"That's not really going to work."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Don't patronize me."

"...I apologize, sir?" he says uncertainly.

"Do you know anything about why these orders are in place or do they just sort of happen to you."

"Sometimes the King puts special orders in place for diplomatic visits or high-uncertainty situations or to confuse the Enemy or as a drill or a test. Who gets to access the palace isn't the sort of order you get a detailed justification for."

Cor turns to go back to his rooms, expecting to find that someone has already snatched up the notes he took on Thuringwethil's data dump.

Yep.

He writes in charcoal.

That paper is going to be on fire now.

Maitimo stops by a few minutes later.

"Can we talk?"

"I don't seem to be chained to the wall, that's a great start."

He sits down. "I'm sorry."

"Sure."

"Do you have the notes memorized or did you just destroy a significant share of what we need to win the war to spite me."

"This conversation will go a lot better if you can attribute me more sophistication than 'spite'."

"- yeah, all right, that wasn't fair. I am going to work really hard to make sure you are never worse off for anything you do that increases our prospects of winning the war."

"So if I rewrite them they won't be stolen? I find having my notes stolen terribly distressing. That's why I make sure I can set them on fire."

"If you rewrite the notes no one will look at them."

"Then maybe I will find myself moved to do that. Is that all you have to say?"

"Yes."

"How long do you feel like stalemating over Ranary?"

"You don't get to strip this world of mages aside from you. I would be seriously negligent if I let you do that."

"Like I said, if you want help solving the problem as stated, I can help you with that."