Aspexia does smile sometimes.  She is smiling right now.  "I seem to be looking at a piece of paper you wrote, signed by Ferrer Maillol, giving you permission to see me, and another piece of paper indicating that he is not confident in his own vision and unable to judge yours.  That is, I admit, not exactly what I expected to see.  Does he know you are also requesting command of his project, Sevar?"

Aspexia does smile sometimes.  She is smiling right now.  "I seem to be looking at a piece of paper you wrote, signed by Ferrer Maillol, saying that you have business for the Grand High Priestess, and another piece of paper in his own hand, indicating that Maillol is not confident in his vision and unable to judge yours.  That, I admit, is not exactly what I expected to see.  Does Maillol know you are also requesting command of his project, Sevar?"