"I wouldn't have thought you'd need to worry," Gil says. "Surely the only thing a God needs to fear is the displeasure of another God and, as you said, you have made your peace with Asar-Suti, and Lady Eris is on your side anyway. Nobody here need bother you - it's up to us to be careful that's all."

He gets up. "I'm glad we've spoken before the staff quarters are completed. You won't have heard but I invited you and David to a 'room-warming' when my new quarters are finished. It would have been awkward."

He smiles, a little tentatively, then, just to be friendly, tries out that greeting/parting Look he learned from that nice new gentleman, Mr Kinney who seemed very friendly indeed.

"I'd best get back to it," he says. "An ex-faun's work is never done."