"I'm more interested in the fact that most of them are unfamiliar," he says loftily. Looks like that ruffling isn't over yet. "Felix is currently indisposed, unfortunately. But regardless it does no harm for me to make an appearance at such events. It's an opportunity to gauge the new arrivals... and to ensure the Legion is represented properly."

Stratos would be quite happy to remain unsolved - and perhaps he favors it when nobody troubles to ask about him.

"I'd wager your reasons for being here aren't dissimilar."