"Bazzoxan is far, and holds little interest for arcanists," he says with a faint smile. That isn't entirely accurate, there are things there that might be of interest to wizards of a certain kind - but not Essek. Verin runs his wet hands over his face and tries to relax as Essek works another braid loose.

"And I did not take as much time away from the city as I could have." Which is to say, this isn't all on Essek. Time had a way of slipping through their fingers, even when they have plenty of it.

"Do you think... how upset was the Queen?" he asks, turning his head to look up at Essek. He remembers what he said, he even remembers the look she gave him, but it still feels like a blur, like it happened to someone else.