All the kings horses

There were subtle hairline fractures in his chiseled marble exterior, and she sought to investigate the dark spaces within those cracks. She had enough run-ins with the kings guard to understand how they conducted themselves and that this ones behavior had been rather vague and unusual. The outlanders had been the scum of the earth, the verminous rats to be quelled and exterminated. The woman had been accustomed to getting viewed as such. Submissive rogues typically slipped through the dangerous fingers of the kings guard without much notice. Mob members however did not have that same advantage.

Actively opposing the king and running the dirty work through the city was a demanding pursuit just as it was a perilous one. It was one of the many reasons they referenced to each other with monikers. Each individual and crime unit held their own, and the guard had been well aware of her’s at this point. This man knew exactly who she was and what she had done and why they were set on an expedition across the sea to apprehend one single she wolf. The doubt and uncertainty in his gleaming azure eyes had indicated otherwise however. The insult made question was peculiar, so peculiar that for once the woman held her restless tongue within its cage of teeth. This man was dubious, though the cause had escaped her.

Disinterest settled upon her features as unbridled animosity quickly unfolded over his face. She lifted a skeptical yet unconcerned brow, her ear twitching once with indifference. “Doubtful,” She murmured between tight lips, attempting to appear rather bored with the scenario at hand. Lilah was a creature of control, a fact that had no exception to perilous events. She’d attempt to sway situations to gather at least some form of influence. Even if doing so was a push that made her circumstances worse. If she could get a rise out of him, she was the one who held all the straws. At least for the moment.

As the man seethed and snarled before her, she took the opportunity to acknowledge his appearance. There was a familiarity there, something that began as a quiet whisper. Tracing each contour of his body, the faded mask of dark fur that cusped his face and the spotted pigmentation that speckled his pelt. Her heart was beating faster now, so fast that she feared he may hear it, feel it. She could play it off as fear, but vipers did not feel fear did they? Not that she would let on anyway. When the hand of recognition grasped a full hand around her, Lilah felt as if she could no longer breath.

Was her mind playing tricks on her? Had her bodily positioning for the last few hours in the heat of the morning sun diluted her? Had he recognized her in turn? Was that the reason behind the hesitation? Straightening her spine, she looked up at him from her place upon the sand. “Osiris.” The viper spoke evenly, producing his name with all the feigned confidence in the world.