Neckbeard Vampire: Nightbeard Rising
Page 34
Chapter 21
The team made certain to be well-rested before their first assault on the enemy stronghold. Paxton joined Dex to plan, pooling their knowledge to create an offensive strategy.
Dex, growing more and more conscious of his transformation, lowered his Fedora, almost covering his eyes.
“Hmm.” Paxton said, “Nice trilby.”
“It’s a Fedora, plebe.” Dex answered tersely.
“Oh. Sorry. It’s just, I’ve got one just like it.”
“Yeah—they made more than one, I guess.”
“No, I mean I’ve got one just like that.” And Paxton raised his arm, tapping a finger against the image of a coat of arms which crested the side of the hat. A shield—two identical boars set cattycorner, with crossed spears behind the shield. “It’s a hunter’s coat of arms.” He said. “I’ve got one just like it.”
Dex sat up in surprise. “You mean, you’ve got one similar?” Suddenly interested.
“No,” he said, “It’s exactly like that one.” He insisted, “My dad gave it to me.”
“Your father had a fedora exactly like this one?!”
“Impossible.” Dex responded under his breath.
“What is?” Paxton asked, confused.
“Nothing.” He said, dismissively.
“I think we’re ready.” He abruptly announced to Paxton. “The strategy is tight. Get some rest while there’s still daylight—soon we’ll eat and debrief the team, then commence.”
Paxton went to rest with the remaining members of the guild, conserving energy for the long night ahead. Dex stayed up however, pensively stroking his beard in the afternoon shadows of the basement safe house. He wondered about his grandfather, he pondered the family crest scorched into the leather of his grandfather’s fedora, given to him as a child.
How could it be that Paxton had precisely the same Fedora? There would be only one way to find out…