Alyson noticed an odd person come into the palace—they spoke with the king and queen then left again. Her parents were never ones to delay important conversations, however, so the reason why was brought up fairly quickly.

The guests were welcomed, everyone chatted, and after dinner was made everyone went to enjoy the meal. In times like these—celebrations and such—the royal family had their own table of six chairs while the guests’ tables were put together to fit closer to two dozen per group. This allowed for somewhat-private conversation between the family if they wanted it, and was one of the few times during these parties where it could just be them.

Father brought it up first. “Someone spoke with us earlier,” he said.

“I saw,” Alyson replied. “Is it urgent?”

“It could be,” the king said, “But I’m not quite sure. They want you and Jacob to help them—they’re a servant god, but it might involve fighting. We technically have the choice to refuse, if neither of you are willing.”

Alyson paused for a moment. “Could we speak with the servant god first?”

“They’re still in the capital,” the king replied, nodding. “We have until the end of the month, so take your time deciding.”

Both of them nodded, and they fell into a different conversation. Alyson and Jacob made plans to go into town the next day to speak with the servant god, and aside from that conversation the evening went well. Sleep came easily when Alyson was ready for it, and she woke up the next morning to springtime birdsong. Breakfast came and went, and Alyson and Jacob went into town afterwards.

She mostly knew who she was looking for, but assuming they didn’t change their appearance, it wouldn’t be hard to find them—and it wasn’t. When they walked by someone who, based on their appearance (having darker skin than most born in Cheryn, red eyes and hair, and wearing an old hunting outfit from the southern nation), was from Letrela, the person looked up at them.

“You’re the princess and oldest prince,” the person said.

They stopped walking and Alyson nodded. The person stood and bowed. “I am the servant Iztris. Your parents were told yesterday that you’ve been requested to help resolve a certain matter.”

“We wanted to ask after some details,” Alyson said.

“Go ahead, then,” Iztris replied. “I’ll save some time by explaining this now: you’ve specifically been asked to handle a certain problem with another servant. The servant themself has been warring against humanity and its flaws for quite a while—there’s more fighting now than there had been, so the gods saw it fit to fight against it.”

“This might sound rude,” Jacob said, asking the next question bluntly and honestly, “But if it’s been a while since the servant god started, why would they only now be meeting resistance?”

“The answer is quite simple,” Iztris explained plainly. “The gods are still flawed beings—mortals that happened to be ‘good’ enough by the others’ definition. Many of them prefer to act when it makes for better entertainment; they don’t enjoy mortals’ deaths, of course, but they care more for their own needs.”

“Rather blunt for someone who works directly under then,” Alyson noted.

“You grow tired of them at some point,” Iztris admitted. “And regardless, your positions have not changed. I will be accompanying you and I will be able to assist you in certain conditions. You will have to fight, however, and blood may need to be shed.”

“Do you know where we’ll have to go?” Alyson asked. “How long it will take us?”

Iztris shook their head. “Unfortunately, I’ve received no word of where the other servant is. Investigation would fall to us—or whoever goes to challenge the servant—and it could take quite a while. You’ll be allowed to keep in touch with anyone here, of course, but trips home could be months apart.” After a moment of silence, Iztris said, “Although I will add that the amount of lives lost won’t change, simply who dies and who lives—I cannot promise that conflict will not come if it isn’t sought out, however.”

The siblings considered what they were told. Jacob spoke up first. “I’d be willing to go—if only to not do schoolwork!” He glanced at Alyson with a little bit of concern. “But you probably won’t.”

Alyson gave him a smile in response. “What, and leave you alone? I won’t stay here if you’re out somewhere.”

“You’d best confirm with your parents before leaving,” Iztris said. “You can give me your final answer; however important the matter, we can’t leave immediately regardless.”

They both nodded, thanked the servant god, and went back to the palace. Alyson spoke with their parents while Jacob explained it to Miles in a theatric fashion, and when they returned to Iztris they were able to tell the servant god that they had received permission to go.

“Very well,” Iztris said simply. After a short pause, they admitted, “I acknowledge that only I have shared my name. May I ask for an introduction out of both of you?”

Both of them nodded. “Alyson Cheryn, princess and heir apparent.”

“Jacob Cheryn, eldest prince.”

Iztris nodded. “Thank you. I also understand that it may be…difficult to refer to me in some ways. In my mortal life, I was male—if it is easier, you may refer to me as such.” After both of them murmured their understanding, Iztris continued. “As I said earlier, we need to investigate ourselves. I do not have any easy means of doing so, however, unless you would like to wait a few decades for the gods to stop bickering.”

The last part almost sounded like humor, to Alyson’s surprise. “The king and queen often get reports about things that happen in Cheryn—deaths of noblemen or any significant harm to villages and towns by an outside source,” she noted.

“That would be a good start,” Iztris replied, nodding. He sighed before he added, “Although I will have to accompany you. There’s still a party, isn’t there?”

“Our mother’s parties last for days,” Jacob said.

With another sigh, Iztris’s outfit changed—certain parts faded away while others changed, and by the end of it he was in the same outfit he wore when Alyson first saw him. “I can search alone if you speak well of me,” he offered. “Then neither of you will have to truly move away from this place until we leave.”

“No; I’ll still help,” Alyson said. Jacob nodded his agreement.

“Very well,” Iztris replied. “Let’s go, then—it would be better not to waste time.”