Investigation., -Tie

[Akedhi]

It took a week to travel from his estate to Bavarat, then a few days asking around and establishing that yes, the pair he was looking for had come through that port and not managed to be left on a beach somewhere. Their direction was simple enough to figure - the City was the only place that a diplomatically worded 'give me my fugitives or there will be war' wouldn't work.

How do you make war on gods, after all?

Anyway, it's also the only place other than one of the capitols or Bavarat itself where foreigners might be able to find acceptance of some kind. Most of the countryside is suspicious of anyone who doesn't look like the average Jeaux.

So, here he is.

It took a week of travelling from Bavarat to arrive here, and then it only took two days to find someone who'd seen the pair he was looking for.

The human cut his hair, but they were still far too distinctive.

And now he's waiting in the stable of their inn, holding his horses loosely by the reins. Waiting.

[_geist_]

The stable being where Sombra works, it isn't long before he comes to take the reins from Treon.
"Sir." he says respectfully, eyes low. He likes 'sir', it's a short word and doesn't make his accent too terribly noticeable.
But it's him. Black hair, hook nose, thin lips...black eyes that glitter with far too much flat, cold cunning for a poor Jianese farmer.

...and the limp.
That too.

[Akedhi]

Dog is in his canine form, curled up in a corner of the stable, watching with eyes that hold entirely too much intelligence for a dog.

Treon scans the room. Chilly smile. He hands the reins to Sombra and taps his lips thoughtfully.

"You know what gives you away?"

The smile widens.

"You're trying far too hard."

[_geist_]

Sombra smiles back, and the only reason that it isn't equally chilly is because it isn't anything.
"What else should I have done?"
A slight nod.
"One moment, sir."
And he goes off to put the horses away, and probably brush them down too.
Sombra never makes things easy.

[Akedhi]

Treon watches for a moment.

Takes a couple steps, and picks Dog up by the scruff of the neck.

"Well, that's one, anyhow."


Dog whimpers.

[_geist_]

Of course he would do that.
Still, Sombra takes his time.

When he comes back, he keeps his distance.
"Put him down." he demands. He doesn't look dangerous, but he's full of threat.

[Akedhi]

Soft chuckle.

"No."

He shakes Dog, just for emphasis. You can't make me. So there.

And there's a knife in his other hand.

"You two are a very valuable commodity."

[_geist_]

I don't think Sombra drew a knife. I don't think he even moved, but there's one in his hand nonetheless. It turns in a lazy, silvery arc, weighted for throwing. Sombra's a bit small for close combat.

[Akedhi]

Especially with someone as tall and muscular as Treon.

He laughs. It's a nasty sort of laugh, and then the puppy is cradled at his chest, shielding his vital parts.

"Why not make this easy?"

He's not going to give away that he's not supposed to hurt them any sooner than he has to.

[_geist_]

"Not my style. I'll take your eyes."
Dog's not in the way of those.

[Akedhi]

"I'll take his."

He rests the tip of his blade at the child's eye and smiles.

Your move.

"He might even survive."

[_geist_]

The knife clatters to the ground, and Sombra holds his hands out wide, empty but for his cane.
"All right. I give up."
But he's not going to come to you, Treon.

[Akedhi]

"Then come here."

He's suspicious.

There's no telling what cornered prey will do, sometimes. You just can't tell.

[_geist_]

He isn't stupid. Sombra blinks, and perhaps a bit of respect threads its way into his eyes. It has to work past the despair of being caught--it's all over, and he knows it. Maybe if he can kill this man...

"Are you mad? I shall do no such thing while you're in a position to harm--" he jerks his head at Dog.

His voice, by the way is clear, confident. There's none of that quietness, that fear that was there when he had no idea what he or anybody else was saying. There's an accent, but it's all his old arrogance, all the power of that twanging, nasal voice.
He got fluent fast.

[Akedhi]

Treon grins broadly.

"As a matter of fact, I am. Or so I hear." Mad, that is. He hears it ridiculously often, actually. Usually when he's doing something strange like collecting blood from bodies.

"Come here. The vizier wants both of you." And he wants them alive and unharmed, but no need to say that aloud.


Dog whimpers. He didn't understand all of that, but he knows who the 'vizier' is.

[_geist_]

"Exactly so." Sombra doesn't move. "That's hardly making me eager to go with you."

[Akedhi]

"Suit yourself."

He looks thoughtfully at his knife for a moment, then trails it lightly along the puppy's trembling shoulder.

"I'll need him immobilized... I don't feel like handling a squirming child for months."

Smile.

"I could break a leg, I suppose."

[_geist_]

Sombra's face remains blank, then rearranges itself into a surprisingly convincing mask of pleading compassion.
"Let me carry him. Don't harm him. I'll come quietly if you give him to me."
He holds his arms out.

[Akedhi]

"Swear it."

He looks Sombra over suspiciously.

"Take off your shirt, first."

He knows how to hide knives - he has a couple dozen of his own, in various places.

[_geist_]

"I swear."
Sardonically, he smiles.
"So I am to go to the Grand Vizier half naked. I suppose I should not be surprised."
He unbuttons his coarse peasant's shirt, lets it fall to the floor (atop his cane, which he dropped when he held his arms out for Dog), then slowly and carefully removes his knives, placing them gently atop the shirt.
Then he straightens, holding his arms out again. Without his cane, he appears off-balance, obviously favoring his bad leg, one side of his mouth twisted down with pain.

[Akedhi]

Treon uses his foot to pull the shirt across the floor to him, transfers Dog to his right hand, and jerks the shirt out from under the knives with his left.

Tosses it back.

"What do you mean by that?"

He's never met Shandar, obviously.

[_geist_]

"I thought he might have ordered..." is that a bit of a flush? He catches the shirt with a slight stumble, a whimper as his weight transfers momentaril to his bad leg. He puts the shirt back on. "Never mind."

[Akedhi]

"The only specifics were that he wanted you both, alive and functional."

He shrugs with one shoulder as he gathers the knives with a faint murmur of appreciation for their quality.

"Why would he order something that ridiculous anyhow?"

Guess what, Sombra? Treon's a homophobe.

[_geist_]

"He has an unusual sense of humor." he shrugs. "He knows it would gall me."
He pauses, and then his arms are stretched forth again, and it spills from his lips almost as if he doesn't want it to, "Please. Give me Dog."

[Akedhi]

"Sorry. I don't trust you not to try to get away once you have him."

He jerks his head in the direction of his horses.

"Get the horses. I want to get home before my son starts walking."