NorseQuest (A Norse Xianxia)

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If you were here by yourself, that would be one thing. But there's just no way you can ask your men to swear away their silence without having details.

"First," you jerk a finger at the herb, "I need to know what the plant is and does. Why is it so important?"

Buri holds your gaze firm as he responds, no hesitation in his steady, even voice, "The Brazen-Heartleaf holds the power to, if prepared properly, turn cowards into lions and fill the hearts of weak men with strength. In short," he leans in with hints of fire in his eye, "it will provide my family with a new lot in life."

"You're worried about it being stolen." That's not a question, it's obvious.

"It's happened before," his words send your brows sky high, "eleven years ago." He shrugs, "I know who did it, but..."

"But," your brows furrow as you pick up the slack, " but if you know who did it, why not take it before the Thing?"

Buri scoffs as a smirk travels up his face, "Who would believe a thief over a Jarl?"

"A Jarl?" There are exactly three Jarls in the Hading: Folkmarr Manetaker, Framarr Heavyhand, and Dorri Rattlespear. Not exactly a long list of suspects, but you can't imagine any of them stooping so low to steal. Something like that could strip a Jarl of his standing!

"Allow me to tell you a story you will not have heard," he chuckles as he begins, not waiting for an answer. "A story of a cowardly boy who quivered in fear at the slightest hint of danger, who stayed inside rather then leave and adventure. A story of a boy with a heart was as weak as birch bark, who was sick most days of the year." He fixes you with a piercing stare as his final words slip free of his mouth, "A story of a boy called Folkmarr."

Your instincts find no lies in his voice, but no liar worth the title would be so easy to discern. A usage of Goal-Tell reveals nothing more then what you had already guessed, that his goals here are to leave with plant in hand. He doesn't care whether you believe him or not, simply that he keeps the Brazen-Heartleaf. Your breath catches in your throat as you use Lowest-Limit.

He's willing to die if it means that his family keeps the Brazen-Heartleaf. If you asked it of him, he'd kneel before the chopping block.

Buri the Bastard is not the man you thought he was.

"You said that the Brazen-Heartleaf makes heroes if prepared properly," your eyes sharpen as you lean in, a certain possibility springing to mind. "So what happens if it's prepared improperly?"

"It isn't called the Brazen-Heartleaf for no reason," Buri says as he inclines his head. "If not tempered by good sense, bravery is nothing more then reckless foolishness."

"Alright," you breathe a heavy sigh as too many things start to make sense, "lets say that you're telling the truth." There's no change in his expression as you imply that he could be lying. "How long would this silence be for?"

"All I need is Yule, then it'll be too late for anything to happen to the Heartleaf."

You cast your gaze to the seed resting gently against the table, "And this is the Heartleaf's seed, right?"

He nods, "It is, but that was a wise question to ask."

A silence falls between you and Buri as you contemplate what comes next. Your men—who you'd asked to stay back a ways to lessen their potential impact—nervously watch from just beyond earshot.

A good enough liar would be able to fool your tricks with ease and Buri the Bastard has had decades to hone his skill. He could very well be lying to you right now—no man has a reputation for nothing.

But, in truth, it doesn't matter if he's speaking the truth.

The only thing that matters is what you decide to do.

[ ] Accept
or
[ ] Decline

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AN: I'm excited to see your reactions

No moratorium.