"There's a mix. Some of it's straightforward watching over Creation. Some of it's reports from the numerous spirits of the world. Much of it involves watching over the Loom and Tapestry of Fate. That last is vulnerable to disruption - the Celestial Exalted and anything from outside Creation can fairly trivially tangle the Loom's threads, changing Fate. You're not just from outside Creation - the Loom certainly survives the actions of a few raksha here and there - but you're apparently set to change the world."

"I suspect I'm the only major actor in Yu-Shan who's figured out who is causing the disruption, though."

"Can we expect more abduction attempts when others catch on?"

She laughs. "Most of those capable actually obey the rules about not openly interfering with humanity too much, and I'm Second Most High - I can make it a very, very bad idea for agents of Yu-Shan to do things I disapprove of."

"They might still try, but I'd expect more spying and clandestine approaches, less dramatic kidnappings."

"It is useful to have allies in high places."

"Somewhat literal, in this case," she says, smiling. "Though there are concessions I would ask of you and your people."

"And what might those be?"

"My charge is the integrity of this world. I know Wyld, and I know her ambition - and her hatred for anyone who'd hurt her loved ones."

"But we left the Yozis alive for a reason. Do not kill them, at least not until that reason is obviated."

"Why do you want this?"

"The existence of Creation is tied to the Primordials who made it. When we killed Primordials, whatever part of Creation they made ceased to exist, and Creation's now a tiny fraction of the size it once was. Right now, killing the Yozis would destroy the world - killing even one would destabilize it."

"How inconvenient."

"Rather obnoxious, really. Though I am trying to find other ways to stabilize Creation."

"We may be able to provide options, depending on certain interactions. Gods who exist as landscape, for example."

"If any of them want to try claiming territory out in the wyld to test that, I'll welcome them."

"We will arrange it."

"Good. It'll be an entertaining experiment, if nothing else."

"We are nothing if not entertaining."

"I'm beginning to notice."

"It is the suspicion of some of our number that the entire enterprise was set in motion and is guided by meta-universal beings that are optimizing for entertainment."

Laugh. "They have good taste, then."

(Ani has such complicated feelings about the theory that her life is someone's idea of entertaining.)

"Sometimes."

"Sometimes, of course, we must rewrite our tales."

"Mm."

"There's some other things that'd be good for you to keep in mind, operating here, but I also don't want to keep you too long - mortals don't tend to do well, when the Silver Chair reaches the end of its route for the night."

"Perhaps leaving a note will be more palatable now that we have met in person?"