[It's as he thought, then. Of course, having Alphinaud admit it takes a lot of the wind out of Estinien's sails. He's not surprised that Alphinaud would say whatever he felt he needed to say in that moment. He's not sure he would have expected it all to be taken so literally either.

His tone is a bit softer when he responds again.]

...That creature is mad. Mayhap it would be more foolish to think that anything will satisfy it at all, no matter how cleverly phrased.