for him, turning it back on. After that, with a look over his shoulder Tor waved to everyone.
“Weapons away please, I think we already did this one today. Anyway Denno, um, please don't take over the world? Austra isn't that great you know, not trying to say it's all bad, but really, I think the world is doing pretty well right now in the main, don't you?” Trying to look supportive and helpful just got the other man to sigh.
“It's more complicated than that. I… Well if you have a few years, maybe I can explain it all. I suppose I'm under arrest then?” He waved to the Royal Guards who certainly looked ready to do that.
“Um… maybe. It depends on whether you’re willing to deal or not?”
“Deal? I thought you Noram types were all about honor and superstition, what kind of deal would you want to make?” The old man that suddenly looked better than anyone else in the kingdom smiled at everyone, a winning thing, but one that wasn't working too well yet.
Except on Ali who looked ready to have sex with the man on the floor of the guest house if she could. Tor didn't sigh, but really wanted to. That girl would have to at least learn to fake not being interested during emergencies. That didn't matter right now though, since Brown was staring at him, not the others, as if he controlled things here.
“It's a bit complicated, but the long and short of it hinges on this; how personally attached to Daria Serge are you?”
Denno Brown just shrugged, his answer feeling honest and unforced, “Can't stand the crazy bitch. She killed my dog when she was twelve because I wouldn't sleep with her. I haven't had a pet since. Why do you ask?”
“She's wanted for murder here in Noram. More to the point, she's already confessed to the crime and been convicted of it, she doesn't even try to deny it. Daria hacked a sixteen year old girl, Yardley Principle to death. Then she escaped back to Austra, as you know, but now we want her back. If you help us, and agree to not start senseless wars for a few hundred years, I think we can get you out of a lot of the hot water your currently about to be in. What do you say? Do you love Daria Serge more than your own freedom? If so, then please come with us to a cell, we'll get you a pack of playing cards and some dice…” Tor made his tone teasing and light. No need to escalate things after all.
Denno laughed.
“Ah, so betray the only woman I love or languish forever in a dank cell?” Dramatically he put the back of his right hand to his forehead. “Whatever shall I do? Alright, I'm in, what do you need to know? Her likely whereabouts when at home? Which room is hers in the mansion? Where her private apartment is? I know it all. Of course I can't do anything until just before dinner. I'm on shift.” Denno picked up his dust rag meaningfully waving it in the air and went back to work.
Everyone else laughed for some reason, but it made sense to Tor. He'd taken the job after all, and it was a real enough thing. Someone had to do it.
“Alright, well, come to dinner then? A real one. Obviously if you run off… well, you know what? I trust you not to. Meet up with me at the side entrance of the palace at nine?” It was a risk, but the man didn't have a reason to run. This was a good hiding place for now and enemies didn't tend to look at the hired help too much. Tor did have to remind Denno to turn his disguise back on while he worked, but then he just turned and left. Looking skeptical, everyone else did too.
Wensa stopped him about ten feet out the door with a hand on the front of his chest.
“Sure about this? I'll back your play, just make sure you don't lose the prey at this stage of things.”
Tor shrugged and raised his hands, “How would I know? I just don't think we can work with him as a prisoner, so we might as well take the chance. If he doesn't show, we can try and track him down, but he stayed here for a reason. They could have gone anywhere, but they didn't. Aren't you wondering why about now? I know I am.”
That led to a rather long and drawn out discussion about how Tor was probably too naive and should learn that people other people won't be as trusting or trustworthy as he was. Karina in particular was nearly livid with anger at him. If she didn't hit him, it was only because her fist kept being repelled by his shield. Rolph kept shaking his head, but he smiled at least and finally asked his sister to save the destruction of Tor, at least until Denno didn't show up for dinner. It was clear no one thought he would and by nine, when dinner was normally served, Tor was kind of convinced of that himself.
The only person waiting for him was Tor, everyone else having decided that it wasn't worth the headache. At ten past Tor turned to go back in, only to hear a now familiar voice call out.
“Ah! Sorry about that, I thought the other side of the building was the side entrance, things are a little turned around for me here.” The man looked… well, good of course, but his clothing was still the same as what he'd worn to work in.
Giving him an appraising look, Tor reached over towards him slowly and focused for about ten seconds. The appearance of the clothing shifted and warped, leaving the man in a fine sit of loose silk and soft sued boots. Brown of course. A light and shimmering brown, lighter than the Ancients skin, just a few shades for the sake of contrast. Once that was done a single gesture got Denno to walk in ahead of him. It was a bit of a slow and cautious walk, but no one waited inside.
The Ancient looked back at him and smiled, “Well, that's refreshing. I kind of half expected a trap. I know you can't be well pleased with me right now…”
That was… not actually true. The fact was that Tor didn't care too much about most of the things that had been done and really only wanted things to be fixed. It was a lot to ask for, but he hoped it would be possible in time. Maybe even before a vast war ripped the world apart? As they walked down the black stone floor, polished to gleaming, Tor could only hope. The alternative was useless killing. No one liked that. No one sane.
When they walked in to dinner, a bit late, everyone else was still standing. Karina looked close to tears, but froze completely when Rolph smiled and gestured lightly towards the door. Shortly after that everyone turned to stare at Brown for a bit, after a few seconds the man just gave a small, mostly ironic, bow.
“I've found over the years that it's best not to anger my fellows. I might be able to outrun the kingdom of Noram for a few generations, but I don't think I'd like to try my odds against Tor.” Smiling he winked at Karina.
“Besides, I really can't stand Daria Serge. I should have taken care of her long ago, but I really don't have the stomach for it. But helping you do it, that I can manage. Shall we eat first or…”
The Queen gave the man a cold look, but gestured towards the far end of the table. The very last position. If Denno got that this was the poison seat he didn't respond to it at all. He simply sat quietly, and waited. Diner came, it was good, but not much would have pulled attention from the Austran Ancient, all eyes rested on that last chair, staring and examining in a way that would have made any Noram noble simply refuse to eat, even if it would give offense. As it was the man simply smiled and ate slowly. Tor didn't get it at first, yet in the end it made sense in a strange way.
If he was poisoned and ate slowly, he'd be able to realize it and stop before getting too much into his system. Tor couldn't confirm it, and really couldn't ask, ordinarily you didn't talk about such things at the table after all. Did Denno's pattern, genetics or whatever it was that made him immortal, help him fight off the effects of such things?
It kind of made sense.