Of course he brings the Fade immediately, and Cassandra stiffens instinctively. But Malcolm is all business, almost...overly so. He sounds like he's delivering a report, or contributing to an ongoing discussion of strategy...except, of course, that he had been assigned no report, and offering unsolicited suggestions on strategy is hardly his place. Her eyes narrow, and she frowns. What is this? Mere social awkwardness? Or does he truly think that nothing he's saying had already occurred to her?

"I have no doubt that the Maker was on our side, but the strength of our soldiers and the others involved was doubtless just as important," she says shortly. "Is that all?"