Brenner chuckled at the charming demeanour of their host.
"Well Kalzasi itself is quite exotic to Zaichaeri eyes. More so than Gel'Grandal, I would warrant, so we've no need of availing ourselves of any imports when all of our surroundings are so... Captivatingly different from our norm." Indeed, their goals here were focused on Kalzasern culture. Though it might be tempting to explore some of the influence of other foreign realms, they simply hadn't the time to afford to such indulgences.
Brenner smirked to himself at Aurin's assessment of the local morale. He leaned in closer to the man and lowered his voice.
"I have to say the Avialae in the Imperium do a sterling job of protecting their realm without subjugating the populace under a reign of their own." He glanced to Stefan, his expression broadcasting that he was intrigued by the red-haired man. He was volunteering far more information that Brenner had invited, and hadn't beat around the bush whatsoever in his response.
"I suppose, at the end of the day, there are those who might claim Zaichaer is just as homogeneous in our leadership, as we've only ever known human rule. But there is nothing, strictly speaking, that would prevent a non-human from holding the position of Grand Marshal. It's just that, well..." He shrugged, "We are the majority, aren't we, boys?" He sniggered and lifted his glass in toast to something he hadn't explicitly said, then downed the remainder of the shot.
"A Mad King, you say?" Brenner's eyebrows rose at that little tidbit, and the name Jacien which rung bells. He'd done a bit of research in advance of Talon's visit to Zaichaer, and another more thorough round before this trip. "That sounds fascinating! Two kings in one city? And both of them Synnekar, I'll be bound. I'll be interested to see how that plays out, though it reminds me of a quote from another piece of classic theatre..." He glanced back toward the auditorium out of which they'd stepped only a few minutes earlier,
"Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere."
"Well Kalzasi itself is quite exotic to Zaichaeri eyes. More so than Gel'Grandal, I would warrant, so we've no need of availing ourselves of any imports when all of our surroundings are so... Captivatingly different from our norm." Indeed, their goals here were focused on Kalzasern culture. Though it might be tempting to explore some of the influence of other foreign realms, they simply hadn't the time to afford to such indulgences.
Brenner smirked to himself at Aurin's assessment of the local morale. He leaned in closer to the man and lowered his voice.
"I have to say the Avialae in the Imperium do a sterling job of protecting their realm without subjugating the populace under a reign of their own." He glanced to Stefan, his expression broadcasting that he was intrigued by the red-haired man. He was volunteering far more information that Brenner had invited, and hadn't beat around the bush whatsoever in his response.
"I suppose, at the end of the day, there are those who might claim Zaichaer is just as homogeneous in our leadership, as we've only ever known human rule. But there is nothing, strictly speaking, that would prevent a non-human from holding the position of Grand Marshal. It's just that, well..." He shrugged, "We are the majority, aren't we, boys?" He sniggered and lifted his glass in toast to something he hadn't explicitly said, then downed the remainder of the shot.
"A Mad King, you say?" Brenner's eyebrows rose at that little tidbit, and the name Jacien which rung bells. He'd done a bit of research in advance of Talon's visit to Zaichaer, and another more thorough round before this trip. "That sounds fascinating! Two kings in one city? And both of them Synnekar, I'll be bound. I'll be interested to see how that plays out, though it reminds me of a quote from another piece of classic theatre..." He glanced back toward the auditorium out of which they'd stepped only a few minutes earlier,
"Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere."