Every evening, Barda the Jester amuses the court. He can play the lute and the harp, and sings with the most beautiful voice in the kingdom. He also juggles lit torches and tells jokes so funny that nobody dares to drink ale or wine while Barda is on the stage, for fear of choking. Barda started out in the castle as a prisoner in the dungeon, but he made everyone laugh so hard that the guards brought him up as entertainment.