"Ah."

"I didn't choose it."

"Who did?"

"For a long time, Osirion was ruled by foreign countries, and not very well; countries never care as much for the flourishing of their colonies as for their own people, and don't understand them as well, and don't have as much to gain by strengthening them. In my grandfather's day we became independent, and we returned to many of the traditions that remained from the last time Osirion was free, enabled by Abadar's assistance in selecting a pharaoh and ensuring a stable succession. - in most countries the succession is a major problem, and causes many wars. The pharaoh is, in the faith of Abadar, a holy symbol, an emblem of the god's presence in our country and in our lives. The pharaoh is sacred to people."

"Hm. I'm not sure I have the context for all of that to make complete sense to me with only a paragraph to go on, but I'm glad it's working for you."

Someone walks in, says something to him quietly.

"They were unable to reach your husband. We'll try the gods next; sometimes it's easier for more powerful entities to hear one."

"- if it would be safer for the caster to try a Maia, I can identify some."

"Slightly safer, yes."

"Their herald is called Eönwë."

He nods to the attendant, who leaves.

"Can magic fix whatever it is they're risking - I think the upside potential is worth it but -"

"No. But they'll recover in time - not more than a month - and we'll compensate them for the inconvenience."

"All right."

"There's no real - danger - in your world?"

"Not any more. Well, except for Dwarves, we still don't know how to get those back if they have accidents. I'm old enough to remember when there was, though."

"Even if we had very cooperative gods it's hard to imagine there wouldn't be danger. I guess perhaps none of it could be irrevocable."

"There's a crime rate on Endorë but that means you have to lock up your bicycle or someone might steal it, not that people in their own homes go around armed all the time."

"Most people do not go around armed all the time in their own homes. Or elsewhere, really. The palace is both a home and a major seat of government so it's a little unusual."

"All right, that was unfair of me. Still, it was striking compared to what I'd expect if I teleported into an orcish hall of parliament."

"I regret that we startled you. You're not in danger here. - I guess you might be, compared to your homeland. You are in awfully little danger here."

"If I die you can get my soul out of the back of my neck," she gestures, "and hang onto it in case my people ever find me; Mandos may not be getting updates so the physical copy is important."

"Huh. Will we interfere with your world's system if we try to raise you?"

"If Mandos isn't getting updates, then no. I don't expect Rúmil to decide there's no realistic chance of getting me back and have me forked from when I left for a thousand years. If Mandos is getting updates, then - maybe? Depending on some details of how your system works. But nothing worse than there being two of me would happen and while I haven't chosen to do that on purpose I expect we'd manage."

"Do some people choose to have two of them?"