Given the sudden attention and the intent questioning, a person with less confidence and self-assurance would have shrunk back and deferred, but although Calibri didn't really have a sizable ego, he had simply never been taught to doubt himself. He tasted poison, so he said so - there was nothing about social modicum or taboo subjects in a group setting that offset that conclusion in the least.

Immediate danger apparently avoided, Calibri nodded and let go of Garamond's sleeve. "Technically, it's only a mild drug that will cause paralysis an hour or two after ingestion, but it has been known to leave permanent damage in the neural synapses. So yes, categorically speaking, a poison."

Was this a test?