"Not always," He admits. Pretty can be nice. "But I don't like the practicality here. It's like bright colours on a snake."

And the Inquisition holding each end of its jaws. Alan doesn't understand the complexity behind this conflict — someone tried to explain, on the ride out, but it might as well have been in Tevene for all the sense it made.

He offers the coin out, the side of his mouth crooking a little.

"What would you do with it, if you had one to lose?"