"And what precisely is in An-Teng that could help you so much?  An-Teng is just a borderland, nothing really major ever goes on there...  Unless you're looking beyond the An-Teng province," she said, her eyes going narrow.  "That's why you were headed for An-Teng, wasn't it?  You thought there might be something in or around An-Teng that could help you, give you back the edge you need to keep holding the Realm back."  She leaned back in her chair, thinking for a moment.  "You don't have to tell me the whole thing, but how close am I?  The collar's off, I can't force you to tell me the truth."