Shawil paces nervously back and forth in one of the common rooms in the church apartments at the temple complex. Normally there would be several clerics reading or discussing or otherwise engaged in quiet leisure, but none are here today. The higher clerics have made sure of it, and even if they hadn't, the frown on the Inquisitor's face would have sent them scurrying.

In addition to the frown, he wears a turban and elegant yet simple robes. A close inspection would reveal them to be fairly new, having been purchased and tailored specifically for this occasion. Black, fringed with tasteful gold. Not ostentatious, but signaling a level of wealth beyond the reach of most of those in Sothis. Underneath the robes and hidden from view is the mithril breastplate. While strictly unnecessary, Shawil is a man who has been too close to death and had too many enemies in the shadows to feel comfortable without it.

Out of habit, fingers reach for the khopesh that is for once not at his side. The only weapon on his person is the glammered dagger, disguised as a tasteful silver broach. Beyond this, he wears only a ring and a belt. He tries not to be conscious of how naked he feels without his weapons and items that have kept him alive through so many adventures, all of which pale in comparison to the trial he is about to face.

One of the high clerics knocks once and enters. "She's here?" Shawil asks flatly, answered with a nod. He follows the cleric, a man he has known most of his life, to the private lecture hall.

Nebetah, shadowed by great-aunt Maysoon, smiles at Shawil when she spots him. "Good afternoon, Inquisitor," she says, having received the thirty-second version of how he's not a Cicerone technically.

Shawil's well-worn frown breaks into a smile when he sees the princess for the first time. "And to as well, your highness." He bows appropriately, having been instructed in the formalities. He's silently happy that she is so easy on the eyes. He is even happier that the initial meeting is choreographed as he takes his seat, waiting for the lecturer to arrive, stealing as many glances at her as he can within reason.

Her older sister married a guy who lived in the Dome, so she got some opportunities to see that play out! The glance-stealing is promising and should be returned in time with little smiles that Maysoon can't see, not because Maysoon is at all likely to be unclear on what's going on but because that makes it more flirtatious probably. "The lecture is about comparative advantage, isn't it? It's been a while since my tutor covered that one, does it come up often for you?"

He makes sure to do nothing inappropriate, but is encouraged by her little smiles. Because of everything about him, he his aware at all times who in the room is where and what they are looking at, and is sure the chaperone is able to observe them both, if not their faces.

"I believe so, yes. And it does, on occasion. We ha—I have found it useful when traveling to foreign places, especially Bachuan." He wonders for a moment if she knows any about what he's done over the last two years, and whether he should be bragging about it or not. If only this were something simple like infiltrating a government or stopping a war.

"Ooh, what's Bachuan like?"

He smiles at her question. If she's faking her interest, she's at least good at it. "The people are good. The leadership... has some very wrongheaded ideas about things like trade and ownership. But we've made some advances in introducing prosperity there." He's about to ask if she would be interested in visiting, but stops himself. "Have you... have you ever been outside of Osirion?" he asks.

"I haven't! I've barely left the Black Dome before today - just trips to the winter palace. The security get so nervous about people in the family with serious errands outside, let alone me."

For the very briefest of seconds, a look of concern crosses his face. Would he have to live in the Black Dome? But that would be nonsense, and Abadar surely would not have that. Would she not be allowed to leave? He would have to find out.

"That is not surprising. It's their job to be nervous about such things." He glances over at the chaperone before continuing. "I hope you have the chance to see some of it. There is nowhere in the world like home, but there are sights to see that are worth seeing." He smiles before adding quietly, "I hope my traveling companions never hear that I said that."

"Oh? Do you have a reputation among them as a jaded cynic who is never impressed with far-off lands?" Nebetah wonders. "Or is it the other way around and they'd make fun of you for loving Osirion, I've heard most of them are foreign."

He is good enough at whatever the Inner Sea equivalent of poker is to avoid frowning or scowling. "A jaded cynic? I don't think so. You'd have to ask them. But yes, most of them are foreign, though one is from a village in western Osirion." He strokes his beard for a moment. "They probably would give me a gentle ribbing for how much I love my country, but they understand. They love theirs, in their own strange ways."

"What's a strange way to love a country?"

"The Galtans... well. I don't know if you've studied much of their history, but they threw off their bonds to Cheliax much like we did from the Keleshite Empire. And then had some more... internal strife. They were not blessed with a Pharaoh who embodies a god such as Abadar. Those I travel with had strong feelings about how to chart the course of their new country and did their best, even if this did not work out well for them." There is a sense of respect in the way he tells this.

"I've had lessons about Galt, but hadn't singled it out for attention among all the others except to note that it seemed even more complicated than most. I don't know if I know who all your companions are - I've heard of Naima, and of her husband and also - Catherine, am I pronouncing that right? - but I think there are more, less talked-about?"

He laughs at the "more complicated than most" line before quickly checking to make sure this hasn't earned him the ire of the chaperone or lecturer. "Yes, Naima is probably the most famous, being an Osirion herself. She's a little peculiar, but she does such great work and I'm so proud of all she's done for her country and people everywhere. Her husband, Elie, is equally peculiar, but is a man of great honor and a dear friend. Catherine..." Shawil pauses, his eyes narrowing slightly. "She and I do not always see eye to eye. But there's no one I would rather have alongside me in a fight. And then there's also Ione. She isn't talked about as much, at least not in Osiron. But without her, we would not nearly be as successful as we have been blessed to be."

He suddenly looks embarrassed. "I'm not boring you with all this, am I?"

"No, not at all! Everyone loves hearing adventurer stories," she assures him.

"Most of of it isn't all that glamorous. Lots of long treks through the desert or days spent flying on a carpet." He wonders if that sounds insensitive given her lack of travel. "So what's life like in the Dome?" he asks, curiosity getting the best of him.

"It's much cooler in there! I don't have Endure Elements down - I only have three cantrips, sometimes I can hang a fourth on a good day - so I was surprised by how hot it is in the sun. The winter palace has sunshine but we go there in the winter, mostly, and it's right on the water. And everyone there is rich people and staff, so there's not much of a cross-section of the kinds of people who are around in general - some retired adventurers, but generally not active ones - we had one cleric who gave a few services about that being a disadvantage in understanding the universality of the faith, meeting only rich people and their servants, he liked to go on about how day laborers or shopkeepers or farmers were also touching on important aspects of how trade flows and he'd do lectures on that, but I don't know that it taught me more than that there was a lot I didn't know."

"I didn't know you could do magic! That's quite impressive. But yes, it's quite warm out here. I've been inside the Dome on rare occasion, and the coolness is nice." He nods contemplatively. "I find myself a little more at home with shopkeepers and farmers than the nobility." His voice lowers and his brow furrows. "I'm not... I'm not nobility, as you are no doubt aware." He wonders if that concerns her at all.

"I understand," she assures him. "They have us all sit down with magic tutors to see if we can get anywhere, but even if someone gets all the way to second circle that way they don't let any of us go adventuring, including the boys."

He relaxes slightly. At least she's been told. He wonders what she knows about him.

"That's not surprising. That they don't let you go adventuring, I mean. I can only imagine if someone in the royal family went around getting into the trouble adventurers do. It would be a bit ridiculous. Still... does it ever get... boring?"

"Hmm, I think some people don't like being cooped up but I mostly don't mind. Or, I don't get bored about it. There's books to read and lessons to attend and music to practice and all the social drama you can stand in there. But there are some specific things I haven't gotten to do that I'd like to try. Like shopping! I feel it's a major gap in my theological education that I can't go to the market and shop."

"That's good." He's slightly glad she enjoys reading and lessons—he finds it impressive, but wonders if she'll think less of him for not being as widely read. "Oh yes, I can imagine wanting to try that. I think maybe..." he glances over at the woman who is very obviously observing them without looking directly at them. "I think maybe we can do something about that at some point. Maybe you can go with Naima sometime." He laughs at the thought of it. "Maybe if there's ever a time she's not working."

"She does always sound very busy. Does she like shopping?"

"Hmmm. I think so? She at least likes trade and commerce. She's also probably the only person I know richer than–" He clears his throat, realizing he's probably on the verge of saying something impolitic. "She might enjoy shopping when spending time away from work with children, Rahim and Ines. They're such fun little ones."

"Do you... like children?" he asks in an almost worried, hopeful way.