Big Salmon Lake primum non nocere

If he held any disquiet for this answer, it did not show on the physician's face. He regarded Delos calmly, and bade him, "Ask me."

It seemed he needn't have bothered. They spoke almost overtop each other, and Aureli quashed his irritation to gaze steadily down at the boy. He was growing quickly, he noted, well pleased by this fact — but his expression remained impassive.

Aureli was quiet for a long moment after Delos had finished speaking, his quiet the only signal of his disapproval. His voice, too, was quiet and even as he replied: "Please speak directly, Delos. How exactly shall I stay away from her?"

His gaze was aquiline in the dark, his chin lifted just-so, so that he peered down his nose at his young almost-apprentice. He reminded himself that the boy had much to learn.