I continued, “Another to the west, to Wodell. And another to the south, to Firenze. And perhaps, if they find their ways to heal the wounds they have thoughtlessly rendered in their handling of The Rising, also a third to the north. To Go’Doan.”

“Elena,” True murmured, openly astonished.

“We cannot…we cannot…” I shook my head. “We cannot call on other peoples to change, to grow in hearts and minds, to accept each other, to accept us, without building our own bridges. Or in our case, breaking down barriers in order to create gates that can be closed, but they can be opened as well.”

“This would speak a profound message, but I am not certain how it would be received by your sisters,” True remarked.

“I would not keep them open for anyone to come in at will,” I told him, the plan taking shape as I spoke of it. “At least not in the beginning. We could create a sort of system. Documents required for entry. Petitions made where we will know the travelers’ reason for being here, and either grant it, or deny it. We could vet them. We could establish some kind of communication with Airen, Wodell, Firenze. Assess if someone has some kind of unsavory history with your constabulary or…something.”

I petered out in the end, deciding he must think I sounded quite mad.

“This would take a good deal of organization before implementation.”

I gently pulled from his arms, turned, and standing in the warm sun as I looked to the rift between realms to see the gray beyond, I muttered, “It is foolhardy.”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

I again shifted my attention to True.

“I’m simply saying it would be an onerous endeavor to take on, but not an unworthy one.”

“I, well I feel like, something of this magnitude, I should, well…I should…”

I was speaking to True.

But I was also speaking to a king and what I was thinking of saying was outrageous.

And would seem more so to a supreme ruler of a realm.

“You should?” True prompted, his expression open and interested and so very True.

“Put it to a vote,” I blurted. “Of the Sisterhood,” I went on to explain. “To see if they agree and support my plans.” When he said nothing, I murmured, “I sound mad.”

“I’ve already begun forming a parliament,” he announced.

I felt my lips part.

“And so I can say in all earnestness that you do not sound mad, Ellie,” he told me. “You sound like you have been but days the queen of your people and yet you’re demonstrating precisely why your mother decided on you to guide her realm into the next generation.”

“Do you believe she would be supportive of it?” I asked.