There had been a time in his life where it hadn't been unusual for a house slave to treat him deferentially on account of his position within the household, but not only was there little in the way of slave hierarchy on the streets, there was also something undeniably different about the way the man carried himself. The house slaves never shrunk from him as though he might strike out like a venomous snake at any moment. Alcuin was beginning to get the sense that Danny might have been more afraid of him than Alcuin had been of Danny. “Danny,” he repeated, tasting the name on his tongue before smiling brightly and nodding his head. “It's nice to meet you, Danny. I dare say no one has given me a fright like that since...”
Alcuin thought for a moment for a scare significantly more benign than his more recent experiences. “Well, since the diavoletto decided he would show off by dangling from the banister whilst I passed underneath, I suppose.”