He nods. <Alloran will agree to let you acquire him though I think Mhalir's involvement will distress him.>

<I suspected so. I - am not sure whether it would be fair to him to leave out that element, it is not implausible that I could be going in alone to impersonate Mhalir, but also I...dislike the idea of lying to Alloran.> 

<I think it is probably better to tell him even though he will be angry and worried.>

<I am not sure whether it would help to - imply that I am using rather more mind-control than is in fact needed here. I do intend to use the standard compulsions, so that I can override him and such.> 

<I think I would - emphasize willingness to escalate if he did betray you? I know that you consider it very unlikely but I think you would react appropriately if it did happen and I think that is what Alloran would want assurance of.>

<I would be so confused if that happened.> And more upset than he wants to admit to Matirin right now. <But - yes, I would escalate hard, and - I will be checking and taking precautions. He has no way to stop me from reading his thoughts all the time.> 

<I think that will be reassuring to Alloran.>

<Good. I can tell him myself, that seems appropriate. I do not wish to go right away, anyway - I think I am fairly close to a breakthrough on the nothlit research and would like to see what I can manage in the next week, and meanwhile Mhalir needs to plan his fake updates.> 

<That makes sense. He sends updates periodically; he seems happy, though he says that people in Valdemar take very grave offense at questions about the gods.>

<People in general, or Companions? I - suspect the Heraldic culture might disapprove, but the Companions in particular I suspect may have literal mind-modifications to - keep them fulfilling the role that their creator wished of them.> 

<Huh. He has mostly been speaking with the Companions. That's - disturbing.> His tail lashes angrily. <Yeerk-like.>

<Not nearly to the same extent, but the gods of Velgarth are - not exactly troubled by binding their followers, even in obtrusive ways. The Tayledras and Shin'a'in are not allowed to leave the lands that their ancestors made a pact to care for. I am not sure that She prevents them via magic but - well, they approximately never do leave.> 

Tail-swish.

<Why was he asking about gods? It - seems suboptimal for him to attract Their attention, he is very vulnerable right now.> Leareth is uneasy about it. 

<I asked him to, I was curious about them. He stopped when the Companions seemed upset. Do you think they'd attack him?>

<Probably not if he stopped poking at it promptly and is disinclined to give Valdemar technology. If he did try sharing any Andalite innovations, or - even just helping them with current Velgarth research or something, then I would be concerned. They tried to murder me when I attempted to found a democracy. Also when I was working on a magical printing press - oh, Andalites would not have that, it is a rapid way for printing books. Earth has non-magical ones, it is quite amazing. But the gods disapprove, or something.> 

<Well, we are also not allowed to share our technology, so that seems stable enough on both ends until you are ready to destabilize it.> Tail-swish. <I don't like them and would look forward to helping you with that, once it's time.>

Leareth stares at him, startled. <- Really?>

Matirin is startled in return. <Yes. I think technological development is good and your gods are obnoxious. Imagine if we had landed on a healthy spacefaring civilization in its own right, like we are pretending we did.>

<That makes sense. I, just... I suppose I am not used to being offered help.> 

<I cannot make any promises without knowing how the war will work out from here, but if I can help I prefer to.>

<I appreciate that.> 

<You should ask Vanyel about the Companion-gods thing. Melody mentioned thinking that it caused him some trouble a while ago.>

...Oh, was that related to his injuries in Highjorune. Leareth asked about that in general, ages ago, and got a brush-off, which he found unsurprising. If he tells Vanyel this is relevant, though... <I will do that. Thank you.> 

<Of course.> He waits a moment to see if there's anything else, then - <Do you have time to spar?>