and facing his reflection transports himself somewhere else
They leave Madel in springtime, aboard a well-appointed ship originally belonging to the holy mother church herself. The private cabins suit Martel--a little cosier than he's inclined to enjoy, but the sense of being at sea makes up for that, and at the stern there's a larger cabin that they come quickly to refer to as the 'throne room'. It amounts to a floating conference chamber, more open and with a large window at the back. Now and then Martel can be found spending free hours there regardless of whether or not he's needed, but he's always liked space around him.
He finds himself with enough free time to spare some of it idling hours with Stragen (whose impotent frustration with the Baroness hasn't gone unnoticed, and doesn't lack for entertainment value), and asking Oscagne questions about Tamuli couched in diplomatic interest. (Given his position here, that might be more worrying if it weren't for the fact his underlying reason tends to be sitting on the table nearby, being indecent simply by existing.)