He looked at Jake and Elise with genuine interest that was also genuine evaluation.
"And your agents. The Raikarndel heir handles himself well. Most people don't turn Naktuna's words back on her so cleanly in a first conversation."
"I had good material to work with," Jake said.
"She made it easy."
Artiemes smiled, and the smile was real.
"No one should be looked down upon for their circumstances," he said.
"Regardless of which covenant they represent or what god sponsors them. Everyone present tonight arrived on their own merits."
Jake just watched the man in front of him. Though his words may sound noble and right, Jake couldn't dismiss the feeling of unease that this man was giving him.
And watched Artiemes's eyes catalog exactly where Jake and Elise sat in his personal hierarchy.
Near the bottom, currently. But being recalculated is upward.
