“I’m not religious. I have not prayed before,” he admitted to the fountain, so it would not think him a liar or trickster. “I simply need help.”

That was all. Edward watched the water bubble in silence, though he thought he heard a giggle-snort in the air, and he swore he saw a flit of light galloping away.

The morning skies clouded with gray as heavy air swept in, splitting the day.

Edward had to decide before tomorrow who he was: Edward Green—Prince of the Pines, or Edward Haid; a man of no title. Stay and be a king or run and be a coward.

Either choice would cost him.

Presently…

Green was a fool’s colour; the brand of pride and greed. Edward Haid knew as much. Green was a shade of the envious, the gluttonous, and the feasters. And emerald was the cover of its false strength.

The snow slid into shapes atop the table in the empty meeting room. Edward tilted the Patrol staff, watching the flakes dance into the forms of people he once knew, ones he had once loved. The face of a young girl looked back with gray eyes and dark hair the pure white snow could not show. The girl had done a good measure of things Edward had not as a child. She had yelled and cussed and slayed forest animals, yet for all her bravery, she had never overcome her fear of glass beetles.

A dull chuckle tickled Edward’s throat as he watched the snow-form girl run from a sputtlepun boy chasing her through Timber Castle with a beetle in his fingers. She burst from the doors and flung herself over a balcony, catching herself on her feet and racing into the woods where he had not been able to catch up. Edward’s laugh fizzled away, and the quiet meeting room felt empty again.

The meeting room door squeaked, and Edward cut the snow from the air, watching it fall into a pile as heavy footsteps entered the room.

“Did you know Cohen was leaving with the Carrier?” Trevor South marched to the wardrobe and flipped it open.

“No, of course not.” Edward took a long look at the lifeless pile of snow, then turned on his seat to face the interim Patrol Commander. “Did you find out where they went?”

“They went to the cove. So, now I need to go after the sputtlepuns before they get hurt or snatched.” Trevor brushed his fingers down his beard. “Cohen is going to get a righteous whipsteaming when he gets back,” he added with a mutter.

“I could come help look,” Edward said, gold eyes locking upon the auburn-haired man. His fingers tightened around the Patrol staff, his toes curling in his boots. “Please,” he added.