Perhaps it's rude to talk about religion here, or something. He changes the subject.

Asks Taver later. <Is it discourteous to ask questions about gods?>

:Hmm: He gives Alloran a piercing look. :What sort of questions?: 

<I was trying to get a sense of what their goals are and what it means that they all created Valdemar.>

:It is not known to be fact that They all participated in creating us. Merely that King Valdemar prayed to every god whose name he knew: Another hard look. :Why did you wish to know this: 

<It seems important to understanding this world, to understand its most powerful actors and what they are doing.>

:I see. I do not think it is rude to ask, necessarily, but also we do not have any special insight into the answer. The god or gods who made us is not very communicative with us now: 

<That makes sense. I was not expecting you to consult them, I just imagine that much of what I want to know is common knowledge. Maybe it is not.>

Taver is still giving him a silent, piercing look. 

<Have there always been the same gods? Does history record gods who do not seem to be active now?>

Long pause. :I think there are gods in history who have not been spoken of in many centuries. The Twain were a pair of gods and goddesses who I have only heard of being mentioned in very ancient texts. We believe perhaps some gods were destroyed in the Cataclysm, and others substantially moved Their territories afterward: 

<Huh. I have heard that Karse is under the control of Vkandis. Was Valdemar invaded on His orders?>

:I do not know the answer to that question: Taver, too, seems uneasy now, shifting his weight and staring hard at Alloran. 

<Is there anyone who would?>

:Perhaps Queen Karis, or her Suncat, but I am not sure either of them would answer. The gods do not always wish that Their motives be known: 

<Well, I'd imagine not, if they're starting wars!>

Taver's large blue eyes narrow, his expression hard to read. 

<Is there a way to communicate with them directly?>

:I think it depends if They wish to be communicated with. For Their priests, yes, sometimes. Some gods have avatars to speak for them, but often those will only answer for the god's people. The Shadow-Lover speaks to dying souls, here, but only to the dying: 

<I see. Thank you.>

:You are welcome: 

Taver is still watching him intently. 

Well, if he has a question he can ask it. Alloran feels like he's starting to put together a picture of the interplanar creatures for Matirin.

Taver does not ask, then or later. He does visibly watch Alloran more than before, and seems a little stiffer with him, but he doesn't raise any actual complaint. 

(He talks to the other Companions what Alloran has been asking them about, but since he tells them not to say this to Alloran, Alloran has no way of knowing.) 

Alloran is pretty sure there is absolutely a taboo about discussing the gods, though it's interesting that Taver wouldn't admit to it. Maybe talking about them gives them power? It seems worth asking Leareth about, anyway. 

Leareth spends a week-and-some on the Andalite homeworld, working through his agenda, being shown various sights and trying not to look like someone who's never seen a technologically advanced city before, meeting researchers and politicians, checking in with Matirin. They don't manage to find time for sparring again, which he's vaguely wistful about. 

He offers to train Andalites who've achieved the new composite morph with Gifts (developed significantly by him personally)  on how to Gate, and various other advanced magical techniques, in exchange for morph for ten of his researchers. Generously, he can count himself as one of the ten. Also, if they're interested, after the war he would be willing to put time into developing a version of the permanent Gate technique that can handle the interworld routing. This is a much larger endeavour - considerable original research, plus months of work from dozens of skilled mages - and so he would want to trade it for something of corresponding value. 

The Andalites approve the ten people with morph, including Leareth. Matirin said something to the effect that Velgarth never really bothered with satellites or starships, what with having developed direct planar travel; satellites are otherwise useful, though, for internet and for mining operations best conducted in space, and the Andalites could build them some in exchange for the permanent Gate?