Page 49 of The Night Prince 2

“It is awesome,” Finley sniffed.

Rhalyf sighed. “If Vex was another kind of creature altogether than maybe, but think about who he is and what he is and who he’s up against. He’s facing off against your player characters who have just defeated one of his lieutenants, yes?”

“Ikkut Grieffinger the Ghoul,” Finley reminded him with another little sniff as he adjusted the bags he was carrying.

“Quite. A ghoul… hmmmm,” Rhalyf made a sound like he didn’t think a ghoul was appropriate, but one sharp look from Finley had him quickly saying, “My point is that you are trying to show the player characters that though they believe they are all big and bad, they are really lower level players at the moment, correct?”

“Well, yes, in regards to Vex–”

“Exactly. Now, first off, why is Vex wearing armor when he greets them?” Rhalyf asked.

“Well, because… uhm, he expects a fight, I guess,” Finley said, already sensing where he had gone wrong.

“A fight? A fight where your player characters have a snowball’s chance in a volcano of winning?” Both of Rhalyf’s eyebrows lifted.

“I suppose that’s true,” Finley conceded.

“One thing you must understand about Kindreth–and Vex in particular–is that the appearance of things is just as important–actually, nay, more important–than the reality,” Rhalyf explained.

“So he wouldn’t face people like the player characters in armor,” Gemma slowly put together, “because that would make it seem they were more powerful in his eyes than they actually are?”

“Yes!” Rhalyf touched his nose and pointed at her. “He would be indicating that he thought they were a threat if he wore armor. Especially armor that covered every part of his body! I mean that just screams terror. And Vex never shows fear even–or especially–with people who do pose an actual threat. These player characters do not. He would know that. So he wouldn’t humiliate himself by wearing head to toe armor.”

Finley frowned. “I see what you mean. So no armor? A little armor? What would he wear?”

Rhalyf beamed, happy to have won his point. “Ah! That’s the next part that struck me about the armor. You see, Kindreth like to show skin–”

“To a fight?” Finley stared at him in disbelief.

“Absolutely to a fight!” Rhalyf rubbed his hands together eagerly. “Vex would likely be wearing something loose that allowed people to see plenty of flesh.”

“Like a–a short robe or something?” Gemma’s forehead was furrowed. She, too, was having trouble envisioning someone strolling through the dangerous Under Dark in just a slip of silk.

“Yes, something like that. Falling off his shoulders.” Rhalyf’s own tunic was falling off his shoulders showing acres of dark gold skin as if to demonstrate. “I doubt he would even be wearing shoes.”

Finley snorted like a cat might. “Why don’t I just have him walk in with a loincloth then?”

Rhalyf lifted an eyebrow. “That might not be a bad idea.”

“He’s not there to seduce them!” Finley cried, horrified..

“Isn’t he?” Rhalyf asked, winking at him.

“Is he?” Finley asked faintly.

“Oh, yes, he is.” Rhalyf laughed. “You think that the Aravae are all about love and sensuality, but the Kindreth… Well, they make the Aravae seem quite cloistered.”

“Oh.” Finley blinked.

“Seduction and sex are arrows in every Kindreth’s quiver along with murder, blackmail and more. But they are very important tools. Vex uses them constantly,” he said.

Uses? He’s saying that in present tense. He’s saying that like he knows. Like he’s seen it, Finley realized, but his thoughts were derailed as Gemma spoke.

“Would Vex go after one of the player characters romantically?” Gemma’s eyes were huge.

“Just one? How about all of them?” Rhalyf gleefully answered.

She made a swooning gesture. “Oh, wow! So he would–”

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