Ghaej thought for a moment. "When you do not age, the number of years you have existed eventually loses all meaning. I stopped counting centuries ago, but I served Shah Asar."
He sighed sadly. "He wasn't always the vindictive tyrant history makes him out to have been. When he was but a lad, he was brave and, though not always kind, truly wanted to serve the people. But then his father died and he ascended to the throne. Power changed him. For years, I worried that I could have done something to protect his noble spirit, but it's arrogant to think I had that much influence."