[Despite himself, what he's really doing here, everything, his mouth pinches against what might have become a smile were he not so quick to suppress it.]

I doubt that very much.

[So, not no.]

At the moment, the only currency we have in this place is how useful we can make ourselves to the [so-called] High Mage, and by extension the kingdom of Thorne. You recall how the Little Palace was built, don't you? The Second Army?