Trahearne's expression brightens into a near-smile at the flourish. "That's fascinating," he said, quite sincerely. There weren't many true kingdoms left on his world, except for the human kingdom of Kryta. What he knew of courts and royalty was mostly the result of his studies of history, of places where time and disaster had lent a sad veneer to it all.

"You must have so many incredible stories - perhaps of your time outside of the court as well, from the sound of it. I can't imagine that being a jester is nearly as simple as you claim it is."