[This post is from Thom’s point of view.]
The name nagged familiar, but Thom shunted the feeling away as he met the taller man’s gaze unflinchingly. Pluton only stood only about an inch taller than he did, not even enough to make Thom tilt his chin upwards to meet his eyes.
“You came with an army,” Thom said quietly, his voice even. “Something tells me that if we don’t give you what you want, there’s going to be a fight.”
“Perhaps you are correct,” Pluton said. “I suppose we shall see. Have you a name?”
“Thomas Ambrose.”
Something flickered in Pluton’s eyes, surfacing briefly before vanishing as if it had never existed. Thom took a silent breath, his jaw tightening slightly.
Keep your head, Thom. Keep your head and keep talking because every second you keep him talking is another second of prep for the others, another second for them to get ready, another second for the Hunt’s scouts to make it back and tell us exactly what we’re up against.
“Ambrose,” Pluton echoed, his voice deepening even more, becoming thoughtful.
“The name taken by the Wanderer’s secret spawn,” the woman said, her gaze raking over Thom so viciously he swore he could feel claws rending his flesh. “He doesn’t have their look, though.”
“Be silent,” Pluton said without looking back at her. The woman recoiled as if struck, though his tone had been mild. “Your observation is noted, sister, but your silence is more welcome.”
The woman bowed her head slightly, but only for the barest moment before her gaze went back to Thom, razor-sharp with the promise of pain and more pain should he cross her.
That one is dangerous.
“It is a strong name,” Pluton said, his attention back on Thom. “An old name. Well met, Thomas Ambrose.”
Thom only nodded slowly. “Thank you. What have you come here for?”
“It’s less what than who,” Pluton said. “We know that you shelter the Wanderer and he who was once the Taliesin. But we also know that you have the druid and that the Hecate has been here, perhaps often. We can feel her here. She is ours and we would have her back and her lover as well.”
