[ He looks at Francel blandly for a moment, refusing to entertain the suggestion that he might be hoping to create an army with himself at the head. ]

Nothing formal, unless or until formality is needed. For the nonce, an undeclared association without a leader may be wisest. My primary concern is that we maintain our access to the Coven, and to the inner city generally. If we should find ourselves relegated to the outer city, all hope of self-reliance in research might be lost — or else we may be forced to earn our rights again, thereby wasting time while risking infection.