Ravel, miraculously, actually did stop. Either Gabe was a lot stronger than he looked, or Ravel was forcing himself to back down in response to Gabe's words. Tenebrae couldn't tell which. Maybe it was a combination of both.
Gabe, though, was starting to unnerve him. It suddenly became clear why the man had perched himself on the edge of the desk like he did - to be able to immediately stop something like Ravel's intent from happening. Gabe wasn't angry. Gabe was thinking clearly. Gabe was smiling almost the whole time he was idly threatening, perfectly friendly and even somewhat gentle. He'd been vague at first, like he was actually trying to protect Tenebrae. It wasn't the gentle and cheerful protectiveness of the genuinely malicious, either, because Tenebrae could truly believe this man did not want any violence to result from this exchange if he could help it.
Utterly and truly did not want violence - but was strong enough to be able to stop it when it occurred badly, and allow it to happen if that was necessary. A series of traits so rare in sorcerers as to be nonexistent. Tenebrae found himself trusting that Gabe really would let him off the hook. Ravel, Cain, and Pleasant, he was less sure about.
But there wasn't much he could do about it anymore. Gabe had given him a chance to keep it hidden, and Tenebrae had completely squandered it.
His earlier prediction proved true. Tenebrae did not like Gabe one bit.
"No," he answered, just as calmly as before. "It isn't. Cleric Quiver, please show them to Solomon's room."
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Gabe, though, was starting to unnerve him. It suddenly became clear why the man had perched himself on the edge of the desk like he did - to be able to immediately stop something like Ravel's intent from happening. Gabe wasn't angry. Gabe was thinking clearly. Gabe was smiling almost the whole time he was idly threatening, perfectly friendly and even somewhat gentle. He'd been vague at first, like he was actually trying to protect Tenebrae. It wasn't the gentle and cheerful protectiveness of the genuinely malicious, either, because Tenebrae could truly believe this man did not want any violence to result from this exchange if he could help it.
Utterly and truly did not want violence - but was strong enough to be able to stop it when it occurred badly, and allow it to happen if that was necessary. A series of traits so rare in sorcerers as to be nonexistent. Tenebrae found himself trusting that Gabe really would let him off the hook. Ravel, Cain, and Pleasant, he was less sure about.
But there wasn't much he could do about it anymore. Gabe had given him a chance to keep it hidden, and Tenebrae had completely squandered it.
His earlier prediction proved true. Tenebrae did not like Gabe one bit.
"No," he answered, just as calmly as before. "It isn't. Cleric Quiver, please show them to Solomon's room."