"I'm sorry that I had to do that," said Adam, not loudly, but so it would carry should anyone be listening. "I'd hoped you wouldn't notice. If it makes you feel better, I've had to do it with the other horsepeople, too, just because the humans around here are vulnerable."

He then quickly closed the door behind him and moved closer to Pestilence's desk so that he could speak quietly and avoid being overheard.

"Pestilence, do you know of any diseases that affect immortals, like angels and demons?"