"It's not clear to me, Gregoria, that Cheliax wouldn't be served better by Keltham teaching more and fucking less. While he is awake and thinking we are losing ground, while he teaches us Law and technology we are gaining it. But that is Sevar's remit finally, and if I will not gainsay her decision, you certainly shouldn't. Meanwhile, consider that alterGregoria could have as many as two or even three different facts being true about her, rather than one."
"AlterTonia, perhaps, could try being scared and in over her head loudly rather than quietly. Showing vulnerability in alterCheliax would not be punished; alterTonia should have less reason to hide her weakness and her fears."
"Peranza, if there is any benefit to this reduced-punishment conceit of Sevar's, it will be that when people like you are failing, you are less afraid to go to your superiors and ask for new orders instead of waiting to receive them. Have you felt any positive motivation to do anything, has there been anything you wanted or felt interested in, over the last few days?"