Goodness gracious, all these people talking over my head. You'd think I was locked up somewhere languishing in chains and living on gruel.

It is a fact that I do not hold myself accountable to anyone but my one Lord Emperor. My conscience is clear and in His eyes I am already blameless, which is why I can walk around with my head held high.

However, let it not be said this old Fylakeian is a coward or an entire fool (only fifty percent so!).

King Tu'eras, I publicly declared I would be willing to answer your questions and I stand by that even though you have chosen to turn this into a circus. Fortuitously, my Lord calls me His Imperial Clown and I am well-suited to spectacle.

So you will have your Tribune. Not because I have something to prove, but because I respect your need for... whatever this is. Public reassurance, novelty...

However my cooperation is no longer without conditions:((

Firstly, I reserve the right to appoint legal counsel. I believe the late captain had three advocates. As I am not half-dead on a cell floor, I will make do with one. This is mostly to stop me from telling people to stick it where the Devil can't reach every third sentence. In fact, even as I write this, I imagine they are scrambling to pull the quill from my fingers.

Secondly, on the day of Tribune, I will be subject to a public physical search by a Knight of my choosing before the proceedings. Rest assured, the knight in question will not be of Imperial leanings. If a knight cannot be found, then a squire will be selected. They may have access to all my effects and indeed anywhere they *can* reach (ooh la la). This is to protect me from any heirloom rings mysteriously appearing about my person in the middle of being questioned.

Thirdly, if for any reason I am to be confined in a space outside of the Imperial Palace of Thalassa, I will be in the custody of no less than six Triton legionnaires and my sister. I think we can all agree that we have seen far too many individuals mysteriously expiring in confinement. Dying in some balan attic is not my idea of a good time.

Fourthly, in the aftermath of the theft, I passed you two letters sent to me by the thief, they describe the circumstances under which I came to be employed to cater for your wedding. This was done under the eye of the numerous wedding attendees. Witnesses! On hindsight, I question the wisdom of leaving such valuable evidence in your safekeeping after having so recently witnessed that your pockets are looser than a doxyhouse worker's... well, done is done. You will be expected to produce said evidence for review. I will quote it verbatim if need be to match their contents.

I trust we are in agreement? Check your pockets before you reach for your quill, dear king.


Skye Bellatere Anchors
Tempest

PS: This is obviously one for the books. Remember to write it down! (AD 212!)


Penned by my hand on the 23rd of Mayan, in the year 997 AF.