"I will wait." And in the meantime he can properly introduce himself to Ayodele; he can pull her entire life history from her mind almost instantly, but it doesn't work that way in reverse. 

Leareth paces, and checks on Mhalir's Carissa at half-hour intervals. 

Eventually she transitions from a very deep sleep to a more normal sleep and a while after that she wakes. Feels sheepish about what she did last night, which could've killed her if the bag had slipped shut, though she did prop it open with pillows. Calls her spellbook to hand and prepares a few spells.

Leareth's next check finds her awake, just finishing said spells. 

:Carissa? Mhalir is about to leave with his ship to collect the adult Ma'ar and your local Aroden. He - wondered if you wanted to say goodbye: 

:Oh.: Does he mean permanently? He said it so casually -

- well, she'll find out sooner or later -

:Sure.:

An unfamiliar young woman arrives. Her body language is very recognizably Mhalir's. 

"Carissa," Mhalir says. Hesitates. "I - thought it best not to put any pressure on you to return to being my host now, and there are time-sensitive plans here. It is not because I am angry with you." 

Time sensitive plans for the invasion of Hell. "I understand. I - you've been very kind to me."

"I will be back in a few days, and - we ought talk more, then. Hopefully both of us will be readier for it then." Mhalir attempts a smile. It's not a very convincing one. 

"Yeah. See you then."

He stands there for a long movement, not moving, just looking at her. 

Then he lets out his breath and turns to go. 

Leareth can Gate him back to his ship, from the shielded Gate-room where no one but him will even sense it happening. 

"You want breakfast?"

"I, uh, have a Ring of Sustenance."

"Yes, but food tastes good. Do they have decent Chelish food in Absalom?"

"I wouldn't know because I have a Ring of Sustenance."

"Well, we have good Chelish food here." She steps out of the suite and rings a bell for it. 

"Your parents must be so proud."

"I think they're mostly confused. Mariza said 'you're not that pretty', which, you know, fair -"

"I would've been more confused about the Iomedae thing."

"I think they're probably assuming that's just state propaganda? Which is what I'd assume if I hadn't been here for it, really."

"Mhalir doesn't like lying."

"Leareth either. But unfortunately there's no way to convince people that their King has a bizarre personal quirk of honesty and all the propaganda is entirely sincere and I wouldn't even want to rule people who believed that."

"The Elves were like that. Their leaders a bit less so. But most of them just - they couldn't imagine why anyone would do a bad thing, except by mistake."

"How is that sustainable."