Snippet #1981682

Vance Abernathy – Arietem House

A cruel smile curled to life on his lips. Dear Bellona. If there was any girl who might have a chance at taking his sister’s place in the hierarchy, it would be her… but perhaps next year, or the year after. She played the game well, it was true; she was a Venator, after all. No doubt her family dinners were just as laden with verbal land-mines as his. She had the ambition, as well. The killer-instinct. The only thing she was missing was Nevaeh’s raw power, but that would come with another year of lessons. He’d seen the girl’s prowess on the archery range, though. Something of a wild card, more useful for threats than anything else, and unspoken ones at that. Arrow wounds would be awfully conspicuous, and he knew the girl was smarter than that.

That was more or less what went through his head as she went through the niceties. He wanted to stand up and applaud after she excoriated the brainless girls who were bemoaning Nevaeh’s absence, but instead he just smiled sympathetically to the gaggle of females while he continued chewing his ham. There had to be a reason that Nevaeh hadn’t inducted Bellona into her little circle. Perhaps she was part of the larger scheme, and so they kept their distance to throw off suspicion? It was cunning enough, certainly, to stink of his sister… but he was being paranoid, rather than cautious, he realized. It wouldn’t do to dismiss a potential ally, not this early in the game.

He didn’t really even have to listen to her to know what she’d said. He got the gist of it, and nodded demurely. ”Of course, I’ll send an owl to Mother tomorrow morning. I’m sure she’d love to attend, and I do so enjoy your father’s way with anecdotes.” That, believe it or not, was true. ”We’ll certainly pass along your family’s goodwill,” he added, reaching for his goblet and taking a long draught of the water he’d decided on.

Then she was saying something about feeling bloated. That coarseness, that was what kept her from rising more quickly. She could trade barbs with the best of them, but then she went and said things like that. It was just uncouth, more befitting a Cervus Mudblood than a proud daughter of Arietem. His smile thinned to blandness, and he nodded. The mention of a gift whispered in his ear caused one of his eyebrows to arch, just so, but he only nodded vaguely in response as she set off. He watched her go, following her movements, and restrained himself from shaking his head when he noted where she was headed. Yes, the girl would definitely need a bit of polish… but then again, perhaps she had no interest in the top of the pecking order.

”If you’ll excuse me, everyone, I’m going to speak to Professor Chambers about the try-outs. I’d like to have this settle befored the end of the day tomorrow.” In spite of asking to be excused, he was already rising, his robes fluttering a bit as he left his napkin on his plate. He turned neatly and strode toward the teachers’ dais, bound for Arietem’s Head of House. He came around behind the table, leaning to whisper to the man… no doubt, plenty of students would be interested to learn what of. Markum Chamber’s favoritism was no secret, and the Abernathy’s were an old and wealthy family. No doubt, it would portend no good to most to see the two of them conversing. Whatever they were speaking of, they seemed friendly enough. He paid a quick visit to Oscar Hughes, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, as well. Their conversation was shorter, terser, and anything but friendly. The man gestured vaguely toward the Ferre table, and Vance seemed to bristle before he bowed lightly and took his leave…

Heading toward the Ferre table.