Davide, taking Scarlet at her word, had taken a left as he exited the great hall and followed it, looking for anyone suspicious. When he saw Duncan heading away from a bard woman, he stopped in his tracks, hand going to his pocket where he kept his brass knuckles.

"It would be you, wouldn't it." He said, pleased at the turn this had taken.

Duncan blinked in surprise, with a glance over his shoulder at the retreating bard. "What, are you planning to go tattle to Dierdre that I was caught in a compromising polite conversation with another woman?" He looked thoroughly bored with Davide already.

Davide smiled and sauntered over to Duncan, close enough to touch him with an outstretched hand, although he kept his at his sides. "No. You're the man who took the Acorn. Meg's little girl." He said, matter of factly.

Duncan blinked again. This time a slow burn started in the back of his dark blue eyes. "Why would I steal a little girl?" he snapped back, irritated. "Don't you dare tell that woman that. She's already in a state. Get out of my face."

Davide pulled his brass knuckled fist out and gave Duncan a jab to the stomach. "I'm not going to tell her." He said calmly. "I'm going to put you in a cell, is what I'm going to do."

Duncan hadn't seen it coming and doubled over, then dropped, coughing. A droplet of blood ran from the corner of his mouth to his chin. He gasped, with an uncomprehending look at Davide . . . before his eyes rolled up and he slumped, hunched around his stomach. And did not stir.

Davide stepped back, swallowing back his alarm. "Nice acting." He said, mostly to calm himself, and reached down to grab the man's neck and arm to try and hoist him up.

Duncan roused groggily, with a small groan, when Davide touched him. He seemed to have enough sense to try and pull away. "Wh . . . what are you doing?"

"Stop it." He grabbed one of Duncan's arms more tightly, and put the other in the small of his back. "We're going to the tower."

Duncan staggered, dropping to his knees again. His eyes suddenly narrowed to slits. Cat-quick, he yanked his arm free and jabbed it viciously backwards into Davide's groin. "We are not going anywhere," he hissed.