Yena watched the High Paladin move over to the bar, then smiled at Princess Oswin.

"I'm glad the reports you've heard have been favourable. I'm afraid we haven't heard much about Caasd for quite some time. Perhaps you could enlighten us on recent events?"

"But first," Jruniro said, stepping forward, "you must tell me. Is it true that you arrived in a VTOL jet?"

Yena gave him a sideways glance and suppressed a sigh. He was young and, as Dietrich had rightly surmised, single, but it was probably not quite the done thing for the deputy head of government of Erinor to start trying to court the attention of a foreign Princess. She could imagine the headlines already: Is Caasd the new Imkitopia? Still, the question had been asked. She would have to find other ways to steer the conversation away from Jruniro's control.

"A very unusual mode of travel for a Princess," she said instead, before leaning in conspiratorially to add, "but I approve."