“We don’t have the manpower to protect another Realm!” Magnus shouts over the noise. “Nor do we have the resources.”

“She might be able to give us vital information about where we can find the Morrigan,” Storm counters, not even bothering to raise his voice. “If we know where she’s hiding, we have the advantage. We can attack her before she has gathered all her forces.”

“Who says that Angus met the Morrigan in her hiding place? They could have chosen a random spot in neutral territory! Flora might be bluffing to get our help.”

The treasurer’s face has turned red. As much as I don’t like the man, I have to at least address his doubts.

“Gwain, is what Magnus says true?” I turn to the Master of Arms on my left. “Do we not have enough soldiers to protect her Realm?”

“If she didn’t have an army of her own, then it would be a problem. She has a large number of soldiers herself, though. Nowhere near the size of our own or Angus’s force, but still quite impressive for a Realm her size. I don’t believe that she’s trying to get that kind of protection. What she wants is that you publicly announce her as your ally. That means that if someone was to attack her, you’d defend her – hopefully a good deterrent for anyone to mess with her.”

I nod. “That makes sense. How will Angus react if I ally with Flora?”

Storm snickers. “He won’t be happy.”

“He’ll regret that the first assassination attempt didn’t work,” Tamara says, her lips twitching. “I’m sure he was aware of the attempt on Flora’s life, if it was indeed aimed at her and not at her husband. He’ll likely try again, even once she’s divulged her secret to us. He needs to show both his allies and his enemies that anyone who betrays him will have to suffer the consequences.”

“Does that mean we should keep Flora here, for her protection?”

Gwain nods. “Yes, that would be advisable. Times have shown that the Palace is no longer as impenetrable as we would like, but it’s still the safest place for the Spring Goddess. I can send some of my officers into her Realm to help with the defences.”

“And who’s going to pay for that?” Magnus fumes, still standing while everyone else is seated around the large table.

“You,” I tell him, hiding a smile. “The Royal coffers should be there to help the defence of the Realm, direct and indirect. What’s the problem? Are we running out of money?”

He wrings his hands, obviously annoyed that I’m not taking him seriously.

“No, Princess, we have enough resources.”

“Then what’s the big problem? I’m having trouble understand, Treasurer.”

“We should focus on our own first!” he bursts out. “Let Flora look after herself, we have enough to do protecting our own Realm.”

The room falls deadly silent.

“Get out,” I say in a quiet, measured voice. Inside I’m seething, but I’m not letting him know that. Who does he think he is? “This is not the way I’m going to rule. I’m not going to put on blinkers and ignore what’s happening outside of this Realm. If someone comes to us for help, we will assist as best as we can. Only if we all stand together will we be able to win against our enemies.”

He shoots me a hateful glance, then slams closed the door behind him.

I sigh deeply. “Tamara, do we have someone else who could take our beloved treasurer’s role?”

I know I have them all shocked. They didn’t expect me to send away one of the Council members, and they certainly didn’t expect me to want to replace him. Well, look again, boys. Once my mother is back on her feet, she can always reinstate him, but for now, he’s to stay out of my sight. I’ve never liked him, and I won’t be able to suffer his racist attitudes.

“His assistant, Leo, is a bright young fellow,” Tamara says slowly. “He doesn’t have Magnus’s experience, but he’s clever and innovative.”

“Have him come to me later,” I order. “Let’s see if we can’t bring some fresh minds into this Council.”

That has them all sit up straight. They’re probably thinking whether I might replace some of them as well. As if I’m planning to do that. Magnus didn’t really leave me a choice. I couldn’t ignore statements like that.

“Shall we proceed? I will talk to Flora later, and maybe Gwain and Storm might want to be present. But first, is there any other business we need to discuss?”

Zephyr lifts his hand, almost shyly. Is he suddenly scared of me?

“Lucifer has sent a message. Your mother gave him the task to find out more about the black dragon poison back when you were almost killed. He said he wasn’t able to enter the Dragon Realm. They’ve barricaded themselves, no one is able to enter or leave.”

“Are they trying to protect themselves from the coming war?” I ask.

“I doubt it,” Gwain says, his fingers playing with his beard as he thinks. “There’s something else going on there. I wish we had the time to figure it out, but for now, I think our priorities need to lie elsewhere.”

“Agreed. It doesn't seem like they will help us, but as long as they don't do anything threatening, let's ignore them."

Zephyr nods and makes a note on one of the many papers he has lying in front of him. I'm still not entirely sure of what exactly his role is in the Council. There are no birds here that he could be keeping, and most messages are sent via mental links or messengers. If a Guardian can fly a lot faster than birds, why use courier pigeons.

He seems to assist others a lot. I've seen him take orders from Tamara and help Algonquin in the library - but that may be just an excuse to spend time with his boyfriend. I don't think everyone is aware that the two of them are a couple, but to me, it's pretty obvious.

If my mother has Zephyr on her Council, there must be a reason for it. He must be helpful somehow, even if it's not obvious at first.

I look around the room. "Anything else we should discuss?"

"I have sent scouts to the Northern Gate," Gwain says, reminding me of our discussion yesterday. "We should hear back from them by tomorrow at the very latest. There's a snowstorm brewing, so their progress is slower than I'd hoped."

"Good, inform me as soon as you hear from them, whether it's good news or bad."

"Several Gods have announced that they're coming to your party tomorrow," Tamara tells me with a gleeful smile. "I've let the Palace staff know to prepare a banquet."

I shudder internally. I thought that now that we were at war, I wouldn't have to go to any more balls and festivities. No such luck. The Gods want to be entertained, and so entertain them we will. Hopefully, it will end up being an effective way of finding out who's supporting us and who isn't.

"Can you prepare a list for me with all who're going to attend?" I ask her, very aware that I will likely not have heard of most of them. Hopefully, I'll have some time tonight to do some research, or get one of the guys to explain who's important and who I can ignore.

"Of course, consider it done. Thor will be there as well, and he's bringing his daughter too. Not sure why but he wanted me to let you know."

Oh no. He wants me to do some girl to girl chat with her. This couldn't come at any worse time, but he's one of our closest allies and I can't afford to upset him.

"Are we all done here?" I get up and look at them with barely hidden impatience. "I have a Spring Goddess to meet. Gwain, Storm, you're with me."

A Palace guard leads us into one of the gardens. I'm a bit surprised, I'd have thought Flora would have been more comfortable in a room with a fireplace, not out here in the cold. But when I see her sitting amongst the flowers, the snow around them melted and new colour breathed into their petals, I understand why she's here. She's the Goddess of Spring, she's got a connection to nature. I could swear that there are some new flowers among the ones familiar to me. Did she actually make them grow in the few hours she's been our guest?

She seems deep in thought and doesn't even realise that we're here until we're standing right in front of her.

She looks up and I give her a friendly smile.

"Flora, I’d like to introduce you to Gwain, our Master at Arms, and Storm, his second in command. Both, meet Flora, the Goddess of Spring."

"A pleasure," Gwain says smoothly, while Storm gives her a sharp nod.

"We've met. Sorry about Fav."

Even for Storm, that's very brusque, but I'm letting it go for now.

"Shall we go inside?" I suggest, not so much caring about the cold but more about the eyes and ears that could be hiding in the garden. I much prefer a room where I can spell the doors so nobody can listen in.

I lead them into a random sitting room - one of dozens or even hundreds in this Palace - and carefully close the door, adding some magic to make it soundproof.

Once everybody has taken a seat, I get my thoughts in order. This is my first big test at diplomacy and negotiation. I better not mess this up.

""Flora, we've just had our Council meeting and came to a decision."

Slow start, raise expectations, see her reaction. That's my strategy. No idea if it makes sense. But it's better than blurting out everything, which would be the non-strategic way.

She raises a perfectly manicured eyebrow but waits for me to continue.

"Some of my advisors were sceptical about the benefit for us, should we announce that you're under our protection."

I'm not mentioning that the obvious advantage for us would be the support of her army. She knows that, I know that, but let's pretend we don't.

"However, I did manage to persuade them that we can make this into a mutually beneficent arrangement. We will publicly announce that you are now our ally and that you and your Realm are under our protection. We will house you here at the Palace, where you will be safest. You'll have whatever you need and the support of the Palace staff. Gwain will send some of his officers to your Realm to coordinate with your own army, so that we can unify our approach to the defence of both our Realms. Does that sound good so far?"

"It does, Your Highness."

She smiles and I give her a quick smile back. I don't know why she calls me highness all the time. She's a Goddess, I'm only half one. Theoretically, she's miles above me.

"In return, you will provide us with information about the Morrigan and Angus. You will also pledge your army's support should we need it if the Winter Realm gets attacked. Again, the details can be arranged with Gwain. I would also like you to give us some information on who is supporting Angus, and who might be willing to switch sides. If there are others in a similar position, we need to know."

Flora nods several times, her hair bopping up and down.

"Agreed. I have one more request, though," she says, her voice firm but friendly. "My husband hasn't been cremated yet. I would like his funeral to be here, in the place where he was created."

I swallow hard, remembering once again how much death has been all around me recently. The Morrigan is killing people and we can’t do anything about it. As long as my father is still alive… I wish I knew for certain that he’s alright. That’s the wrong word though. Of course he isn’t alright. He’ll never be again. My mum’s dead, killed before his eyes, and mine, in a way. I can still hear her screams echoing in my mind.

“Of course, I’ll ask one of my colleagues to make arrangements,” Storm answers for me, giving me a knowing look. I could do with a hug right now, but I first need to deal with Flora. First, Princess duties, then I’m allowed Wyn emotions.

“Do you have any other family you’d like to join you here?” I ask the Goddess, not expecting it but aiming to be polite nonetheless.

“No,” Flora says quietly. “Unlike Beira, us other deities aren’t allowed children.”

I swallow again, trying not to take it personally. She’s grieving, and of course she’d like to have someone to help her get through it. Maybe she has friends among the Gods coming to the ball tomorrow. That might cheer her up a little.

“Gwain, would you mind drawing up a contract to put what we just discussed into writing?” I ask the Master of Arms.

“Of course, Your Highness. I will present it to both of you to sign before dinner. By then I’ll also be able to give you a list of the officers I recommend to travel to the Spring Realm. Storm, let me know if you have anyone you think should go.”

“Flora, will you be able to give us the information you promised?” I ask, trying not to sound too impatient. She’s able to get us closer to the Morrigan, but the longer it takes for us to find out more, the less the chances that the Morrigan might still be where Angus met her.

She frowns.

“Once we’ve signed the agreement. Don’t take this personally, but I’m doing this for the citizens of my Realm, not for myself. I need to make sure that they’re safe before I give away my only bargaining chip.”

I nod. “I understand. Believe me, I’d do the same.”

She gives me a tense smile and gets up graciously. “Is there a room I could retire to? I’d like to freshen up a bit.”

Between a quick snack from the kitchens, a hug with Storm (and a bit more than just a hug) and several hours in my mum’s study, I’m ready to meet Flora again. For the third time today. If this continues like that, she might soon become my best friend. Or at least my best ex-enemy.

I ring the magical bell on my mother’s desk and a moment later, a servant enters. Being a Princess does have its advantages.

I ask her to ask Flora, Gwain and Storm to join me, and to get some drinks and nibbles from the kitchen. My stomach has been growling for the past hour, and who knows how long this is going to take. Dinner might not be in the near future.

“Frost, feel free to leave, Storm will be here any moment.”

My Guardian has been sitting in a corner, reading. He must be bored by now, following me around all day. I’ve been very tempted to give in to his charm and spend some quality time with him rather than with state affairs, but I know my mother is depending on me. I’ll make sure to make up for it in bed tonight.

“I’ll stay, if that’s alright. I’ve met Flora before and would quite like to say hello.”

Yey, another Guardian to give me mental support! I wish I had all four of them here. Their presence soothes me, even if they’re just in the room like Frost right now.

Gwain and Flora arrive at the same time. Like a gentleman, Gwain pulls her chair back and waits until the Goddess has sat down before he takes a seat himself. My mother’s study is large, and not only contains the desk I’m sitting on, but also a small conference table with five comfortable chairs around it. Bookshelves line the wall, but I’ve not had any time yet to take a closer look. I assume it’s all connected to the politics and history of the Realm – I’m not really expecting my mother to read romance novels in her office. Or ever.

Maybe I should bring her some books to her bedroom. Some light fiction, something to make her smile. I wish I had my own books here with me. They’re still back in Edinburgh, if nobody has plundered the house after my parents were kidnapped. I can’t imagine demons being interested in fantasy novels – they are fantasy, after all – but you never know. Chesca was an unusual demon, who’s to say there aren’t more like her.

Storm is the last to arrive, together with a plate of hot rolls and small cakes.

“I met the servant on the way,” he says with a large grin while munching on a cheese scone. “I decided to help him carry this.”

“That’s very kind of you,” I tease. “Such a gentleman.”

Flora is clearly trying to hide a smile. I’m not sure if she knows that Storm and I are together. Frost is back in his corner with a book, after saying hello to the Goddess when she entered. I can feel his presence however, our bond sending warmth through me.

Gwain clears his throat and lays a stack of paper on the table, together with two old-fashioned quills and a pot of ink. On my mother’s table she has normal pens and pencils, but apparently, we’re going traditional for official occasions. I hope I won’t embarrass myself by leaving ink splats all over the contract. That would be so like me.

The Master of Arms hands both me and Flora a copy and I’ll read through it. There’s a lot of different paragraphs and clauses on there, in complicated, elaborate language. I assume though that if Gwain wrote this, that it’s all in the interest of the Realm and won’t have any clauses in there that I should worry about.

“I gave a copy to your mother as well,” he says with a knowing smile. “She has approved it all and is happy for you to sign in her stead.”

I feel a twinge of annoyance at hearing that second sentence. In front of Flora, this might sound like I didn’t have full authority to negotiate with her before, and that I need my mother’s permission. She explicitly told me that I don’t – I can come to her for advice at any time, but I’m perfectly fine to make all my own decisions. I’m proud that she trusts me this much.

“This looks good to me,” Flora mutters, her eyes flicking over the document. “I’m happy to sign it, if you are, Your Highness.”

“Call me Wyn,” I say pleasantly, and sign the contract with a flourish – more accident than intentional, but they don’t need to know that the quill almost slipped from my hand. I hand my sheet of paper to Flora and take hers in return, signing it a bit more carefully this time.

Once we’ve both put the contracts on the table, I smile at the Goddess.

“You’re now officially an ally of the Winter Realm. I’ll be announcing it at the ball tomorrow, and I’ll have our Master of the Wings spread the message to our other allies and friends. Gwain, have you chosen who you’re going to send to the Spring Realm?”

He nods and hands me a list of names unfamiliar to me.

“Storm and I have agreed on all of those. One of them, Jula, has mind magic and will be able to communicate with us here in the Palace should the need arise.”

I know how rare it is for Guardians to have this magic, and by the surprised look on Flora’s face, she knows it as well. This is a big gesture and I’m sure she appreciates it.

“Thank you, Gwain. Hopefully by the time the news reaches Angus, they’ll already be in Flora’s Realm, ready to take action if needed.”

“Of course, my Princess, I’ll dispatch them as soon as we’re done with this meeting.”

I smile. “Then we better get this done quickly. Flora, you’ve got all the assurances from us you requested. Now it’s your turn.”

She nods hesitantly. “I sent one of my messengers to Angus to give him an invitation to a party Fav wanted to throw. It was something trivial, but still… it ended up being so much more.”

She pauses for a moment and I know that she must be thinking of her husband, and how this party invitation resulted in his death.

“Just before he reached Angus’s palace, he saw a group of people flying in the opposite direction. He thought he’d spotted the Summer God, so he followed them rather than continuing on to the palace. Somehow, he managed to stay out of sight, or at least they didn’t notice him. They flew all the way to the Eastern edge of his Realm, where they landed and seemed to be waiting for someone. My messenger was about to descend and speak to them – by now he knew for sure that it was Angus down below – but then someone else arrived. A woman appeared out of thin air, wrapped in a black cloak, with hair as black as the night and skin as pale as the moon.”

“The Morrigan,” I whisper, remembering the memories Crispin showed me. She’d been beautiful, stunning, except for the coldness in her eyes and the cruel smile on her lips.

“Yes. The Goddess of Death and Darkness. Of course, my messenger was far too scared to land or get closer, so he didn’t hear what they said. Only at the end of their conversation, the wind suddenly turned and he heard one single sentence: See you at Tioram.”

“Tioram? Where’s that?” I ask, struggling to remember where I’ve heard that name before.

“Surely she didn’t mean Castle Tioram on Earth?” Storm frowns. “That’s the only Tioram I know.”

“I hadn’t even heard of that castle,” Flora admits. “But I asked my librarian and he showed me a map of a place called Scotland. Tioram is a ruined castle on a tidal island, and humans aren’t allowed to go there. It sounds like a great hideout, but I don’t get why a Goddess would stay on Earth. Our powers are weak there and it becomes painful if we stay too long.”

She shrugs. “Of course I sent some scouts there. I needed to be sure that Angus was really working with the Morrigan. I’ve not liked his methods for a while, but he’s my creator and Spring and Summer have always stuck together. I ignored the things he did, and tried to focus on my own Realm, keeping out any trouble he might bring with him. I even harboured some people who’d fallen afoul of Angus, protecting them from him. But I never outright went against him – until now. I can’t believe he’s working with the Goddess of Death. It’s extreme even for him… everybody knows the story of what she did to that Guardian she created. How she made him kill children. It’s disgusting.”

I smooth my expression, carefully hiding the effect her words have on me. She’s heard about Crispin. I didn’t know his tale was that widely known. But of course, I assume Beira doesn’t intervene in the business of other Gods very often, not unless it’s necessary. The news that she banished the Morrigan must have spread like wildfire back then.

“What did your scouts find?” Gwain asks Flora and I pull myself out of my thoughts.

“They never returned. The next day, my husband was dead.”

She blinks several times, trying to hide her threatening tears.

Gwain strokes his beard – he always does that when he’s deep in thought.

“That means that someone definitely is at Castle Tioram, unless they were captured on route. Maybe Angus or the Morrigan saw your messenger after all and were monitoring your moves? Either way, we need to go to that castle.”

“I’d be happy to put a team together,” Storm volunteers. “And I’ll join them.”

“I’ll go too,” I say immediately, followed by three loud nos. I turn around and look at Frost, who’s glaring at me.

Flora chuckles softly. “That’s the price we have to pay as rulers: others get to have all the fun.”

Her words take me by surprise. I didn’t think she’d be someone who considers exploring a ruined castle and potentially fighting a Goddess ‘fun’. Maybe I’ve misjudged her.

“She’s right, Wyn,” Storm says calmly, but his eyes are burning with emotion. “You’re our Princess, hell, you’re the Heiress. The one in charge. We need you here, where you’re safe. There’s a reason Beira has an army and doesn’t fight the battles herself. If something happens to our ruler, the entire Realm will be thrown into chaos.”

“You’re not strong enough to fight the Morrigan though.”

He smiles. “Neither are you. We’re not intending to fight her. This is a scouting mission. If we find her there, we’ll return and make plans how to attack with our full force. If not, then… well. Let’s have Algonquin look for any other places called Tioram. Maybe there’s somewhere in one of the Realms with that name.”

“I’ll let him know,” Frost announces from behind me. “It’s Arc’s turn to accompany Wyn tomorrow, so I’ll be able to help the librarian.”

“I hope you find her there,” Flora says. “And once you do, let me know. I have a word or two to say to that bitch. I may be the Goddess of Spring, but even newly grown flowers have strength. I’m not weak, I’m life, while she is death. I will fight alongside you.”

She smiles and gets up.

“And now goodnight, Your Highness, gentlemen.”

She leaves the room while the rest of us mutter good night, taken aback by her sudden show of strength.

She’s right. She’s spring, and spring is life. It’s good to have her on board.