Jaskier doesn't miss he's annoyed by it, but it's a reasonable question all the same. Mat is the one who offered he's been raised in the middle of bumfuck, nowhere, and -- as curious as it is that everyone in Abraxas appears to be gifted with the knowledge of literacy, it is more than a fair question to anyone from Jaskier's own home.

Or a home that sounds similar.

"Lucky you only need to be able to read. And count." All right, and write, if he's to put down his music, but there are plenty who never do. Who keep it all in their heads.

It's Jaskier's turn to react, with a slight flinch. "A theorbo, actually. But good! That's good. We found it quickly, and it's an instrument I'm well acquainted with, with beautiful, robust sound." And in Mat's hands, she does look good. The two look similar, both long and thin. Lanky. But strong.

"We'll start easy for today. I'll teach you the first few basic notes on the course, a few on the fet, and a chord, and you practice from there."