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[NOT Malorn]

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The mask belied his true nature. His true nature belied his actuality. He liked that; it gave him a good laugh. There was naught much better than a lie to shade a fallacy.

The clock ticked time away carelessly. Through the night, since its birth, a mild form of enchantment was held. Entertainment was usually sparse; gathering so many people into such a small area was ever a grand provision. And this night did not disappoint.

Malorn, under his new guise for the evening, made his rounds observing carefully the people who partook in Cat's new cookies. He enjoyed watching Daeynaries and he was sure they would prove equally hilarious.

The minutes quickly struck sixty as a man proceeded into the backroom with Daey.

A Sale... Good work, the thought struck him. This was not to be any ordinary sale. Vash and himself quickly discovered that Daey was missing with the man calling himself Jack. They dashed from the tavern and into the snow. It painted a white backdrop on the twilight skyline. The fresh powder flew into the air as they made tracks, pursuing the trail. It lead to a house nearby.

Daey was already bonded and covered in lantern oil. The man asked for Jovrick... Malorn thought quickly of a way to remove his guise. His investment was in danger. He stole away quickly to "fetch" him, and un-shrouded his face. His form shifted gently, shrinking a bit and becoming thinner. And he was off, to meet the man threatening his funds.

A small struggle ensued, and as soon as Malorn won the upper hand, he found himself unconscious at the hand of a chemical he knew well. The smell invaded his senses and clouded his mind. He wobbled to and fro, dizzy, light-headed, then toppled to the ground. He awoke in a small, damp cell, his eyes taking time to adjust to the dark lighting. The man, Jack, was there, looking down on him, and he was tied at the wrists and ankles.

They exchanged banter for a time, before Malorn decided to play along. he handed over his belongings: explosives, knives, chemicals of all shapes and sizes, and enough poison to kill a swarm of orcs.

Jack grinned at him, though said nothing. He knew why he was there, and that Galathan was the one to blame. Though the motive continued to elude him.

Tai Kwan Leap entered... a man he knew well, though he was certain would not now recognize him. They spoke for a time, before Malorn became, once more, uncooperative and a bit uncouth, lending his poetics to the conversation, allowing his words to dance between their ears. His art went unappreciated.

Jack prepared a form of torture he recognized well, and he reacted subtly, unnoticed, to avoid the pain and physical trauma. And then, his leg would have been broken. His talent lent itself quickly and he let out a wretched scream. He tossed back and forth, groaning in pain, clenching his teeth, and allowing his head to grow hot, sweaty and pale. And then he "passed out".

The two spoke freely, granting to him some of the truths he had already expected. He lain dormant for a time before something unexpected occurred. Jack lain a smelling salt to his nostril. He was not expecting it, and improvised, though not with enough wit. He let out a small gag, a near fatal error. He was immediately deemed a liar. Jack caught him in his ruse, and they knew he was not out. A rare mistake indeed.

He awarded Tai the knowledge of who he truely was, recanting his actions against Nazralte and his wife, when Naz was regent, and explaining to him the situation surrounding his dissapearance.

They all carried on for a few more moments, before the Jack and Tai departed him for the night. He sat silently in thought, contemplating his next move, how to play their game, and trying to formulate his thoughts into a plan. They were all businessmen, and they all played this odd form of chess. He would eat into that, and do his best to allot what knowledge need be revealed... and covering his tracks otherwise.

Half-truths would serve whole purpose in the tale they wove.