"No compact, no coins of compulsion," he says with a shake of his head. Both had been designed by Manuscript, and while he and Alex had each found uses--legitimate or not--for them back home, his distrust for the society still lingered. "Not that I haven't wished they were available, even if they wouldn't be totally necessary for this."

He smiles, fond and just a little impressed, looking over at her. "I still can't believe you used the compact."