It was already contained — and buried deeply enough I do not believe anything in the Gallows has been directly exposed.
[ He's not a complete amateur.
But he isn't providing the whole story yet, either. Air chuffs through his nose, and there's a beat's hesitation, a re-settling of his weight to his heels before he adds, reluctant as teeth presented to pliers, ]
Where matters less, perhaps, than how well it was hidden.
[ Where Kostos's surprise is barely a ripple, Ilias's is a peak he teeters upon now, eyes flicking over the other mage, clinging tight-jawed to his doubts. He'd expected to find something, yes, an enchantment or a rune, but this? The implication is specific. Poisonous. A rot at the root of an organization he holds far dearer than the Inquisition — or a slander that could tarnish it mere weeks before a Nevarran seeks election as Divine. ]
This took time, and care, and significant skill to disguise. More than I can imagine from a layman. In the Gallows, in fact, I do not believe there is anyone who could have managed it outside of myself-- and you.
no subject
[ He's not a complete amateur.
But he isn't providing the whole story yet, either. Air chuffs through his nose, and there's a beat's hesitation, a re-settling of his weight to his heels before he adds, reluctant as teeth presented to pliers, ]
Where matters less, perhaps, than how well it was hidden.
[ Where Kostos's surprise is barely a ripple, Ilias's is a peak he teeters upon now, eyes flicking over the other mage, clinging tight-jawed to his doubts. He'd expected to find something, yes, an enchantment or a rune, but this? The implication is specific. Poisonous. A rot at the root of an organization he holds far dearer than the Inquisition — or a slander that could tarnish it mere weeks before a Nevarran seeks election as Divine. ]
This took time, and care, and significant skill to disguise. More than I can imagine from a layman. In the Gallows, in fact, I do not believe there is anyone who could have managed it outside of myself-- and you.
[ Pointed. look. ]