"Point of order," he quibbles right back as they traipse along. Probably, this keenness to wheedle and negotiate is somewhat the people of Seleny find endearing. Or deeply annoying. Who can say?

It helps, maybe, that he sounds like he's at least halfway joking when he says: "They're not my demon oaths, because unlike you I'm not a demon." Say it louder for the random passersby, Desidério. "Magic gash in the hand? I'll grant we have that much in common. But the rest?" He gives her a once over and sucks a doubtful note through his teeth.

She's taller, for starters.