QUOTE : They always seem content, don’t they?” Hadrian mentioned to Royce as they sat under the canopy of their tent watching the Vintu preparing the evening meal. “It could be blazingly hot or raining like now, and they don’t seem to care one way or the other.”<br /><br />“Are you now saying we should become Vintu?” Royce asked. “I don’t think you can just apply for membership into their tribe. I think you need to be born into it.”<br /><br />“What’s that?” Wyatt asked, coming out of the tent the three shared, wiping his freshly shaved face with a cloth.<br /><br />“Just thinking about the Vintu and living a simple existence of quiet pleasures,” Hadrian explained.<br /><br />“What makes you think they’re content?” Royce asked. “I’ve found that when people smile all the time, they’re hiding something. These Vintu are probably miserable—economically forced into relative slavery, catering to wealthy foreigners. I’m sure they would smile just as much while slitting our throats to save themselves another day of hauling Dilladrum’s packs.”<br /><br />“I think you’ve been away from Gwen too long. You’re starting to sound like the old Royce again.”<br /><br />Across the camp they spotted Staul, Thranic, and Defoe. Staul waved in their direction and grinned.<br /><br />“See? Big grin,” Royce mentioned