[ Geralt's words ring a bell, a distant one where Claude feels like he remembers this being mentioned before about not being beholden to any one place, any one ruler. With what he remembers of their talks of the Witcher's sphere on top of that, Claude merely sees that as an advantage when it comes to having witnessed the steady turnover of kingdoms throughout what almost certainly had to be a series of intricate machinations - or war.

The question which follows is one he's not entirely expecting but should have given the topic. After a second he arches an eyebrow in consideration of an answer. ]

I know a handful of them rather well, but I can't say I know everyone there. Just that I do know they share a certain sentiment when it comes to living under rather intense scrutiny. Many keep a careful eye on what the monarchy might be doing on top of that.

[ It's Kyle he's thinking of mostly in terms of working in closer to those he's observing, what with that meeting with the king that'd allowed him some more freedoms in moving about the kingdom. Or Istredd who's watched the precarious balance and kept notes, and Thancred who Claude suspects shares more in common with him than either are willing to completely reveal just yet. Others too, which leads to his next consideration after taking a sip of ale. ]

The Summoned in Thorne would be who I'd think would be most likely to be planning something to make a move, if I had to guess. Their situation seems more immediately treacherous than, say, Solvunn's.

[ Or theirs in the Free Cities - though Claude certainly believes theirs is equally dubious beneath that transparent veneer of being honored and important in the government's attempt to gloss over it. ]