He gave a laugh, looking thoroughly caught. "You know how it is. Someone like me, a diplomat? Ha! Better to have me being the scribe along honestly. I'm not one of the big boys from pretty much anywhere. And I'm not even going to get into my feelings on merchants." He shook his head firmly, then put his hands behind his head, lacing his fingers to show he meant no harm.

Really, he was harmless. "I just heard about some things in this area that hit my interests that's all. I'm more of, ah... a scholar I guess."