“Well, that's a given,” I huffed. “I'm going back to the South after this meeting and will attempt to contact Kolltean.”
“You should be there now,” Elisande berated me.
“I thought my input might be needed here,” I shot back.
“We have been notified of the problem.” Dranalt lifted an imperious hand. “I think we should return to our kingdoms and keep watch over the elements while Queen Amaranthine speaks with Kolltean. Once we know more, we can meet again—with our mages for counsel—and come up with a solution. That is, if our Gods don't supply us with one.”
“I agree,” my grandfather said. “But I'd like to extend my hospitality to any of you who would like to stay in the North and await word from Amara.”
“No offense, Your Majesty,” Dranalt said casually, “but I'm getting out of your kingdom as soon as possible and if I were you, I'd move my court to another, less precarious location.”
“I understand,” King Benalt said. “But I will not abandon my castle.”
“Then it may become your grave,” Queen Elisande declared as she stood up and then exited the room.
Prince Varian got to his feet a bit slower than his queen and inclined his head to all of us. “We will await your call. Good day, Your Majesties and Your Highnesses.”
Varian left, casting a small smile at me on his way out.
“Well, I guess that's the end of the meeting,” I concluded and stood as well. “But before you go, would you do me the honor of introducing me to your daughter, King Dranalt?”
King Dranalt surged to his feet, his pale face flushing. “My apologies, Your Majesty, I didn't realize that you haven't met.” He helped his daughter to her feet and drew her over to me. “This is Princess Farinne of the West, my beloved daughter.”
“Lovely to meet you, at last, Princess Farinne,” I said.
“And you, Queen Amaranthine.” She inclined her head to me. “I've been wanting to meet the changeling woman blessed by our gods. You are becoming a legend.”
“Well, let's hope that I can live up to the myth.”
Chapter Ten
“So much for being blessed by the Gods,” I grumbled as Everan and I tromped through the Raeventar Forest with only a few hovering lanterns to light our way. “At least we haven't come across any shriveled trees.”
“Kolltean's a god, Shalani, he doesn't just appear when summoned,” Everan said gently.
Shalani was his nickname for me; it meant “female warrior” in Danutian. Since we were speaking Danutian—as we usually did when in Danu—it didn't sound as exotic. Still, it made me smile.
“I understand that, but he must know how desperate we are,” I said. “And you'd think he'd want to help. This is his home too.”
Everan nodded pensively.
“Isn't it?” I stopped walking to ask.
“It is but Kolltean is a god; he existed before Danu was created and he will likely continue to exist if Danu should ever die.”
“I've never even thought about where the Gods were before they came to Danu,” I murmured. “Were they on your home planet, the original Danu?”
“Yes, according to our records, the Gods were deeply entwined in our daily lives on the planet Danu. They loved us and so chose to follow us here.”
“But if this Danu dies, they'll leave,” I said pensively as I absently stroked the rough bark of a tree easily five times as wide as I was tall.
“You've thought of something.”
“What if they've already left?” I whispered it so our knights, who stood a few feet away, wouldn't hear.
Everan's face fell and his eyes shifted around the forest. “No,” he said firmly. “They wouldn't abandon us like that.”
“What if they had no choice?” I argued. “What if Kolltean had to leave before whatever is affecting the Earth magic poisoned him too?”
