“We found the magic of Danu,” I countered.
That shut Elisande up. She just gaped at me. Yes, it was satisfying.
“You found the magic of Danu?” Princess Farinne repeated. “What does that mean? Magic is not something you can touch. It is not a solid object.”
“Evidently, it is,” I disputed. “Although, I don't know if solid is the correct word.”
“When our people built this realm, they pooled their magic,” Everan took over. “They formed a world out of nothing. That act of creation made this world magical—every piece of it from the mountain peaks to the tree roots. All of you know this. You know that our magic sustains Danu and Danu, in turn, sustains our magic. It's a bond that can only be broken by leaving Danu and giving up your magic. Have none of you wondered where that magic is stored? Where it would return to if you ever broke ties with it?”
“Yes, but I'd never imagined it was in the ground,” Dranalt muttered. “Our magic is elemental. I assumed it livedin the elements.”
“It likely does,” I agreed. “But Earth is an element and since this is a world, it needs a foundation. That foundation is pure magic. And that magic is what we found when we dug beneath Vicanesse.”
“What did it look like?” Varian asked me eagerly.
“It glowed,” I said softly, reverently. “It was clear and yet had glimmers of red, yellow, blue, and green inside it. It had a solid surface but flowed within that shell.”
“The union of the elements,” my grandfather concluded. “Solid and fluid with all of the colors of our kingdoms.”
“And one additional color,” I added. “Black. An oily black that—at least with asha—indicates sickness. When considered in addition to the wild yellow I saw in the asha around it, I could only conclude that Danu is dying.”
“If Danu is dying why is only Earth affected?” Elisande asked.
“I don't know why it started with that element but this kingdom isn't the only one affected,” I argued. “That forge I mentioned earlier was in the South.”
“But it was Earth magic that unbalanced Fire,” Elisande insisted. “I'm not trying to place blame. I understand the gravity of our situation. But if we're to fix this, we need to know what it truly is and it sounds as if the damage lies here.”
“There is definitely damage here,” I agreed. “On the way to the cave, we came across some dead trees that looked as if they'd been drained of magic. As far as I know, the South has not experienced such things yet. But I'm at a loss as to how to fix it or even keep it from spreading.”
“So, you called us here without a plan in mind?” Elisande asked with accusation in her tone.
“I called you here to help us come up with a plan,” King Benalt declared imperiously. “It would have been dishonorable to leave you ignorant of such a thing. So, my fellow monarchs, you have been apprised of the situation. Now, how shall we handle it?”
“Elisande may have a point,” King Dranalt said grudgingly. “From what you've reported, Queen Amaranthine, it seems that the Earth magic has been damaged. The trees, the earthquakes, the avalanche, and the tainted asha—they are all evidence of an issue with Earth. I suggest that you search your kingdom for something that could have caused the damage, King Benalt.”
“Our mages are doing that as we speak,” my grandfather countered. “It was how we found the cave that my son and granddaughter investigated. But we've found nothing that could have damaged Danu.”
“I suggest you look to your granddaughter, King Benalt,” Elisande said snidely. “Our realm was fine until she arrived.”
“I would never have come to Danu if it hadn't been for your son,” I snapped. “The man who nearly destroyed EarthandDanu.”
“Yes, well, be that as it may, if the magic of Danu has been tainted, it can only be from an outside source,” Elisande reasoned. “You are the only such source in this realm.”
“Amara is not the one poisoning Danu,” Everan growled. “If she were, the damage would have started in the South, not the North—a kingdom that before today, she had never visited. And I highly doubt our Gods would bless a woman who was poisoning our realm.”
The mention of the Gods favoring me set Elisande to glowering.
“King Everan makes a convincing argument, Queen Elisande,” King Dranalt added salt to the wound. “I think you're wasting our time with such accusations. Perhaps we should focus on something more fruitful.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I said to the King of the West.
He inclined his head to me.
“Fruitful?” Elisande sneered. “Very well, let's hear yourfruitfulsuggestion, King Dranalt.”
Dranalt grimaced. “You know very well that I don't have a suggestion. I'm merely saying that we should focus on finding a solution instead of placing blame.”
“Fine, here's a solution for you,” Elisande sneered. “If Queen Amaranthine is so blessed by our Gods, maybe she should speak to them and askthemto stop all of this.”
