Theoretically, Antonio is still in charge here.  Theoretically.  Even if he is 4th-circle and the other is 7th-circle, he is the senior Crown diplomat who is handling this issue and the other is not.

"That's certainly a terrifying possibility," he says mildly.  "It means that if either of us screwed up, or screws up, we can expect a very long death, that we'll still be sorry to see end.  I'm countermanding your order for a cleric to bring Merrin the paper; we don't need to know right away whether we can heal her without her permission, until we have an excuse to learn that more naturally.  I'll just play the diplomatic game as if it was sudden-death, with her, until I do know."

Theoretically, Antonio is still in charge here.  Theoretically.  Even if he is 4th-circle and the other is 7th-circle, he is the senior Crown diplomat who is handling this issue and the other is not.

"That's certainly a terrifying possibility," he says mildly.  "It means that if either of us screwed up, we can expect a very long death, that we'll still be sorry to see end.  I'm countermanding your order for a cleric to bring Merrin the paper; we don't need to know right away whether we can heal her without her permission, until we have an excuse to learn that more naturally.  I'll just play the diplomatic game as if it was sudden-death, with her, until I do know."