The Cat-Beset Perfectionist
The Cat-Beset Perfectionist has been painting the same portrait of the Duchess for two years. It's not quite right yet.
Have a chat while he cleans his brushes
Pull a few cats off him and sit down.
Go
A respite and gossip
"Of course, it wouldn't be proper for me to comment on the Duchess' habits or itinerary. But she does get the most startling visitors. Scholars, explorers... some I might suspect of having republican tendencies! Have you heard of the Calendar Council? My sense is that her Grace is no friend to the Bazaar. Now strictly speaking that's her business. Her formal position is complex, you know. Have you ever wondered what Her Grace is the duchess of? ...ah, here she is again. Excuse me."
Talk to him about the Tomb-Colonies
You've heard that he once spent some time at a little known Tomb-Colony off the main shipping lanes.
Go
Gates of glass
"I don't want to speak ill of the chap, but the fact was our captain was a drunk. He landed us at the wrong port. It turns out that there's more Tomb-Colonies than most people think. The ones commonly known are the pleasant ones. The ones the... they don't mind you seeing. The port where we put in... like a slice out of a different time, do y'see? A time before the Kings shrivelled. Glass gates, glass pillars... I tried to paint it. I tried.. The canvas isn't safe to burn, what's left of it. I keep it in my lumber-room, where I can't hear it of a night.."There's more, though the details become incoherent. Was this a real voyage or a honey-dream?