Caleb watched Essek, looked at the way his eyes moved over the marks and the damage, that urgent inspection that was carefully guarded but also intensely readable for a moment.

He had seen Essek enact so many different layers of violence for so many different reasons. Seen his offensive and defensive elements. He knew the details of dunamancy that Essek might be considering to rectify these marks on his skin, because they were the same he had already considered.

For no other reason than the tension needed to be broken, Caleb found himself quietly saying, "You could just ask me to take my trousers off. No. Just above the waist."