"You have a diplomatic mission to see to, Lord Artemaeus."

The crowds above remain exactly where they'd been left, after all, and the quickened adrenaline from watching a bloody battle is all too swift to fade: if their own cleanup and ascent takes too long, it's likely they'll lose some small amount of interest, if only for seeming less than heroic standing around lapping at their own wounds.

His footsteps hold for a moment alone, no longer than it takes him to offer some small glimmer of reassurance.

"There will be time yet for the rest."