Nicola is a quiet, serious addition to the Diplomacy offices; for his first few days he does little more than introduce himself, listen, and read, working to get up to speed. He could be mistaken for shy. After a debriefing meeting, however, as he passes Byerly and Benedict, there's nothing shy about the way he stops and looks at them — no polite hovering, waiting for an opportunity to interrupt their conversation, but with an apparent expectation they'll stop and pay attention to him.

"Señor Rutyer," he says. "Señor Artemaeus. Any relation to Aurelius Artemaeus?"