"Is that a rhetorical question?"

"I suggest that you put that down."

"What if I don't?"

One of the Elves steps forward and rips it out of his hands and then closes his eyes as if expecting his hands to explode on him.

Nope. Cor sighs.

What with it established that Cor can safely be manhandled they take him upstairs.

He doesn't even bite anyone.

Even when they're obviously going to Maitimo's private rooms rather than conference rooms?

Biting them wouldn't help.

"Cor!" he says pleasantly. "Thank you, you can leave him here."

Guards leave.

"I've been trying to balance security concerns with your flexibility and space and happiness. It really does not seem in my interests to do that at this point."

"Once you give the go-ahead to do my spell you won't have to deal with me any more. For that matter you could send me south now, I can do it from there."

"Oh, it's not remotely that I want to be rid of you."

"I'm sure if you double up the guards or something you can stop me from rescuing any more of them."

Maitimo stands up. Walks over to him and runs his hand through his hair. "Or I could keep you here," he says thoughtfully. "just until we've evacuated everyone we can, then you can still cast your spell and go."

"Don't pet me."

"Don't threaten my guards and splatter blood all over my palace and do world-destroying magic on the word of anyone who smiles endearingly!"

"I know you aren't that disingenuous."

Maitimo slaps him.

- Cor lets out a little almost-sob.

"I've missed you," Maitimo says, and scoops him off his feet.

"- wh- no you have not crossed this line with me yet you don't have to do it now no -"

"Yes, we were cooperating nicely, and then you stopped cooperating nicely and I miss you -"

"Please -"