"Doesn't sound like behaving well gets the women anything besides money, in this situation," she says, looking out over the water. "And women in Avistan have money."

"There's more to marriage than money," Fazil says. 

"Is there, if your husband can take someone else at any time?"

"There's - a big difference between what it's wise to legally mandate, and to swear to, and what marriage is. You don't want the legal mandate to be something even one person in twenty fails at. But the cultural concept, the expectation, can be built around much higher expectations than the law. Most men shouldn't and don't marry again, or ever separate."

"I suppose that's good, given how little women are allowed to do on their own."

"There's lots of women in the church, doing all kinds of things."

"I suppose that's better than nothing."

"Raising children also isn't nothing."

"No, but in Cheliax women's work is paid for. In Cheliax a woman has no stability but the work of her hands, and in Osirion none but her husband. But I suppose either can be lost."

"In Osirion widows usually get pensions from the church. And they can work, if they need to, though that's not a situation I'd wish on anyone."

"Why not?"

"If you're not blessed or lucky or starting out with a lot of resources it's backbreaking work, supporting a family. I don't know how you'd do that and raise them."

"Is it so hard for men?"

"I moved parcels on the docks, when I was a kid. I was there every minute of light and I hurt every minute of the night and I was not earning enough to feed us. And women are weaker."

"Imrainai raised me and my brother all alone," says Verita, not looking up from her book.

"I'm sure Cheliax makes it easier than other places."

"She did a good job," Fazil says.

"I think so!"

"I tried."

(There is a muttered conversation in Osirian).

"We should reach Cassomir shortly," Mahdi says.

"Where's that?"

"It's on the border of Taldor and Andoran. On the Taldor side. Tomorrow we'll mostly be flying over the Verduran, and should make Galt by the evening, though we won't make it to the capital. Maybe we can find a village somewhere and learn who's in charge now. - do you wanna see a map?"

"Yes please!"

So he leans over and shows her their path.

She looks it over and mouthes some words to herself to remember them, and then nods.