The man who knew himself only as Monterys paused, a full minute passing by in silence. Who indeed?
"Who is he that is received worse than a common beast?" he replied pensively. Surprisingly enough, there was no resentment or any detectable emotion in the flatness of his voice. "What is a man? Is he the product of his proudest achievement, or the most shameful? Or perhaps he is what people maketh him be. But the opinion of the people is ever fickle, if not misleading. Are the memories of people changed by his conduct, or is it truly the other way around?
"As it stands now, I exist before you a man guilty of innocence. I am a prisoner, and though I know not of your circumstances, like to be your friend as long as the gods would have us against a common tribulation. There, I have told you as much about myself as I can, songstress. Tell me, wouldst a caged bird return the favour?"