The soldier, Edwin, made it clear that he would be the expert in military matters. It made Ilario grateful not only to know that there would be a man of discipline among them, but someone who had practical experience in a subject that Ilario was severely under-read on.

Raising his nose and squinting at Isabelle in response to her comment on his attire, Ilario pondered on her skills. [i]A thief then? Perhaps there is more merit than what your appearance and behaviour suggests.[/i]

The assassin, now introducing himself as Solomon Crow, -a name so poetically appropriate that Ilario thought it could be a stage name, let alone an alias,- caused Ilario's eyelid to twitch as he took a gulp of freshly boiling water with... something in it. The man must have a mouth of clay. [i]You should let tea infuse, Solomon.[/i] His next actions reflected light off the details of his many knives and Ilario couldn't help but wonder what use he had for so many at once. Unless he was a collector of sorts, his only thought went to perhaps losing them all the time and requiring spares. [i]Irresponsible,[/i] Ilario judged. He didn't much care for his tone, however. "A semi-decent motive, you say? Hmm, we will see when we are briefed, o semi-honourable Solomon." Ilario said in a matter-of-fact tone, "Now, that just leaves you," He turned his head to the giant, "Vestiago, was it? Are you to be the muscle of this team, or are you also a genius in the political sphere or..." Ilario pulled a sturgeon frown and waved his hand in a circle, trying to find another example, "... I don't know, a chef or something?"