they put a gun above it and a narrow behold

"Oh, no reason. No reason, not at all." She answered airily with a sparse smile that did not reach her cold eyes. She looked at Thistle Cloud closely, rising to circle around the female with a lofty walk. Her head was carried stiffly and owlishly she rotated her skull as she circled in the manner of some bizarre marionette poorly orchestrated.

"That's the point -- isn't it?" She said with a cackle that was shortlived and full of self mirth. "When you need to get rid of... a cumbersome... burden, you see, it helps to have a certain knowledge on your side." The smile widened and briefly sharp little teeth were visible. Thistle Cloud was clearly on edge and Caiaphas did not miss the narrowing of her eyes in suspicion -- and most notably, she did not miss the pause in Thistle Cloud's eyes when Caiaphas inquired after her mate. "Oh, we're friends. Interpret that how you may." Another lie -- but Thistle Cloud didn't know that, did she?