"To kill three dukes and return to claim my pardon and elevation. To make sure the people I care about are safe and thriving. Beyond that—" he shrugged "—I'll figure it out when I get there."
Haryntha smiled, clearly amused by his continued evasiveness.
"You're very good at giving answers that sound substantial but actually reveal very little. I suspect that's a skill you've cultivated deliberately."
"Maybe I just don't like being analyzed too deeply," Jolthar replied, his own smile becoming slightly more playful.
"Or maybe I'm just enjoying the company of an attractive woman and don't want to ruin the mood by being too serious about existential questions regarding my motivations and goals."
The shift in tone caught Haryntha slightly off-guard. Her eyebrows rose fractionally, surprise and amusement mixing in her expression.
"Are you hitting on me, Baron Kaezhlar?"
"That depends," Jolthar replied smoothly, turning to face her more fully.
"Is it working?"
