He has to feign an accent he can barely recollect: Basch’s accent, a little stiff from where memory fails him, but...sufficient, he thinks. If they are overheard, he’ll not be mistaken for a man of Archades.

“However they arrive is...” he strains somewhat, not wanting his wording to flag either of them. “that’s fine.”

Fine, yes?

His eyebrows lift when he looks to her for guidance, searching for confirmation that he plays his role accordingly— or that he does not.

“It’s nice to spend time together, beyond the bounds of...work.”