Exton

My hands itch to clasp the grips of my twins. The energy tonight is nervous, bordering on action. There is a stirring among some of the kids when they realize what creatures are going to speak to us tonight. I am not surprised to see our four friends moving among the group. Their mere presence has a telling effect. The taste of the emotions turns from angry and scared to a more detatched academic essence. I hear our Tiger telling one hothead to view the "Ghoul Brothers", as he calls them, as visiting professors.

Guunnar leans close. His voice is quiet, yet his sharp eyes miss nothing in the crowd. Tonight, we add our skills to Jeb's might. Just in case...

"I miss das silks. Das black ist gut too."

I shake my head at the blonde giant. I almost forgot what it was like to stand guard duty with him. Keon glides past, stopping for a moment to glare at his second-in-command. He nods to me and moves on to where Twillon and Torrent watch from the bottom landing of the stairs. Others of our combined Corps are scattered around the room. Still others walk patrols, watching the streets and alleys from just within the Shadow Paths.

There is a small stirring as people move aside, making way for the two cadaverous men who rise from a table against the wall. I hear comments as people recognize them. The murmur ripples around the crowd as others ask who they are. Many know the local Morticians, and many it now reveals, had no idea they were anything more than gaunt, reclusive men.

I tap the hilt of the scimitar strapped closest to Guunnar. He gets the message. I see others catch the tell as well as necks stretch, blades loosen, and hands find an easy rest for quick draws.

As I said... just in case....