"I meant no offense with my question," I will offer in a tone that was clearly apologetic before explaining, "It is simply in my nature to be inquisitive, for good or for bad." I did grow quiet after this, not wanting to cause farther trouble.
I'll speak up, "No sir, we have not explored the area thoroughly as of yet. I was about to suggest heading out once more to be sure, but I wanted to be certain this one arrived safely rather than risking him while he is still disoriented and lacking in the skills that have kept the rest of us alive."
As we pass through the gate, and out of sight of the Lord and his retinue, I quietly ask Jason "Even after being here for decades, I wouldn't expect such a ... 'Noble' attitude from someone born and raised on Earth. Has Lord Douglas shown such imperiousness before?"
My mind plays over his attitude and compares it to dictators and tyrants I've know through my past reading of history and news videos watched.
I watch the lord depart for a moment." Grant, uhh.. The lord's wife was acting in a flirtatious manner with one of our friends that was here before. We all noticed it and became very concerned. Thomas went to speak to his commander without telling anyone else. Den and I ended getting arrested over this and had to explain ourselves to the lord. We were afraid for our lives. Lord Douglas hasn't trusted Thomas since that time. He really should be the last person to interact with the lord for all of our sakes."
I let out a sigh of relief as Douglas heads back into the keep. I add to Rachel's comment, "I should make it clear that had rumors persisted and the lord not done as he had in that case, there's a good chance his authority would be undermined. He had to stomp on it right away. That was the only other incident. For the most part, he's been open, friendly, and relatively informal most of the time."
"I think it is less an attitude of being a lord in this case, and more that of a survivor of the adventuring life. I suspect that someone doesn't grow to be as powerful as him without learning to be paranoid."
"And don't forget that he's gone through a lot of changes. He's no longer human, and he's lived in this world longer than he did on earth."