Kell isn't aware of how distorted view of his country's politics he has. He never had the chance to see it from the other side. From the non-royal side. Besides, he was never interested.

"Some of it does," he says it with conviction. "But as soon as you have to negotiate anything, it's a slog. As long as it's only king's decision, things go pretty fast. In my country, the royalty actually acknowledges they have duties and not only privileges connected to their station. They actually care about being good rulers of their people."

The irony of this defense does not escape him. Kell had been a lot more critical before he's seen what Thorne's royalty is doing... and what they are not doing.

"I have yet to see anything similar in Thorne. I doubt anything goes smoothly unless it's on Queens' whims. Those go in an instant."

Kell pulls himself up on a narrow edge, just above the pod. Knocks on the hard surface. No response.

"They knew about the disappearances in Nott, and did little to help. I've heard some guards complained they're not getting enough people to investigate this. And now, here we are."

He carefully slides back down. Knock on the pod again, a lot harder this time. Nothing.

"How did you even open the one I was in?"