A rather adroit and ever-so-subtly-forked tongue - perhaps not even forked per se, but with suggestions of it or at least such ancestry in the prehensile musculature of the pink organ - licked stray droplets of sweet wine from unusually pronounced fingernails which, at this moment, had been painted a lustrous emerald shade.<br/><br/>The female possessing this anatomical details relaxed in a green evening gown which was necessarily slit both to allow for the wings which she used to cushion her own back like a cloak, and for aesthetic effect.<br/><br/>She smiled at William faintly, and said, "My heart goes out to those who've disappeared on these forays or already met their ends a the hands of these beasts. As<em>sinful</em>as I feel saying so, I<em>do</em>admit relishing the chance for a bit of, shall I say, hunt-sport."<br/><br/>"I'm of a mind with the sir who's just spoken<em>into</em>my mind, and I presume into all yours. Giants interest me for sport. Creatures of such size must eat a ton- literally - and this land doesn't seem able to support it. Hunting such brutes from the air is always fun, but if Maestri or the other enchantment-inclined among you can turn their bulk to squashing these giant bugs you speak of, much the better! Two bugs with one giant-hurled stone. Short of that I'd volunteer a gander at trying to merely convince the giants towards our ends. Perhaps they're just as desperate to stave off starvation as the rest of us and not a truly foul-hearted lot."<br/><br/>"Speaking of which, I should especially like to visit this monastery. Perhaps I can give its monks the soft touch and show them the benefits of sharing. Perhaps I can think of something to offer in return - like our protection if these other dangers visit their grounds. In such a land they surely can be made to see the necessity of sharing for mutual comport."<br/><br/>She leaned back far enough in her seat to let a slender leg stretch upon the table, and took another sip of wine.