"I've never heard them speak nor proof of their intellect but that doesn't mean they couldn't be capable of both. I should ask Felix for some books on them and read up. Are the trolls on your world like that? Are they really so large?"

And perhaps that is a preview of talks to come. Jim being perfectly capable of giving broad answers that show he's heard of something but the second anyone probes deeper he finds himself at a loss for information. It's not as though he can just make something up, either. He could, rather, but it would probably be a very bad idea to do around Felix's father.

Plus he doesn't want to lie to Runa. She's really too sweet to tease overmuch.

"I've never thought to ask most of those questions before, to be honest. I was warned of them and that was about it."