Talion's smile turned a bid sad for a moment.  The way she'd blurted out  that the Immaculates weren't right was both edifying and concerning.  Did she say it because she saw him as not being what the Anathema should be and didn't want to hurt his feelings by implication?  Or did she fear his wrath if she displeased?  If the latter, well, that told him all he needed to know about the sea god and his servants.  Though he already had learned enough to feel his words and actions justified.<br/><br/>He didn't speak again until she'd asked him not to judge Maur-Azur too quickly.  "First, I say this...never be afraid to speak your mind to me.  I will not strike you, nor scream at you, even if I strongly disagree."  His expression became a cheeky grin for a moment, "Though I reserve the right to tease.  As for the rest..."<br/><br/>He licked his lips and crossed his arms over his chest.  "My father always told me that to learn a person's character, you looked at how they treated those beneath them.  If what I saw her do to you is typical, then she's far from quick-tempered and further from gracious.  I little harder and she'd have broken your jaw.  Maybe your neck."  And would there have been any repercussions for Pearl?  He doubted it.  "But I will wait to make up my mind then, because<em>you</em>have asked it of me."  He extended a hand to brush her cheek with one finger, "But I will ask you, Blessed Innora, pretty priest of the sea, to open your own mind to judge your god and his children."  More than one God-Blood was about, hm?  She had used the term "Azurkin" in the sanctum, hadn't she?<br/><br/>Dragon-Bloods, God-Bloods, and possibly undead stalking from the shadowlands.  Hacre was a busy place, all right.<br/><br/>"But I need to know more.  Tell me more about this offering.  How she's chosen, what happens to her, how often this is done."  Talion looked around, "And...perhaps we should go somewhere it would be easier to talk?"  He didn't know if there would be pursuit.  But Innora had found him.  Blind luck, maybe.  But he preferred not to trust in luck too much.