[ He is definitely getting riled up. He makes a serious of agitated hand gestures as he goes on, and the water around him starts to heat up, its temperature rising in time with the volume of his voice. ]

Oh, I've tried! Back after that horrible attack on Palamede, that ambush they knew about and did nothing to prevent! I spoke to Verdoni--or I attempted to, anyway. He was churlish, and hardly forthcoming.