“The firstborn, the Fire King, who had dominion over their realm, felt, as the firstborn, and as the true king, he should be able to lay claim to her. The second born, the Sky King, who ruled at his brother’s behest the northern regions of their realm, felt they should play out a challenge, the victor winning her. The Fire King refused the challenge and spoke loud and much, which reached far, about how he would not do so as he did not wish to humiliate his younger kin. This infuriated the Sky King, and he demanded satisfaction. The Fire King responded by abducting the fair maiden from her green land, imprisoning her in his castle of sand and showering her with jewels and love and affection until she was utterly besotted with him.”

“That sounds like one of your forebears,” Silence murmured, and Mars grinned down at her unrepentantly.

“Stealing through the dunes,” Jorie went on, “the Sky King infiltrated the castle of sand, and in his turn, seized her and took her to his keep on the black cliffs by the sea. There, he taught her the names of the stars and manipulated the clouds to form visions of her beauty in the sky. And he promised her their love would be written, her name on the sun, and his name on the moon, forevermore. Which, of course meant she became utterly besotted with him.”

True noted Cassius staring at Jorie with an inscrutable expression on his face.

While Elena gazed at Cassius with easily read devotion.

And concern.

“The Fire King was beside himself with fury at her loss,” Jorie continued. “He vowed he would lay waste to everything in a blaze of fire until she was returned. This meant the Green King felt he had to intervene. She was his subject. He claimed dominion over her and demanded her return to the green land so he could speak with her and know her desires.”

“I’ve never heard this story,” Ha-Lah whispered to Aramus.

“I haven’t either,” Farah whispered to True.

“Do you know this story, Frey?” Finnie asked.

“Not at all,” Frey answered, his gaze on Jorie.

Circe was regarding Jorie with avid attention.

Lahn was looking into his glass like he wished there was more liquor in it.

Or the liquor that was in it was stronger.

“The kings agreed to meet in the place where all their realms touched, what is now,” Jorie nodded to Elena, “known as The Enchantments.”

“Did you know that?” Ha-Lah asked Elena.

“It was why that location was chosen to be the home of the Nadirii,” Elena told Ha-Lah. “It was already steeped in magic.”

“Yes,” Jorie said. “Fools for love.”

“What happened then, Jorie?” Silence asked.