They made small talk and Burks read him half a dozen times, as if trying to catch him thinking something other than what he was. It baffled Tor a bit, but he tried not to let it show, after all, he didn't want to be the stupid one all the time. After a few minutes Count Lairdgren actually got to his own knees and apologized, seeming to actually mean it.
“Tor. The girls are right and I deserved to be reminded that you aren't just a game piece or counter to be pushed around at my whim, I apologize for my behavior and hope that in time you'll see that I mean well, if nothing else. I can't promise results, but I really did,and do, have a plan.”
As apologies went Tor had heard better, but then he'd heard worse too, instead of a negative attitude, which everyone else seemed to expect for some reason, based on the looks he was getting, Tor just shrugged and helped the man up.
“Thank you. I really wasn't even thinking about it, but you have to admit, I have pretty good champions to my cause, don't I?” Tor walked the men to the door and let both of them use his healing amulet before climbing into the fast carriage that Burks had. It was one of Tor’s, not even a copy made by someone else, not even Burks. Tor kind of wondered if he had one missing from his luggage, but if so, no big thing. He even told that man that flat out.
“After all, better you get it from me than smack into the ground full force when the inferior one you made fails, right?” He shook his head as if the idea saddened him. It would of course, but that wasn't his point at the moment.
Lairdgren, still looking like Tor, grinned and stuck out his tongue.
“Still on that? OK, so your lie detector build was better than my fake, it's harder to do than you might think, matching someone else's work like that you know. Also, notice that everyone else bought it. I think you're just being a bit picky, don't you?”
Tor covered his mouth so that the laughter wouldn't be too embarrassing.
“Uh-huh. Sure, except I’m still willing to bet I can find at least three fourteen year old first year students at your own school that can do better. Speaking of which, I need to go and check on them, if I'm still allowed near the school at all?”
This got a snort.
“Of course you are, since you're footing the bill for half of it. But don't bother trying to make up what you've missed this last term. Not even you can do that. Do work with the kids though and see if you can find a place for Sandra Morris. She needs a bit of pushing, but she has potential if someone gives her a reason to try.”
With that the man climbed into the fast-craft and left carefully, and slowly, not speeding up until he was well away from the palace, outside the city wall even. Then they were gone. Tor shook his head black hair still short enough to barely move, if over his ears a bit. It had been months since the last cut. He waved to Karina and Rolph, then as an afterthought to Wensa and George. Ali just followed along, since she wasn't told to do otherwise. Her face said she thought this was clever and that sneaking along was some kind of game. It wasn't, but she had a shield and Denno Brown wasn't going to hurt any of them.
Not if he wanted to keep living.
Tor walked with a purpose to the guest house, a splendid and large mansion that the palace kept out back for some reason. It was where Tor had stayed about half the times he was there, a wonderful cream and gold on the outside and more varied but exquisite on the inside. Everyone followed along until they found a rather average looking fellow, a bit short for the Capital, dusting a low wooden side table in the long hallway. The man bowed and tried to leave when he saw them, a normal enough thing to do. The people here tried to get their work done without ever being seen.
“Denno! I see your using one of my disguise amulets, it's working well for you so far then? I haven’t really gotten to work with them myself yet.” Tor spoke happily enough, and didn't pull a weapon or anything. The man spun, eyes going wide.
The face wasn't homely, not really, but was just on the average side. Nothing was overtly wrong with it, the proportions were just a little off, the ears too big by a bit, the jaw jutting just a fraction of an inch more than could be called pleasant. Still, if someone were born with that face, it shouldn't have caused them worry either. It was solid enough.
Denno bowed again, “I'm sorry sir?”
Tapping a sigil on his chest and pointing made all of the amulets Brown was wearing turn off, including both his disguise and the clothing he had on. That would have been a sign right there as well, because by and large the lower level servants didn't have magical clothing yet. It was a good idea, but Tor had been busy.
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.”
