Always him? Not at all. Alfeoux is not prejudiced, at least not in that sense — no, he hates everybody quite equally. He smiles like a wolf scenting blood, taking a single step forward; an arcanist's tome is held, mercifully closed, in his hand.

"Kind-hearted?" he laughs. "Oh, no. No — if you'd a mind about you at all, Felih Tia, you would know that I am not kind-hearted. Not in the least. But then I suppose you would not remember..."