“Why not?” Laurent asked. “Let her go and get herself kiled! It would save us al the headache! Not that I even think she would be kiled. She’s probably working with them.”

“Marksinna Laurent,” Tove said, glaring at her. “The next time you speak out against the Princess I wil have you banished from Förening on the grounds of treason, and we’l see how wel you do against the Vittra.”

“Treason?” Her eyes widened. “I’ve committed no such thing!”

“Under the Treason Act, Article XII, anyone who plots or imagines the death of our King or Queen or their eldest child and heir has committed treason,” Tove said. “And in a room ful of witnesses, you just wished for the Princess’s death.”

“I…” Laurent started to defend herself, then gave up and simply stared down at her hands.

“Who wil go on the team, then?” Aurora asked, returning to the topic.

“I would like volunteers,” I said. “A high-ranking official does need to go as my proxy, and I wil order people if I must.”

“I’l go,” Finn said. “My father can stay here and get the army ready. I can help lead a team into Oslinna.”

“I’l go,” Markis Bain offered. “My sister lives there. I should help her.”

“Anyone else?” I asked, but I was met with blank stares. “A healer would be particularly useful now.”

“Marksinna Kroner?” Wila prompted when Aurora said nothing.

“I’m the Prince’s mother.” Aurora was aghast. “I can’t possibly go.” Tove gave her a hard look, so she floundered for an excuse.

“The Chancelor! He has some healing powers.”

“Not as great as yours,” he said defensively. “I’m nothing compared to you.”

“You’re an elected official,” Aurora said. “These people voted for you. They deserve your help.”

“Why don’t you go, Chancelor?” Tove asked. “You can work as my liaison.”

“Do I have a choice?” the Chancelor asked, sounding defeated, and Tove answered him with a glare.

The meeting went on for a few minutes longer. Wila gave an impassioned speech about the importance of helping our brethren. A few people seemed moved by it, but nobody else volunteered until Wila pointed out that if we helped them, the people from Oslinna could come back here and fight for us. That got a couple more hands in the air.

In the end, we managed to assemble a team of ten, and that was about the most I could hope for. Everyone dispersed, resolving that the team would leave from the palace in two hours. After everyone else had gone, Tove, Wila, Duncan, and I lingered in the War Room.

“I think that went wel.” Wila leaned back up against the desk.

“What if the Vittra start attacking other towns?” I asked. “What are we going to do?”

“There’s nothing more we can do,” Tove said. “Not right now.