"I've never known her other than busy, to be honest, but this is a particular problem," Vanya acknowledges. "They do maintain the Necropolis; the wealthy have Mortalitasi directly perform their mummification. But it isn't only that. Wealthy and powerful families often cultivate one or more as an adviser. As a group, they wield considerable political power in Nevarra. Directly, not ... I understand many Orlesian mages influence policy through their influence on nobles or academics or soldiers. The Mortalitasi are in the rooms the matter, themselves."

Which may give at least some context to Vanya's observations about being shocked when he learned how mages lived outside Nevarra, in hindsight.

"She's very much of her order," of Benevenuta in particular, which is to say: Fingers in a great many pies, and not to be underestimated.