“How should I know what rock you’ve crawled under?” Incredulity begets incredulity, a crust of salt, now, to this exchange. “Your man outside is enormous.”

Verminius drops his barrier, and there’s a glint along the edge of the blade he has in hand -- threatening only in that it is present at all. He hasn’t lifted it yet.

“If I wanted to hear from your leaders I’d have written a letter.”