If not for how much he spent on his manicures, Alistaire imagined he'd be biting a nail as his thoughts intensified. His Aunt was one of perhaps three people on the planet who genuinely cared for his well-being. (Four if you counted her husband, who Alistaire still considered something of a question mark where he himself was concerned.) She wouldn't intentionally misguide him, would she?

"So... that's it then? Just walk away? Do I make an announcement, or do I just stop taking and making calls?"