But Kostos isn't fully surprised to see it, and he doesn't need to come any closer to know what it is. Now that he knows what he's listening for, in the silence between sentences he can hear it—a shadow of lyrium's song, the kind of dark that could disguise a chasm.
He folds his arms behind his back. ]
Do I want to know where? [ He doesn't. And more importantly: ] Was it in the phial, or did you move it there?
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.
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no subject
But Kostos isn't fully surprised to see it, and he doesn't need to come any closer to know what it is. Now that he knows what he's listening for, in the silence between sentences he can hear it—a shadow of lyrium's song, the kind of dark that could disguise a chasm.
He folds his arms behind his back. ]
Do I want to know where? [ He doesn't. And more importantly: ] Was it in the phial, or did you move it there?
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. ]