"Most Dukes wouldn't want to waste their time defending a fake Count who couldn't defend theirself against a Baron. It's one thing to shut down violence between your subordinates, and another thing to have to defend your subordinates from random passing wizards. For the strong to rule is the most natural structure, which takes the least amount of work from stronger powers to keep in a state of pleasant stability."
"If, possibly, you had a chance to hit up some library books or seduce information out of your fellow inmates--you can't beat it out of them until you've had your first lightline session--would you then feel like you weren't violating your bit by appearing to have learned some things and have some better idea of what you wanted, if I wandered around and chatted with you again in a few days?"