Recent content by Rogue Castulo Arnal

The Viper looked to Farrell, and his eyes were those of a man who focused keenly upon his interlocutors, a vast intellect and breadth of attention narrowed to nearly a singular point. He took in what Farrell had to say, and said in turn, "I am glad to hear it. But as I shall soon explain, my...

Jerick glanced to Farrell, held it for a second after the younger man shrugged, and then figured he hadn't come all this way to back out now. He jerked his head toward the glow of the fire, and then started walking. "Anything happens," said Castulo lowly to Farrell, "you know what to do." This...

"You're right. It's not funny. It's hilarious," Castulo said. Jerick sucked in air and gave his foot a few test steps and said, "Yeah, yeah, pleasure to be your amusement for the evening." "You'll be fine. I'm the husband in this marriage, and I say so," Castulo said, harkening back to...

"Yeah, the sooner we slosh across this river, the sooner my precious little feetsies can get dry again." "Don't let some cold water scare you away from big money, Gildie," said Jerick. "Ha, ha, fuck you, Vestie." And then down to the river's edge they went. Jerick led the way and Castulo...

"I know," said Castulo, "which is why I'm making sure we don't get any arrows in our faces." Jerick faced the Gildans and, coming to agree with Farrell, said impatiently, "No one's getting shot in the face. We've got the cover of darkness on our side, and plenty of forest around here. We'd see...

"This'll be the best bait you've taken to date," Castulo said with a winning grin. "Nothing wrong with a little time away from the College." * * * * * ON THE BORDER OF VESTIA The travel for the trio wasn't that bad, even without horses (they needed to go with a "small footprint" and all)...

Jerick shrugged. "I can't promise that you won't have to, what for me not knowing the Viper's plan." But Castulo was unbothered by Farrell's stipulation. He waved a dismissive hand toward Jerick and his reply, and he said to Farrell, "There's an extra special feeling when you can do a job like...

If I say no...am I allowed to leave? Jerick just snickered, and this in such a fashion as to suggest he didn't fear at all either of these Gildans, might they be so inclined, going around spreading word about his relation to the Viper of Vestia. Who among his countrymen would believe them...

Jerick glanced to Farrell. Then back to Castulo. And then back to Farrell again, this time with a different mien, as he began to truly consider the question. "Huh. Well. Never thought of that myself. Don't know if anyone has. I suppose you might as well ask what the Viper thinks of Belgrath, or...

I will say, though, your argument delays the whole point of this meeting, right? And at this both Castulo and Jerick curled down their bottom lips in sagely fashion, each giving a series of small nods in mutual agreeance—also in sagely fashion. Farrell had a point. Then came the Quaestor's...

"I am a nice fellow. A swell fellow," Castulo said, bolstering Farrell's appraisal of himself. "Be swell all you want. My cut stays the same." "Easy, Vester, easy, I'm not try to elbow in on your damn cut." "Good. Work it out between yourselves." "Won't have anything to work out if you turn...

"Sit in all you like, mate." And then he shielded the far side of his mouth and said in low, sly tones to Farrell, "Maybe you'll fancy a little trip to Vestia yourself, eh?" And it was then that Jerick finally raised his head, opened his eyes, blinked a few times, and could at last be counted...

"I'm a crook, murderer, and public urinator, don't rob me of my accolades," Castulo said with a big, facetious grin. Well, you know, only partly facetious, because that really was half mirth and half truth. Crook, yeah, he wasn't a stranger to lifting a few coin purses and doing some underhanded...

Castulo laughed. "Him? He isn't shit." And now he turned a broad grin up to his new Quaestor comrade. "But he knows someone who is." Then Castulo thought about it and clarified, "Ah, well, 'infamous' in Vestia is more like it. You ever hear tell of someone called 'The Viper of Vestia'? Maybe...

"I'll take it. It's not as if I smacked him on purpose." Castulo squatted beside Jerick. He'd be coming around in a minute or two, Castulo reckoned, could already see a little motion going on beneath his eyelids. Now Castulo was shameless enough to go back into the Pint and ask Tabu for a mug...