Vax didn't say anything as he spread his hands with Simon draped between them, the snake giving one last, languid wriggle as if settling in for a nap. Then Simon's body shifted, and he was a silvery, inanimate belt instead of a living animal. Vax slid the belt that was Simon behind his back and set to work winding it around his hips, same as anybody would a strip of leather. A very prized bit of leather.

"You've got the portraits now," Vax suggested quietly. "That's something. And there's Mildmay to help make up for the rest."