Hmm? No, just politics. Lots of people can only accept help if it looks like they had the power to command it or if they don't have to acknowledge it or if it can be framed in ways that advance their goals. There is a war on and I want them to accept help, so we can accommodate that.

The way you said it sounded like it had a story behind it, and if you have any family drama that isn't at least tangentially political I don't know about it, she explains.

Lots of stories, most of them necessarily private. It's a common need for one reason or another.

Fair enough.

Believe it or not, most of our politics aren't about ancient family drama, they're about things like needing to balance the demands of one merchant group against another or get a more favorable economic treaty without weakening a King we want in power.

I've heard less about that kind of thing. I suppose Illia's been paying more attention to it.

It would, with all due respect, be a waste of your time to throw you at problems that cannot be magicked.

I don't feel disrespected at all! It's so true.

But if you interact mostly with Celegorm and get left out of all the politics that can't be magicked, you might be under the impression we do nothing but send our cousins rude missives and stew over ancient grievances.

I am not sure if that's an accurate assessment but I certainly wouldn't call it unfair.

I like Celegorm. He was a good friend of my sister's. I don't lose any sleep over the thought you're getting filtered news. But I'm glad Illia got to spend some time in Eithel Sirion reading trade agreements instead of in Himlad hearing about the succession dispute.

To be fair if I had thought I was going to need that level of practical knowledge of politics I would probably have been hanging out in Himring instead. Your point stands.

That'd do it. And you don't need it, Illia's brilliant at it. 

If anything happens to her current plan is to appoint Andreth regent and metaphorically run away screaming.

Good choice. At least I think so, having read her books but not met her.

She's not going to commit until she knows her better, but I met her and liked her a lot.

Her whole family's very driven and talented, and she also strikes me in her writing as a very nuance-attentive and diplomatically capable person.

I'm not the one who's read what she's written, but I'm happy to take your and Illia's words for it that her books are really good.

And you liked her well in person?

She's really great!

I count us very lucky that you were able to rescue everyone in Ladros.

No kidding. I'm glad she didn't keel over of old age before I got to her.

She's an outlier for a mortal, ninety.

I don't think everyone in my world lives that long.

I think she was determined to outlive Aegnor.