Hill was pondering his way home when he suddenly sensed something beside him. A leaf drifted down, spinning as it changed shape and gave off a faint glow.
He could feel the visitor's aura. It carried the scent of earth and harvest. This was probably Valley Spirit, a lesser immortal who served Nong Jiang, Dragonborn's god of agriculture.
The visitor must have come for Hill. If it had been about what happened in Benevolent Harmony City, Guanyin or Zhan Zheng would have sent Min Nü or a spirit soldier instead.
"Greetings, Archmage Bolanio. I am Gu Zhonglin, servant of the great Lord of Agriculture." Knowing Hill had spotted him, the little green figure greeted him in a gentle, neutral voice. Valley Spirit descended faster, and by the time he landed on a branch, he had taken the form of an adult about Hill's height.
"Hello," Hill said coolly. "What is it?"
"Heavenly Court can often pretend not to know exactly how powerful a visiting archmage is. After all, an archmage of the Good Alignment is unlikely to cause much trouble in Dragonborn. He might even do some good. We could overlook that Fairy Spirit, too, as long as he remains under your control and protection.
"But that depends on our being able not to know," Gu Zhonglin said softly. "And yet..."
Hill listened without expression as Valley Spirit explained why he had gone from someone they could let stay to someone who had to leave.
It was a little frustrating, but he had intended to leave anyway, so it hardly mattered.
Hill lifted his chin toward Gu Zhonglin. "What do you think about Renhe?"
Gu Zhonglin gave a faint smile. "Archmage Bolanio, the pantheon here in Kara-Tur gave the Dragonborn two choices from the beginning: live under Heavenly Court's rule