“Not only is Lucien smart, but he does whatever suits him—a combination that will make him rather daring if he thinks he has someone who sees the real him.”
Before Ariane could say anything in reply, Elle glided away.
Though the princess’s words promised hope, Ariane was still too level-headed—and perhaps too frightened—to harbor them in her heart. Not every woman gets a prince and happily ever after…
“I believe it would be wisest to create a council of military advisors that will stay connected through messengers and magical means,” Severin said on the fourteenth day of the summit. “I will be the military leader and contact for Loire, and Colonel Friedrich will serve as the military contact for Erlauf and will report to his father, Commander Lehn. I ask that once your contact is picked, you send them to Loire to be introduced to others and to receive training for advanced use of a magic mirror.”
“Each party of representatives will be given a magic mirror to take to their home country,” Elle said. “The mirror will give us a way to remain in contact as we make adjustments to our strategies.”
Lucien yawned. “It cost us a fortune to have those mirrors made. We should take donations for them.”
“Shh,” Ariane said.
Lucien glanced up at her, but the young maid stared out at the assembly, her posture perked as she listened to the grim conversation. She is almost as curious as Elle—though she’s a great deal smarter about it, as she has a healthy survival instinct.
Princess Astra shook her head. “I still don’t feel we are taking enough action. We should band together to declare war!”
“War against whom?” Crown Prince Steffen of Arcainia asked. “As poorly as things appear, there is no unifying factor in the trials we face. There hasn’t been a pattern any of us have been able to discern.”
“You cannot think to deny the calamity we each have been facing these past few years,” Princess Astra said.
“I’m not. It merely makes no sense to declare war against an enemy we cannot define,” Crown Prince Steffen said.
Lucien grabbed a candied date from the little saucer Ariane had swiped for him at lunch to keep himself from nodding. Since he had heard the first reports from the representatives, it had bothered him a great deal that despite all the calamity, there was no one thing they could point to as the cause for all of it. He had tried reviewing the reports in the evening, but his stunted mind hadn’t picked up on anything new.
“What he means,” Gerhart—Steffen’s youngest brother—was quick to jump in, “is that since there is no common thread, no proof of uniting forces, we have nothing to declare war against. It’s obvious from the widespread unrest that something is happening, and the attack on royals means it is likely someone is pulling the reins. But we cannot declare war against an enemy we don’t know.”
“I agree,” Severin said. “We have no idea who our enemy is, nor what land is harboring them.”
Politely stated, Brother. It was a nice way of saying that any of the countries attending the Summit might be the hideaway of whatever nastiness was causing the outbreak of chaos.
“Could something have happened to Zancara?” Rider Nareena of Farset suggested.
“Possibly, but not likely,” Lady Enchantress Angelique said. “I stole my way into Zancara not long ago. It is much unchanged.”
“I understand,” Princess Astra said. “However, if we don’t cut this evil off at the head, it will continue to regenerate.”
“But if we cannot locate the head, how are we to cut it off?” Queen Linnea asked.
Emperor Yevgeniy, the most fatherly of those present, smiled tiredly at the young royals. “We search and we listen. Prince Severin and Crown Prince Steffen are right. We must concentrate on preparation, sharing intelligence, and fighting the battles that come our way. All we can do is strive forward. Acting brashly will only give our enemy opportunities to strike.”
Princess Astra hesitated, then nodded in agreement.
Lucien adjusted his amphibious bulk on his pillow. “Well,” he snorted. “If we need someone to give orders, I nominate Emperor—”
He was cut off when Ariane stuffed a candied date in his mouth.
Lucien gurgled in protest, but the maid pushed the date with a single finger until it was entirely in his mouth. He munched and struggled to swallow, glancing up at her with what he hoped was a froggy scowl.
She mindlessly patted his head, not paying him any attention at all.
The knowledge made him feel a little lonely, so he crawled off his cushion, heading for the side of the table.
“We all agree, then, that remaining in contact and sharing resources is the best route?” Severin asked.
There were choruses of agreement that covered up Lucien’s yelp as he flopped over the side of the table and landed in Ariane’s lap.
Ariane glanced down at him and raised an eyebrow before she picked him up and placed him back on the table.
Lucien puffed his chest when he was safely back on the table—he wasn’t really certain what he had been trying to accomplish except, perhaps, to get Ariane’s attention. He was slightly gratified when she leaned closer.
“Things seem to be wrapping up. Do you think the Summit will last longer?” she asked.
“A few more days—they have to figure out what specific resources they will share now and make plans for the ways they will use their intelligence networks. After that, there isn’t much left for them to do.”
“And then Lady Enchantress Angelique will take the spell off you?” she asked.
“Yes,” Lucien said emphatically.
He didn’t care if the rogue mages still skulked around—he was not going to take living as a frog much longer!
There was a moment when Lucien could have sworn he saw sorrow in Ariane’s eyes, but she immediately chuckled. “I expected as much. Best enjoy your last few days as a frog, then. Are you certain you don’t want to take a dip in the pond?”
Lucien pointedly snatched another date off his saucer. “Yes, thank you,” he sniffed.
Ariane grinned, then returned her attention to Severin and the rest of the Summit.
Lucien tilted his head—also listening to representatives—but he studied Ariane. When I’m no longer a frog, she won’t be around. He was surprised to find that the realization brought him no small amount of pain.
Throughout the Summit, she had steadily chipped away at the mask he held up to guard himself against pain and false expectations. Though he had known her for a short time, she knew him better than acquaintances he had known since childhood—barring Severin of course.
And now, once the Summit was over, she would step back, and Lucien would be alone in his sparkling and cold courts. Again.
Maybe I could speak to Father about giving her a title for her bravery? She deserves it, but I don’t believe it would help my cause. She would stay at home cleaning her house rather than exchange empty compliments and lies with the rest of the court. But I can’t lose her!