[ Julius is not the first person to invent mannerly conditions prior to inquiry, to alleviate some form of rhetorical pressure or make innocent a bold question, and yet Marcus sort of looks at him like he has, just now.

The distraction passes, amusement receding as he speaks to the question. ]

Immediately before, [ he says ] I was situated not far out of Wildervale, here in the Free Marches. Myself and some companions had negotiated our way into some mostly unused territories to forge something of a home, for the time being. And I was catching up on my reading.

[ Not terribly heroic, but he doesn't infuse apology into his tone. ]