Haryntha hadn't asked Inadrys any questions when he asked her to monitor the boy, and now she was starting to wonder.
The river breeze carried the sound of ships' bells and retailers' calls through the tavern's windows, a reminder of the mortal world that continued its old rhythms while powers beyond its comprehension plotted its future.
Haryntha watched as Ivyona and Elyna exchanged a look that spoke of shared knowledge and purpose.
"My husband, your brother, grows... concerned," Ivyona said finally. "There is sothing about this boy and his presence that we don't know."
"And yet," Ivyona said, her eyes bright with possibility, "imagine what could be accomplished with such power properly guided. The boy's potential is unprecedented—perhaps even rivalling the ancient bloodlines that shaped the world's foundations."
Haryntha felt a chill that had nothing to do with the river breeze. "You seek to recruit him. To bring him into the fold of divine politics."
It was not a question.
Ivyona's smile returned, but now it carried the weight of centuries and the cunning that had helped her navigate the treacherous waters of divine court intrigue.
"Consider the alternatives, dear sister. Left to his own devices, the boy's power will continue to grow. Eventually, it will attract attention from those less... benevolent in their intentions. The ancient enemies of order, the divergent cults that seek to overturn the natural hierarchy."
"Better that he be guided by those who understand the true nature of power," Elyna added. "Who can teach him to control his abilities, to channel them toward purposes that serve the greater good?"
The argunt was seductive, Haryntha had to admit.
Jolthar's abilities were indeed unprecedented, and his potential for both creation and destruction was equally vast. Yet sothing in Ivyona's manner suggested motivations beyond re concern for universal balance.
"And what of the boy's own desires?" Haryntha asked. "From what I have observed, Jolthar values his independence above all else. He has turned away from his powerful clan family, choosing instead to forge his own path in the barony."
"A path that has led him to extraordinary achievents," Ivyona acknowledged.
"The transformation of Tekkora from backwater barony to thriving comrcial hub speaks to his natural leadership abilities. But that's not what we are interested in, right?"
Haryntha studied the woman across from her, noting the way Ivyona's eyes burned with barely contained ambition.
The young woman's interest in Jolthar was obvious—power called to power, and the combination of their abilities could indeed reshape the world.
But Ivyona's motivations ran deeper, touching on the complex web of divine politics that had shaped the realms for millennia.
"You fear your husband's response," Haryntha said suddenly, understanding flooding through her. "Inadrys sees Jolthar as a threat, a potential enemy whose very existence challenges the established order. You seek to control the boy, not to guide him, but to make him your own pawn, to make him do your bidding."
Ivyona's mask slipped for just an instant, revealing the calculating intelligence beneath. "My husband's position is... secure. But the ergence of such unprecedented power naturally creates... opportunities for those who might seek to exploit it. Better that Jolthar be our ally than our adversary."
The admission hung in the air between them, heavy with implication.
Ivyona revealed her intentions: to bring Haryntha on her side. She wanted mbers of high order on her side, and she started with the sister of her husband.
Haryntha felt the weight of the mont, understanding that her next words would determine not just her own role in the unfolding drama but potentially the fate of the mortal world itself.
"And if he refuses?" she asked quietly. "If Jolthar chooses to remain independent, to forge his own destiny without divine interference?"
Elyna's young face hardened with resolve. "Then he becos a threat that must be... managed. One way or another."
The tavern's cheerful atmosphere seed to dim as the true nature of their discussion beca clear.
Here, in the guise of mortal rchants and travellers, three divine beings were determining the fate of a young man whose only cri was possessing power that transcended normal understanding.
"Why are you saying all of this to ? I an, I ca here following my brother's orders," Haryntha said, looking at Ivyona.
She smiled at her, "I am saying all of this to you because I want your trust. Lately, as you may have observed, there is a disturbance in the Illumarhen. And your brother isn't doing anything to solve it. If we don't establish ourselves with enough power to back us, what you think is impossible might beco possible."
Haryntha narrowed her gaze. "You an to say that my brother might be replaced?"
"I'm not saying it," Ivyona said softly, her voice carrying the subtle warmth of sisterhood beneath its divine authority. "I suggest that we, won, should look out for each other and stand as one when the ti cos."
Haryntha heaved a heavy breath, feeling the burden of divine politics settling around her like chains.
The implications of Ivyona's words extended far beyond re concern for Jolthar—they spoke to the eternal struggle for influence in the divine realms, where even the wives and sisters of deity kings must navigate treacherous waters to protect their interests.
There was a long silence.
Nobody said anything except for the noise of the people and the sounds of the river stream. Vendors haggled over prices; children laughed as they played by the water's edge.
"I don't know," Haryntha finally whispered, her voice barely audible. She was unsure about all of this and, more importantly, her brother. He wasn't a simple man to deal with.
Ivyona looked at her with eyes that held centuries of wisdom and patient cunning. She could feel her internal struggle to stand against her brother.
"You don't have to do anything for now. You have to do what you are told to do. Continue to keep an eye on the boy. I will et you soon to discuss what to do."
With that, Ivyona rose gracefully from her chair, Elyna following suit with the simple motion of barely contained power.
"For now, think about what I said. I will get in touch with you soon."
Mother and daughter moved, their mortal disguises perfect yet sohow otherworldly in their elegance.
Within monts, they had vanished into the crowd, leaving Haryntha alone with her thoughts and the weight of unspoken obligations.
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