Ashya entered, glancing once around the room, but nothing of more interest struck her. Just like Constans, the room lacked personality, no small touches that made it seem like it was inhabited aside from the basin and the sword. She sighed, whirling around to face the Tranquil again.
As she'd expected, Constans seemed utterly unperturbed about Desiderio and his escape. Ashya sighed again. The Circle had really killed Constans by making him Tranquil. No matter his insistence that he was still a person and all that rot. He was really and truly dead.
"As far as I know, there are three ways in which anyone can become Tranquil," the girl said, fixing a somewhat stern gaze on the older man and holding up a hand with three extended fingers. "Firstly, you're too scared to go through the Harrowing, and beg for it. Secondly, you're considered dangerous by the Circle and they refuse to let you become a mage. Thirdly...you're a blood mage and it's either that or death." She tilted her head sideways, her words coming out rather like a challenge. "So what happened with you? Were you a coward, dangerous or a blood mage?"