beginning. You could aid the realm. Save lives. Ogres are ravaging villages that have little help except for those of us strong and brave enough to protect them. Melarue and Ryo once fought ogres in Pinemist before you were born. They helped us battle and end the monstrous invaders. But what of their children? Where is your elder brother with his fire magic? Does he no longer consider the elven realm his homeland or responsibility? Perhaps he is too busy hosting fancy balls.”
None of what she was saying was fair. Lark and his mate had made many improvements to unite the citizens of Dahlquist—a task our Uncle Liri had never bothered with. My brother-in-law wanted to live in his home world, and Lark had honored Crispin’s wishes the same way Ronin and I intended to respect Zelie’s desire to reside in Pinemist.
Mrs. Omarel’s words still stung. She made me feel like we were all a bunch of lazy royal heirs who couldn’t be bothered with serious matters.
The female gave me a considering look. “I think maybe you and your brother are different, though. I believe you are sincere in your affections for my daughter and that you care about the world she lives in.”
“We live in it too,” I said. My gums ached from clenching my jaw.
“Which is why I hope you will consider using your powers to join the fight in saving Elkcan. If we don’t stop the ogres, Bluespark will be next, and after that . . . Pinemist.” Her slender white eyebrows dipped together. It felt like she was staring directly into my pupils. “Will you and your brother help? Prove to me and Zelie’s father that you are willing to wait until the citizens of Elkcan are safe before making merry with a wedding celebration.” Her last sentence sounded like a command. For some damnable reason, I felt like saying no would make me a coward, a cad, a selfish prince who only cared about his own needs.
I pursed my lips, feeling as though I’d licked a frozen pole and was now stuck, waiting to be freed from the biting grip of entrapment.
Mrs. Omarel let the balls of ice fall into her palms. She wrapped her fingers around them and held tightly. “I used two ice balls like these to divest an ogre of his sight. He was about to trample a six-year-old elfling who’d gotten separated from her parents. I stopped him. Not every elf has been as lucky as she. I am the sole elemental on site, and I can only be in one place at one time, but with three of us, we could possibly end this thing by the end of summer. You would return home a hero.”
My ears perked up at that.
A vision of Ronin and I riding into Pinemist as conquering saviors at the end of the season entered my head. We would be on steeds, of course. After slaying ogres, and liberating the elves of Elkcan, our triumphant homecoming would be met with applause and celebration.
“Does it feel like you’ve had to suppress your powers since coming into them?” Zelie’s mom pressed. “On the battlefield, you’re encouraged to unleash everything you have. I could teach you skills you haven’t begun to imagine.”
The tips of my fingers tingled with the call to magic.
I thought of how proud our parents would be to see us as more than a couple of goofballs. It wouldn’t only be Mom and our dad Ryo talking about their glorious battle against ogres. We’d have our own stories to share. We’d tell them to our children.
I glanced over my shoulder and stared at Zelie’s cute little cottage with its colorful picket fence and army of pots brimming with unruly flowers. My heart squeezed inside my chest. The thought of being away from Zelie for even one night left me numb inside.
“It’s just for the summer,” Mrs. Omarel coaxed. “Not even that. We’ll be halfway through the season soon. Zelie’s not going anywhere. She’d be so proud to know you’re taking up arms with her parents.”
I turned slowly. My eyes went out of focus. Making a decision seemed impossible. How could I turn down the chance to help innocents? How could I leave Zelie?
“You don’t have to make up your mind right now,” Mrs. Omarel said. “You don’t even have to worry about turning me down. I’m headed straight back to Elkcan. If you and your brother decide to join the fight, look for me there.” She