neither grudge nor grit

For the past several years, Amalthus had been merely someone Addam had to consider, to endure, to coexist alongside, at a distance.

But eventually the time would come that, beyond any misplaced measure of valiance, Addam would simply have to speak to the man.

His counterpart, of course. The Driver of the partner Aegis.

"You do things I could never imagine," said Amalthus. Addam blinked, though he meant not to, and replied through careful teeth, "Quaestor, your capabilities escape my comprehension as well."

They weren't lies. They may have been veiled, but they couched barefaced respect: worthy of the truth.