"Well, it cannot possibly be stranger than the fact that she claims I conquered the country in Carissa's world that used to belong to the god of Hell. Or that there is - another me?? - who is a god. ...A god who died a century ago, according to Carissa."

Vanyel just blinks helplessly at Leareth for a moment. And then sits down on his bottom in the snow. "Why does nothing make sense."

"I know right. I keep almost wondering if I am dreaming - well, I know I am dreaming, but I would wonder if I were - dreaming having this dream, you know what I mean..."

Vanyel tries to stifle a nervous giggle and starts coughing. "Anyway," he says when he recovers, "if you're claiming she isn't your daughter, why did you grab her?"

"Carissa called for help and when I attempted to retrieve her, she suggested I ought to get the child as well."

Vanyel still looks very dubious.

"Look, I really did not have a child with my wizard prisoner from another world, and I definitely did not conquer Cheliax alongside her and then introduce our daughter to you as my 'bestest friend.'"

Vanyel sags back against the snow. "Right. That part makes the least sense." He drops his head into both hands.

"I ought extend an apology to the Heralds, for the set-commands."

"Shouldn't you apologize to your prisoner for putting compulsions on her?"

"She agreed to that for the mission. ...I will admit that prior to this I did have some that she had not agreed to in place, but - it was very fraught at first, she was still loyal to her torture god of Hell and wanted to report the existence of Velgarth to Him, which would have been very very bad."

Vanyel lifts his head and blinks at Leareth. "You're - really not doing a good job of making this sound plausible at all."

"I...apologize that reality is currently behaving in such implausible ways?"

Vanyel scowls at him. "It's not funny. Everyone's so upset and mad about it, I - I don't know what they're going to do..." Vanyel thinks a moment later that possibly this isn't a thing he should be saying to Leareth, but then again, it's not like Leareth can possibly be surprised by it. "I can't believe you sent a spy to seduce my sister! Her feelings are really hurt, you know."

"I did not instruct her to do that! She decided to on her own initiative."

"Well, I think that at least one of you owes her an apology!"

Leareth blinks. "I - will convey that. Though I doubt Carissa will feel bad about it at all."

"Why are you like this."

Leareth has no idea how to answer that, for one it's not like he made any of this happen on purpose, and also it seems like mostly a rhetorical question.

"...I would be open to communications with the Heralds," he says finally. "Since some things are much more in the open now. I am guessing you told them about our conversations?"

"Groveborn did," Vanyel says dully. "I'd, er, already told him at the start."

"I see."

"Look, it's not like you told me not to, or like I'd've had any reason to listen if you did!"

"...I am not claiming either of those things, Herald Vanyel." Leareth reminds himself that Vanyel must be incredibly overwhelmed and stressed right now.

Vanyel doesn't answer.

Sigh. "I am sorry for putting you through so much stress. I did not do it deliberately. Anyway, if the Heralds wish to speak with my people, they can send a diplomatic envoy north to the town of Westmark; I can keep a lookout on that area."