King Clement III

King Clement the Third, ruler of all Furdia, was not a corpulent man. He wasn't on the skinny side, but I couldn't call him fat. Curly blond locks adorned his head, or so I was told, and underneath a thin layer of lavender perfume, he smelled clearly of carnivore musk.

Etienne led the way up the middle of a vast chamber, which could have held the market stalls of Narrow Valley.

Instead, it smelled of oiled metal and fine fabric, wrapping men and women of mirthless, almost hostile, posture. Etienne paid them no heed, but I cast my reticule about, gathering precious information about bloodlines.

When Etienne knelt, so did I, but I focused on the king's foot, and got what I needed.

Ah, excellent question! Here is the truth; it doesn't matter. Tell your masters that there is no blackmail in the court of Furdia save what I have and will be speaking of.