"Can't release him outright unless oath reforms do work on our kind of Elves."

He can probably tell that she's repressing a reproachful sigh. "Did he happen to swear on a Vala, if yours can ever be talked into behaving themselves?"

"No."

"That's going to make it hard. Have you come up with anything already?"

"I was mostly planning to compensate by doing a really excellent job at all of the other things he cares about."

"Arranging to win in a hypothetical global tradeoff against other possibilities doesn't really count as doing right by him."

"We talked about it a little bit. He thought it was at least possible that I could keep him and be someone he could love and respect. That is what I am aiming for."

"Did he say how?"

"No. Said he'd tell me if things were in the right direction."

"Any progress?"

"Yeah. We've talked about why my alts are different and about what we're going to do when we have more resources and as you obviously noticed he has his hair back and his orders are honestly so relaxed he could probably find a loophole but he won't, he's waiting to see what I do."

"Is he free to talk to me as he pleases, if I go find him?" she inquires.

"No. I could give him permission but I can't actually think how I could prove I have."

"It seems likely one of your alts could tell but that would involve more publicity than seems productive; I doubt they'd take it well."

"They wouldn't. I think he'd be upset with me if I tried to force him to lie to you about this when you're trying to help us; I won't do that."

"If it is ever vitally important I believe Miranda would get me some Veritaserum without needing to know why."

"Don't do that when he is under orders, you might hurt him."

"Of course not; it would just be an option if you needed to verify something to me such that I could believe it was not - misshapen. And the availability of the option calibrates how much credence I should assign things when it's not offered me."

"If you want to talk to him I'll give him permission to talk to you."

"I would, yes."

"All right."

"Is there anything I should know before I do?"

"I don't think he appreciates it when people are demonstratively horrified on his behalf, not that you seem especially so tempted. Don't tell him what to do. He was really freaked out that your set had children."

Nod.

"Thank you."