Yet her thoughts now turned serious. This man held the fate of Shani's people in his hands. She owed it to her friend to do her best to help her people.

"Prince Ilathor, there is a woman with me, a Petryan."

"Ah, yes. The elementalist. I have been meaning to ask you about her. To whom does she owe her allegiance?"

Ella hesitated. "It's a little more complicated than that." She took a deep breath. "Your Highness, not all Petryans were hungering for this war. Many only hate Altura and Halaran because that's what their parents have told them to do, and most don't hate at all, they just want to raise their families in peace and prosperity. The world of leadership and the administration of the realm is a distant thing for most."

Ella thought of her brother. "Sometimes there are leaders who work to do good in the world," she said. "Brave men whose values are more important to them than doing what they think people want and expect of them. Then there are other leaders. They come to power because they inherited it, or because their supporters are more vocal, more violent, and more intimidating than those who just want to live their lives. The Petryan High Lord and his supporters are such men, ruling with fear, filled with hate. Hate is a disease, but it's a disease that can be cured. The greatest factor is belief that it can be cured, and this is what makes what you are doing such an opportunity. Please, Prince Ilathor, give the Petryans a chance to believe."

The prince stayed silent throughout Ella's speech, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Finally, he spoke. "May I ask you, Enchantress Ella, why you think I am here? Is it to conquer for the sake of conquering? To give my barbarian hordes some place to pillage? Perhaps to pay for all of that construction at Agira Lahsa?"

Ella opened her mouth to protest.

"No," Ilathor said forcefully. "I have eyes to see, and ears to listen. I know that the world is changing. This disease you speak of is an apt metaphor. I have treated the Petryans well, and I have heard their complaints. They do not know who to replace their High Lord with, but that is their concern, not mine. When we take Tlaxor there will be those who fight against us, and those who rise up against their oppressors and fight with us. We are distributing the message, and the message is clear. Petrya will be free."

Ella knew the prince was anything but a liar. As she heard the conviction in his voice she felt closer to him than she ever had before.

"That's all I need to know, Your Highness." She smiled at him.