"Right." He makes a conscious effort to lighten his voice. "Those dam mathematics."

Alistair picks up his quill, bending over the letter again. He'll figure out what he wants to say to Kieran. Yes. Any minute now.

...He might have to resort to doodling some nugs in the margins first, however.

(The slump to his shoulders -- which has been there more often than not these past few weeks -- begins its gradual return.)