"You don’t know me. My mission doesn’t concern you. Why would you offer to help with something this dangerous?"

"I have my reasons," Haryntha replied, "but I’ll only discuss them with you privately. What I have to say isn’t for everyone’s ears."

Milan stepped forward. "If you have business with my guest, you can speak in front of—"

"With respect, Prince Milan," Haryntha interrupted smoothly, "what I need to discuss involves parties and information that you’re better off not being connected to. For your own political protection, you should not be part of this conversation."

The implication was clear—whatever Haryntha wanted to discuss involved elements that could be problematic for Milan’s position if he were seen to have knowledge of them.

Milan looked at Jolthar questioningly. Jolthar considered for a moment, then nodded.

"It’s fine. Give us the room. I can handle myself if this goes badly."

"Are you sure?" Andrion asked.

"I’m sure," Jolthar confirmed, his hand resting casually near where his sword would be if he were wearing it—a reminder that he was far from defenseless.

Reluctantly, Milan and Andrion withdrew, though Jolthar noticed they didn’t go far—likely positioning themselves just outside where they could respond quickly if needed.

Once they were alone, Haryntha’s demeanor shifted slightly, becoming less formal and more direct. She took a seat without being invited, a gesture that spoke to either supreme confidence or complete lack of concern for social niceties.

"You’re not human," Jolthar said, cutting straight to the point.

"I can sense it. Divine heritage at minimum, possibly full deity. So let’s skip the pretense—what are you really, and why are you really here?"

Haryntha’s eyebrows rose slightly, clearly impressed by his directness and accuracy.

"You’re more perceptive than I expected. Yes, I’m not human. My exact nature isn’t important for this conversation, but you’re correct that I have divine connections."

She leaned forward, her expression becoming serious.

"I was sent by Ivyona to offer assistance with your mission."

Jolthar went very still. "Ivyona, the deity queen? One of the most powerful divine beings in existence."

He was surprised that a queen of Illumarhen was interested in him. He had heard that she never shows in mortals and was a very powerful being without the faith of the mortals. The few mortals who worship her are a separate tribe who were deeply devoted to her.

Moreover, he was sure that deities wouldn’t like him as he was openly showing his skepticism towards them. And fought them, almost killing a deity.

So why were they interested in someone like me?

His voice carried skepticism and suspicion in equal measure. "Why would she care about helping me? What possible interest could a deity of her status have in whether I succeed or fail in the Dreadland Depths?"

"That’s a complicated question with a complicated answer," Haryntha replied.

"But the simple version is this: Ivyona has been watching the movements of various divine and semi-divine factions within the empire. She’s observed the schemes against you—Aphyana’s manipulations, the ministerial conspiracies, the various attempts on your life. She finds the situation... concerning."

"Concerning how?" Jolthar pressed.

"Deities meddle in mortal affairs constantly. What makes this different?"

Haryntha’s expression became thoughtful, as if choosing her words carefully.

"Because the forces arrayed against you aren’t just political—they’re part of larger divine power plays that threaten stability beyond just mortal concerns. Aphyana and her allies aren’t simply trying to eliminate a troublesome baron. They’re consolidating power in ways that could upset delicate balances that have existed for centuries."

She paused, then continued. "Ivyona doesn’t particularly care about you personally—no offense intended. But she does care about maintaining certain equilibriums. Your success or failure in the Dreadland Depths will have ripple effects that extend far beyond whether you receive a pardon and a promotion. By helping you succeed, she helps maintain balance against forces that would use your failure to advance agendas she opposes."

Jolthar listened to this explanation with growing wariness. "So I’m what, a convenient game piece in divine politics? A proxy through which deity factions advance their interests?"

"Essentially, yes," Haryntha confirmed with brutal honesty.

"Though I’d argue you’ve been that since the moment you killed Borehym’s daughter and survived Aphyana’s schemes. You just didn’t realize it. The difference now is that Ivyona is being transparent about offering help rather than manipulating from shadows."

"And I’m supposed to just trust this?" Jolthar asked skeptically.

"Accept help from a deity queen I’ve never met, delivered by someone I just encountered, based on explanations about divine politics I can’t verify?"

"I understand your doubt," Haryntha said calmly.

"But consider this logically. If Ivyona wanted to manipulate or harm you, she has countless ways to do it without revealing herself or sending someone to offer direct assistance. Deities who want to scheme do so from shadows, using proxies and indirect methods. The fact that I’m here, speaking openly about divine interests and offering help you can accept or reject, suggests a different approach entirely."

She spread her hands in a gesture of openness.

"I’m not asking you to trust blindly or pledge loyalty to Ivyona. I’m simply offering practical assistance with your mission. I know the Dreadland Depths—I’ve ventured into them before and survived. I know how to navigate the corruption, how to fight nynthralls, and how to locate and eliminate duke-class entities. You need that knowledge. I’m offering it. Whether you accept is entirely your choice."

Jolthar studied her for a long moment, his mind working through the implications and possibilities. Everything she said made a certain logical sense. Divine factions did manipulate from shadows when they wanted to control outcomes. Direct offers of help were unusual precisely because they gave the target agency to accept or refuse rather than being unwitting pawns.

And practically speaking, he did need help.

Going into the Dreadland Depths alone with no guide would be almost suicidal. Haryntha was offering exactly what he needed—knowledge, experience, and combat capability in an environment he’d never encountered.

The question was whether the risk of accepting help from a divine source was worse than the risk of going without it.