“I’ll go too, of course,” said Dorian. “Nothing I love more than a winter’s journey.”

Rurik and Shaya exchanged glances at this. “Your Majesties ...” she said carefully. “Is it wise ... is it wise for you both to go? For either of you to go? The risks ...”

“I’d rather die trying to save my kingdom than watch it wither around me,” said Dorian, in a rare show of fierceness. “If I die in the attempt, the land will simply find someone else to bond with. Perhaps he or she will then be able to succeed where I didn’t. Either way, a triumphant ending.”

I wasn’t so sure I’d call that triumphant, but I could hardly chastise Dorian for going when I was signing up for the same risks. What I was not so open to was Jasmine volunteering.

“Why not?” she asked when I began to protest. “I’m pretty badass, you know.”

I shook my head. “That’s not in dispute. Someone has to stay and commune with the lands. You’re the only alternative.”

“Dorian’s leaving his kingdom,” she pointed out. “And he doesn’t have backup.”

It was a fair point, one I didn’t have a ready answer for. “The land can go well over a month without me,” he remarked. “Especially in these conditions.”

“Wouldn’t it need more help in these conditions?” I argued.

“Oh, it needs you, no question. But the land isn’t thriving in its normal way. It’s in a kind of stasis. If we’re away longer than we expect, you and the land will miss each other ... but let’s face it, the land can’t get too much worse if we’re a couple weeks late.” Jasmine had hinted at that, I recalled now. The laconic smile on Dorian’s face contrasted weirdly with his next words. “Besides, these kingdoms won’t survive in two months anyway. No harm done.”

“Gee, you have a cheery way of looking at everything,” I muttered.

He grinned at me and nodded to Jasmine. “On a more practical note, we’re going to have to travel through some pretty miserable conditions. Having two weather-working sisters along would be welcome.”

It was another good point. Certainly I’d eased my journey with Roland earlier. Jasmine’s specialty was magic tied to moisture, which would come in handy with the snow. Dorian’s comment also provided cover for something else I’d wanted to bring up. I turned to Pagiel.

“I suppose he’s right. And by that same reasoning, we could really use you if your air magic can combat any of this,” I said. I hesitated and frowned before continuing. “Although, I hate to drag you into it. If your mother gave me grief for my doctor’s visits, God only knows what she’ll say about this.”