A hand rests on the back of his chair, which he had pushed in before Wysteria had arrived at his door. A decorative loop of thick silver around the base of his thumb, and another band of different metals woven band on his ring finger, which is the one that clicks against the wood slightly on contact. It is the only one he wears every day.

"Petrana," Marcus says, "is the rifter with the most longevity of those still with us. She's had plenty of time to give the possibility proper consideration, long before you raised the subject. Or were even a part of this organisation. Did your Provost give you leave to discuss this procedure?"

There's no rise in his voice, but there's a steelier clip to it the more he speaks, flattening out the usual distinct cadence that marks his accent.