Thia looked at Jinnaari, “You’re kidding. Please tell me you’re kidding.”

He shook his head, “I’m serious, Thia.”

She pushed a hand through her blonde hair. “It’s just…. the last time I trusted Helix, he ended up being a doppelganger! I don’t know who this Tabaxi is. He’s pure chaos! Even if he’s the real Helix and not another changeling, I sense something evil about him. His time with the Hags changed him. How can I trust he’s not going to hand me over to Lolth if it’s advantageous for him?” She rested her elbows on her knees and dropped her head into her hands.

“I don’t say this to you without reason, Thia. I understand what I’m asking you to do. But I have every reason to believe he won’t do that.”

“How?” she demanded. “How do you know this?” She raised her head and looked at him.

“Bahamut.”

“What?”

“Remember the other day? When we rested in the alcove? Bahamut appeared to me in the passageway while everyone ate. He told me that Helix wasn’t going to do anything to hurt you, and that you and I both needed to trust him.” He looked at her. “I know I’m asking a lot, but Bahamut said that there may come a time that your life would depend on trusting Helix. And He wouldn’t lie to me. If my God says to trust someone, make them trust me, then I’m going to do it. Somehow.”

She leaned back and let out a long sigh. “I don’t know…”

“The only time I’ve ever heard him ask any of us if we trust him is if he’s going to teleport us during a fight. He can’t use that to take you to Lolth. For one, he doesn’t know where She is and he has to have that knowledge. Second, the faerzress. That stuff’s all over the place down here. Short hops to get you someplace safe – or me to where I can get you out – is all he’s going to be able to do.” He paused, “You still trust me, right?”

“You know I do.”

“Then give me time to work on Helix. I think I can get him to trust me enough to let you do that one spell. If he’s evil, that’ll take care of it. Until then, I’m asking you to trust me when I say you need to trust him.”

“Fine,” she gave up the argument. “But I’m still not healing those….creatures he summons!”