Ha. Fair enough. She certainly got that wish, although I'm not sure how she guessed it was possible.

He's been being suicidally reckless for several decades. Though I doubt that's the sense in which she wished for it.

Fuck's sake. Is there, like, anyone who at this point believes it wouldn't have been a better life choice for him to just marry her.

It obviously would have been. I am not sure what to learn from that for the general case.

Even if there would have been generalizeable lessons I'm not at all sure they wouldn't be obviated by humans not having to die of old age anymore.

That does change things. Even before that I'd have advised Aegnor to go for it, though. Better to have loved and lost, and all that.

Yeah, although in this case the alternative of 'loved and lost' is 'still loved and lost, but lost sooner and was a dick to her' rather than 'never loved at all.'

I think he was trying to get out ahead of being hopelessly in love and underestimates how quickly it sneaks up on one.

Andreth says he told her he was going to pine forever.

Even assuming the truth of that why would he tell her?

Don't ask me.

Sigh.

I'm unclear on what the Beoreans need from us, beyond extending the diplomatic recognition to Beth Miqlat we'd extend to the Falas or something. but if Illia stumbles on it do have her tell us.

Sure thing.

It's an uneventful flight back.

"So," Illia says, when she's found Andreth, "I'd say, 'Welcome to Beth Miqlat' but it seems like it would be a bit too ironic, what with you having arrived first."

"I feel very welcomed anyway, your highness, don't worry."

"'I liked your books' sounds kind of generic as a compliment but I did, in fact, like your books."

"Thank you. Which did you get the chance to read?"

Illia names basically all the books of hers that could be found in the High King's fortress.

"That's a lot of reading, m'lady! Busy, huh?"

"I'm a pretty fast reader! And it seemed like the best use of my time, when I wasn't eavesdropping on affairs of state there or healing someone or something, and reading books never costs me emotional energy."

"How was the eavesdropping on affairs of state, they up to anything interesting?"

"Not really, but I think it was informative anyway."

"We are, at least, in their good graces?"

"Oh. Yes."