The corridors of the south wing were quiet, the hum of ether conduits low and steady. Gabriel knew the route by heart now; Marin's chambers had become almost an extension of his own schedule, a place Damian insisted he visit as often as reports or council meetings.
The physician's rooms were plain, practical, with neat stacks of medical texts and the faint tang of sterilized ether in the air. Marin looked up as Gabriel entered, rising with the kind of deference that had only grown sharper since Gabriel had taken the title of Empress.
"Your Excellency," Marin greeted, bowing briefly before gesturing him toward the familiar examination chair. "Back again. If I didn't know better, I'd say you enjoy these visits."
Gabriel's mouth curved faintly as he sat, his movements graceful despite the weariness in his frame. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you enjoy lecturing me."
