I have my reservations regarding Mssr Gandir's impartiality - would that we had such resources we could afford to limit roles to only those trained for them - but it is a situation that I am monitoring personally. He understands the role he plays, and what his failure would mean.

( If she can't guarantee objectivity, then Artemaeus's future in itself can act as a leash; Petrana's own view of Artemaeus is a far more dispassionate one, and concessions will not be made out of kindness or tender feeling. They will be earned. )

As I say; his position is that he has not declared any such allegiance, that he was apprenticed to Mssr Vedici without the full knowledge of to what he would be committed, a position that Mssr Vedici has not disputed and which their conduct does not call into question. This is the point which may become a problem in future, and features heavily in his feeling quite hard done by.

I understand his feeling, but it is important he is disabused of the notion that it releases him from any connection to this war and Mssr Gandir understands that. It is unfortunate, but if true, he is far safer in our custody.