"I suppose I'm making things more interesting for myself by being in this place where I can't do much. Do you really know who I am?" Haldor asked, his gaze revealing little of his thoughts.
Agror shook his head and replied, "All I know is that you are the future consort of Princess Rhaenyra. If I may say, you are fortunate to have a royal bride."
"But you don't know who I am." Haldor poured himself another glass of wine.
"Then, tell me, who are you?"
Haldor's charismatic expression shifted to a serious tone as he said, "Where I come from, I am a prince. I got engaged to the princess to prevent a war over reclaiming the territory that once belonged to the Rhoynar."
"We manipulate water magic, evolving it over many years to create great abilities with ice. Of course, war was never an option for both sides because a greater war is coming, not between men or dragons, but between light and darkness."
"If you intend to sell information, you must know the consequences. Now you understand why I buy slaves and create a guard of knights. Only now do you fear we might lose and seriously question whether to wait or continue."
Agror's eyes widened in shock. He never imagined Haldor would read all his thoughts and answer his unspoken questions. With these words, Haldor confirmed many of Agror's suspicions since the best slaves were purchased, along with important resources like wood, damaged metals, and seeds.
"Don't worry, I can't read thoughts, but I can read faces. So, let me ask you a question that will decide if I accept you as one of my confidants: Have you ever met a god?" Haldor asked with an emotionless expression.
If this merchant says no, Haldor will still know the answer without the need for honesty. In truth, Haldor had considered it carefully and suspected the man before him might be the one he sought.
Agror could be an envoy of the Night King, who intervenes in the night and can dominate darkness. All possibilities were open since Haldor's life had been intertwined with gods he might not know.
"A god?" Agror glanced at Ravyn with concern.
"He can't betray me; he'd die before that." Haldor looked at Agror and asked, "Do you know anything about this?"
When Agror lowered his gaze, he saw a strange blood-painted symbol. His expression changed, and he murmured, "The Cult of Golden Blood."
"You know them?" Haldor's interest peaked.
"How could I not? They are professional assassins; no matter the target, if it's human, it can be killed," Agror said, his eyes filled with horror.
Haldor nodded, knowing he probably had to eliminate them. He then asked, "Where are these assassins?"
"They don't belong to this world; they appear only when there's work and disappear afterward."
"That tells me nothing. Your auction items, at least those up for sale, say more. So, let me be clear: you can talk now willingly or face my harsher methods."
Agror looked at the items hidden in his auction house, which doubled as a brothel, and said, "They say there are other worlds, ones beyond this continent, where there are more magical and human symbolizations, where coal dominates. They might come from that place."
This meant nothing to Haldor, especially with a powerful enemy on this continent willing to exterminate all humans.
If he couldn't defeat the Night King, he wouldn't be able to discover what lies beyond this world.
"If I may say, when you receive a letter with that symbol, someone seeks your life, so be very careful."
"I will. You need not worry about that. Now, tell me, where did you get the items that will be auctioned next?" Haldor decided not to pursue this topic further in front of strangers.