The griffon bowed. “Your majesty, honourable king Johan the Blackwing, may your reign be long and prosperous…” The griffon began, his foppish hat, by some cruelty of the universe, stayed on his head, despite him having bowed over totally. “I come on behalf of Count Greybeard, of the Duchy of Farlkirk.” The messenger began, a scroll clasped in one claw. Joachim nodded recognition to the griffon.