Would that it were that simple, Alice. He was dealing with thousands of years of politics here.

"It would. Still, I would prefer being home, where I could fight it myself. If things do not go so smoothly as that-" and, in his experience, they really never do, "-then I am sure I will be needed. As I was saying before."

Useless. There was nothing he could do. Stop focusing on it.

"Tell me about yourself."