"He did not." With the net removed, Doul rolls his shoulders and stretches, working out a particularly stubborn kink in his back. He makes no moves towards either Huaisang or the guards. Could he try to kill a couple of them? He could try, but what would that get him?

"He gave me a recently copied section of the book as a gesture of good faith and a down payment for services." There's a soft, thoughtful rumble. "It was not in his own hand. Still, elegant, but not his."

"I am not as well versed in the local politics as I could be. Will you tell me of the 'delicacy' required?"