"That's understandable. I don't myself know how to build a melter."

She nods. "Anyway. After the revolution, Ibyabek stopped using money? To marshall its whole world as Heaven, as an army in wartime, as a single pool of resources to be dedicated as needed?"

"...what I know about Heaven is what you've told me, but the single pool of resources thing sounds right."

"Towards what do they direct those resources?"

"Policing the space border with Outer Sohaibek - it's more manpower-intensive than a land border by a long shot. And making sure everyone on the planet is fed and cared for appropriately."

"What danger does Outer Sohaibek pose? Are they trying to melt another planet? Is there an active state of war?"

"Not active war. I'm not sure I should describe the state of affairs beyond that."

"That's fair enough. But - we want to help. We would be interested in adding our resources to your own, and addressing our shared problems as one."

"I'm not authorized to entertain the offer myself."

"I understand. I hope you'll convey it for us."

"I'll give my captain a complete report when I can."

"Working on it," says the person praying over the pool of water.

"Ideally he'd be able to take the complete report in private. I will give him as much report as he asks for over the magic thing."

"Hopefully once we have a scry he'll be able to come here, but we can give you our oath that no one in this room has Tongues up or a way to speak your language - the language-spell we're using only gives you ours," says Isavel.

"I can tell him that you gave oaths on that, then."

She looks slightly nonplussed, but shrugs. "I'll have someone bring breakfast. Are there other things you'd want to know for your report?"

"Are there star charts to be had yet?"

"We did our best overnight, but can get better ones with more time." She passes them over. They're obviously painstakingly measured and labelled by hand.

Kyeo frowns at them.

"This is not my galaxy," he concludes in fairly short order. "I don't recognize this one on sight."

"Huh. In that case it seems likely it's a Plane Shift to get you home."

"And that is?"

"A spell we have, but - not an easy challenge, to go a place we've never been. We'll of course do whatever we can."

"'Planes' is a term for galaxies?"

"No. But - it seems likelier you got here from another plane than from another galaxy in this plane, since I can't even think how that'd happen, and even if that is what happened the fastest way back will probably be over some other plane."

"- it may be some sort of magical force has invaded the system. Or the Outer Sohaibekans have it -"