Snippet #2767785

Lonán was hard at work studying any behavior from the Nobles that he might have missed. However the main objective was to double check his discoveries and make sure it was truly acceptable behavior. He had checked the bank, going to another to be extra certain the code was the same all around. He was now in the middle of confirming the ‘groups’ noblemen formed. He watched some of the men converse and joke around in a pub, even mocking some of their smaller peers.

He got himself to a corner, watching them as they did this. About half an hour came by when he felt mostly satisfied he confirmed this behavior as he began to leave.

“I hear Kieran will be auctioned soon, shame. She’ll be a high price fetcher for certain.” Said a Nobleman, making Lonán pause as he leaned to listen.

“Is she obedient?” Asks another, causing the first to laugh.

“That’s just it, good sir! She’s obedient when she wants to be! Otherwise she’ll find a way to be her natural Saharan self and disobey! Kieran will be the highlight of that auction! I tell you this much! Well I must be off.” With that the Noble began to leave whilst Lonán Eyed him as he went. Once he knew for sure he left the door, he waited a moment, and began to trail after him. He wanted some more answers out of him, and he was sure to get it. However, it may/may not make him run a bit late, which could worry Linde and Aetrius. But he hoped it’d be a worthy endeavor, making Aetrius and Linde glad for it, probably.

So he followed the man, through the district, towards a house which he assumed belonged to him, making a mental note on where it was as the man talked to a friend waiting for him there, saying something about ‘business.’ Lonán kept his distance and mingled with a small crowd. Then the man turned and continued on his way towards another part of town. As he followed him he noticed the cleanliness of the Noble district transferring to a more darker outlook. ”Heading to the underground are we? I’d have to modify my disguise a bit, or catch him now and pull him to an alleyway immediately for interrogating him. If I fail now a chance like this might not come again! Strike while the iron is still hot!” He thought, weighing his options as he still followed the Nobleman, preparing himself to grab him at any moment.

Lonán finally couldn’t wait another moment, and if he slipped from the Saharan’s grasp now, Aetrius would never forgive him for letting the info slip past him. He walked briskly and grabbed at the man’s shoulder, and pulled him into an alleyway. He also made sure the man was facing away from him. “Alright, Talk fast and you might survive without a hair on your head harmed. I have some questions, and you’re going to answer them, understood?”

The noble squirmed in Lonan's grip until he was forced into the alley and told he might survive. He barely registered anything beyond that. The thought of him not surviving sent a chill through his blood, and he went limp in Lonan's arms and passed out.

“Oh for the love of...” Lonán muttered and looked around for an abandoned building, and upon finding one, carried/dragged the man into it. He set the man on a chair and shut all the windows and doors. Then he went to work on hiding his face. Pulling out a black scarf he got from the mountain village he wrapped it around the lower half of his face. Then he pulled out a candle and set it on a barrel.

Then his attention returned to the man as he took some discarded rope from the floor and bound his hands. Then he slapped the man on the forehead. “Wake up.”

SMACK

The man shook his head and awoke with a start, seeing the man before him with a black scarf covering his face.

"Wh-who... Who are you!? Do you have any idea who I am?!"

Lonán glowered at the man, the candlelight making his eyes appear like two flaming orbs of topaz as he set his jaw. “You’re a man who has information I want. You tell me it, and I will leave and this never happened, do you understand?” He asked, as he pulled out the skinning dagger from its sheathe. “I don’t want to use this. And I’m sure you don’t. So it’s in your best interest to cooperate.”

The man eyed the dagger warily and gulped down a lump in his throat. However, he glared back at Lonan with as much ferocity as he could muster.

"Y-you don't intimidate me, scum. I have no business with you, and whatever you think I have you want, you are mistaken. Now untie me this instant and I'll be on my way!"

Lonán’s glare widened, as he took a sharp inhale. He closed his eyes during it, as if taking in some sort of momentary silence. Then he exhaled, emitting a low growl as he grabbed the man by the throat and the knife inches from his face. “Consider this your only warning. Now tell me what I want to know if you wish to not have this causing you pain. Pain unimaginable, pain of the likes of which you do not wish to have upon you.” He said, ending his statement with a growl every time. “Now answer my question pretty boy. How do you know about this ‘Auction Highlight’ Kieran?”

The man's thin veil of bravery fell away when grabbed and hauled in like a sack of potatoes and the dagger put just inches from his face. And as Lonan growled his threats and demanded information on Kieran, he started trembling.

"Wh-wh-why would you be interested in that one? What business is she of yours?"

“That’s not your concern. Only that it’s my business to know.” Lonán growled, starting to run out of patience. “Tell me what I want, and I will leave and we will both be on our way that much faster. I’m running out of patience, and you don’t want to see what happens when I run out of patience.” At the emphasis of this, he stabs the wooden chair inches away from the man’s groin.

“How, do you know about her?” He said, with an almost deadly calm now, as if he was starting to grow tired of being nice.

The man swallowed another lump in his throat and his face grew a few shades paler as the dagger was slammed into the chair by his groin.

"... I... I have an associate who spoke of her. That's all! Now let me go!"

“And the name of the Associate?” Lonán asked, becoming even more calmer as his eyes glowered into the man’s.

The man was starting to sweat, and he gulped down yet another lump in his throat.

"I... I cannot tell you. He owes me a debt. If you do anything to him and he finds out it was because I gave his name he'll-"

Lonán finally pulled out the knife and gave a small cut on his hand. “Nothing will happen to him, but you on the other hand will not be able to collect the debt if my next cut goes deeper into your hand. His name and you can still get out of this. Intact without becoming a cripple, or otherwise.”

The man shrieked as the blade was dragged across his hand drawing blood which dripped to the floor. Gathering himself after the ordeal, he panted heavily trying to block the pain as he looked at Lonan.

"O-Ourros Hendon. His name is Ourros Hendon. He's interested in buying Kieran at the auction as the most sought after slave in the land. He's prepared to part with as many as 140 Gold to acquire her. Now please let me go! I swear on my life I won't speak of this to anyone!"

“You swear it?” Lonán asked. “On your own life. Do you swear on your honor as well, if you have any?”

"I swear! I swear! Now let me go!!"

Lonán glowered at the man, he was saying it out of fear, and not of honesty. “Very well. I’ll let you go. Go to the Wolves of the Underground who love a fine, fat cowardly Noble.” He said, punching him with the intent to knock him out. “They’re sure to come and determine your fate. I don’t kill cowards. But I’m sure they do.” He then put out the candle, sheathing the knife and pulling off the scarf to pocket it. Then he left the building, sure that there was an occupant in that building that was far less friendly as he was to the Noble, and didn’t want to share the same fate as he began his way back to the Pony.