390
Vesper tried to keep the sardonic grin off her face as the men conversed, but it was difficult, especially as the husky mix spoke passionately of his love for blades. She tried to keep her mental notes of what the Anathemans liked and what they had, but it was more fun just sitting back and listening and hoping she’d remember later. Asher probably would, she thought, despite how much he looked like he was just excited for the company too.
“Blades are crutches for those who can’t use their teeth and claws,” Vesper interjected, but it was obvious from her grin that she was just trying to get a rise out of him rather than stating something overtly cruel. At least—that was how it was on the outside. She hated knives, and the thought of them made her skin crawl even now.
The collie gave her a sideways glance, brows raising quizzically, then nodded excitedly when Mido asked about their own warriors. “We have the Bellum tier,” he said proudly. “All kinds of coyotes who can fight in any form, many of them on horseback, too. Like our Hydra, he’s big and strong and—well, really good.” He grinned dreamily, and Vesper found herself wondering whether his campiness was genuine or an act alongside everything else—though it was hard to fake that amount of sparkle in the eyes. His preferences were true enough, whether or not his demeanor was embellished.
“You don’t seem much like an Anatheman,” Vesper mumbled after a moment, taken aback by his friendly smiles. She froze and shook her head as she realized she was being hypocritical. “Then again, Asher doesn’t seem much like an Infernian, either.” Other than his blood, his bow, and his strength whether or not it was hidden; he wasn’t a tough guy who adhered fully to the stereotype, but he was far from a misfit. “I heard your pack was made up more of…dark Luperci, same as everyone says Inferni is made up of bloodthirsty, wolf-hating coyotes. Is what they say about your pack just as untrue?” Her ear perked with interest. After all, Tayui had condemned Anathema in the same sentence as Salsola, and the former had proven itself to be cruel in its keeping of slaves. Was there an element of truth about the cave-dwelling pack, too?
<style type="text/css">
.vesjcai b {color:#c9bdbd; text-shadow:#080404 1px 1px 2px;}
.vesjcai .npc {color:#8A632D; text-shadow:#080404 1px 1px 2px;}
.vesjcai p {padding:5px 15px; margin:0px; text-indent:0px;}
.vesjcai {margin:0px auto; width:520px; background-color:#3d3a3a; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/U9Py0.png); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:1px solid #2b2828; padding:0px 0px 270px 0px; font-family:georgia, sans-serif; font-size:12px; color:#afa897; line-height:16px; text-align:justify; border-radius:10px;}
.vesjcai .ooc {font-style:italic; font-size:11px; text-align:center;}
</style>
[/html]