He's forming a better picture himself of how intelligent David is, and how much knowledge he has access to. Which makes his love finding him brilliant in return all the more pleasing. And as much as it is fun to run circles around others, it is more fun to be well-matched.

"Brilliant minds need hard puzzles or they tend to get themselves into trouble." Or both at the same time, which was really more how his life went.

"It was, of course, filled with traps and protectives. Monsters had gotten inside as well. They always do. I suppose the Mist has something to do with it. So we spent the next, scions, two days? Slowly pushing in. I have never been hit by so many poison spells. Restoratives take it off alright, but it leaves you with a residual headache and dry mouth like you wouldn't believe. And I couldn't taste correctly for a week.

"It was well worth it. There were stunning statues and mosaics in the inner chamber, and quite a cache of jewelry. The clothing had sadly mostly decayed, but these were from that tomb." His finger goes to a pair of earrings he always wears. "We had a ... questionable structure for dividing spoils, but it was my first large pay out. Gave me enough to have some choice in my jobs, got me interested in that particular era. I made sure to seal the tomb back after; no sense ruining the art.

"After that I got asked on permanently. Spent a few years with that group of pirates."