The next morning, Damon discovered that "just watching" was a lie carefully wrapped in good intentions. No one said it aloud, of course, but the amount of preparation around him made it obvious that his presence on that visit would be treated as something delicate, dangerous, and possibly explosive. Ester evaluated his Qi veins twice before breakfast, Aria appeared with a folder full of duplicated documents, and Elizabeth personally chose his clothes as if she were preparing a weapon to be displayed in public.
"Is this necessary?" Damon asked, looking at the dark cloak Elizabeth had placed over the chair.
"Yes," she answered without hesitation.
"It has silver embroidery."
"Discreet."
"It looks like clothing worn by someone about to announce a hereditary curse."
"Exactly the intended effect."
