If she doesn't bring up critters at this point it's going to be really conspicuous when it eventually comes out. "That's most of the important things. The other big difference is that most of the people who know about magic have the ability to turn into a different shape--one per person, what kind runs in families. It doesn't sound like this world has that." At least not publicly or commonly; she's seen enough people now that if this were an Avalon someone would have been going around in midform.

"Really! Fascinating. We have other species but none who can shapeshift forms at will - the closest would be elementals of other planes, who can be summoned into construct-bodies." 

"Are the other planes like the difference between here and my world? Places with different magic that you can only get to with magic?"

"Sort of, but - more different, I would say. For example, the Elemental Plane of Fire is an extremely dense, high-energy, 'hot' place - it is not really full of the kind of fire our world has, but it is extremely hostile to human life, the kind of being that can live there is extremely different. Whereas you - look to my eyes just like humans here." 

"Yeah, I haven't noticed anything--fundamental about this world being different other than the magic."

Ma'ar nods. His expression is serious again. "Do you have any explanation for why Tantaran is the language you arrived here with, presumably by some kind of magic, and not our local tongue which would have been of far greater use to you." 

"I have no idea! I didn't even know giving someone a language was a thing anyone knew how to do with my kind of magic." Note to self, figure out if magically-acquired Tantaran counts as a non-native language for magic purposes.

Ma'ar nods. Looks into the distance for a long time. 

"I believe you are telling me the truth," he says. "In part because your magic is very obviously foreign, and I do not see what you have to gain by lying about any of the rest. So I am going to fill you in on some of the context, here, for - why your arrival attracted the level of attention it did, here in Predain." 

"That would be--good. Thanks."

"Tantara is a neighbouring kingdom. Led, currently, by one of the most powerful mages in the known world, Urtho. He was Archmage and led the greatest academy of magic in the world, before. I - studied there, in his Tower, once, before returning to help my homeland. About a year ago, he - unexpectedly invaded. We are now at war." 

"Ah. I can see why that would make--my showing up--frightening. I apologize for scaring people. I don't think this Urtho was involved." Maybe he had some kind of hand in making her show up in the specific place with the specific language she did but she doesn't see how that would benefit him except maybe as a distraction, and if he could interact with her universe that easily he would be doing something more useful.

Ma'ar sighs. "I am sorry for frightening you with our reaction, if in fact you were frightened. It...is a very stupid and pointless war, honestly, and I would prefer we were not fighting, but Urtho has been uninterested in negotiation so far." He rubs his chin; in that moment he looks very tired. "I - cannot force you to do anything, of course, but if you are trapped here, then - perhaps we can discuss if I can help you research ways back to your own world, in exchange for your aid with our war." 

Oh boy, what is a diplomatic way to tell an extremely intimidating person that she has no way to tell which side of the war is the right one or if there even is a right one and also that she has about as much interest in joining an army as she does in eating a pint of expired mayonnaise, and also she might not in fact have a choice.

"I'm--not trained to fight, at all. I. If there was a way I could help make peace I would try, but. I'm no soldier."

"Oh, I would not ask you to be a soldier. That is highly unlikely to be the best use of your magic. My greatest hope is that you might have some way of sending messages, or otherwise allowing secure communication with Urtho, so that I can try again to sort this out. Or -" he frowns, taps the table for a moment, "...or perhaps that I could - tell Urtho of your existence as a peace offering, he adores the study of magic and might be very tempted by the chance to talk to you... Though I am not sure he would allow himself to give in to temptation even then." He looks her in the eye. "And, of course, I understand that you have only my word for all of this and, if you are a smart person which I hope you are, you would not want to participate unless you had verified some things for yourself." 

Oh, thank goodness, that's more understanding of her perspective than she was worried he'd be. "I want to do--things that would be good things to do no matter which side of the war I landed on. Passing messages sounds like the sort of thing that's a lot more likely to help than hurt."

"Yes, I think so, and also - I want peace, I want us to no longer be at war with Urtho, and at this point I think that almost certainly requires winning it first, but I would prefer if it did not cause any more death and property damage, since both of those are bad." 

Nod. "Wars are awful. I think I can figure out a way to send and receive messages. If I did it as a pair of objects where any sounds made near one came out of the other, would it be possible to get one end to Urtho? And would that be the sort of thing that would help?"

"I am not sure it would resolve everything that is causing our communications blockage, but - I think it is at least worth a try." He smiles, or at least attempts it; mostly he looks stressed and exhausted. 

"Is there anything else you want to know? I'm sure you're very busy." Margaret wants to know where she's expected to stay long-term and how she should go about exchanging labor for money and/or food and paper and how free to wander off she hypothetically is, but there's sure to be someone less simultaneously busy and intimidating she can pester about it later.

"I want to at some point know everything that you, personally, can do with your world's magic using resources you have here or that we could provide for you. And of course whether you need special setup so we can arrange that. I have upcoming commitments, though, so it could make the most sense to have someone set you up with a guest-room and you can write it up for me? I read Tantaran well; I am not sure if the magic gave you the ability to read and write it too? We ought test that." 

"That all makes sense. I can visualize what Tantaran words should look like written down but I suppose it's possible I've got a completely wrong version."

He gets her a piece of paper and a pen from a nearby cabinet. "Show me?" 

She writes "This is a sentence in Tantaran." and then the alphabet. Her handwriting is a little slow and ugly because she isn't used to the letter shapes but it's definitely readable.

Nod. "- Yes, I can read that, though I cannot claim to understand at all how the magic works such that I can." He stands up, tugs the bell-rope again. "Do you have any particular requests for your accommodations here?" 

She has no idea what her options are and what's reasonable to ask for at this tech level, and really what she mostly wants is to not be under surveillance all the time but if she's going to get that it won't be by asking. "Not especially? Somewhere with a window would be nice."