Arveth said, "We do not eat."
He said it like a man stating iron was heavier than wood. Flat. The symbols on his robes caught the candlelight and didn't give any of it back, which felt intentional.
Four seconds.
"Do not eat," said the heavy one.
"Have not eaten," said the grey-green one. Slightly different claim. Close enough that the gap between them would probably become someone else's problem.
The small one bent down carefully. Set the bundle on the floor beside itself with both hands. Straightened up. Then said, "Cannot eat."
Then it picked the bundle back up again.
Arveth glanced at it sideways. "Cannot is imprecise."
The fourth one's trailing edges contracted slightly. Then stopped. Like it had intended to say something and decided against it at the last moment.
