Page 3 of Prince of the Northwest Forest
My parents turn to me. My mother’s eyes are puffy, and she wipes at her nose.
“Your brother is missing,” my father answers, his voice flat.
I don’t have to ask which brother. Einar is too young to pull shit like Mats does. Coldness seeps through my core. “Again?”
My mother nods.
My heartbeat races. That’s why they didn’t tell the animal communication system—my parents fear unnecessary gossip.
This is one of many areas in which we differ. I think getting the word out is a good thing. The animals can help.
“Did he leave a note?” I ask.
“No,” my father says, and clears his throat.
“Did someone take him?”
My father’s face is grim. “We don’t know.”
“Is this just Mats being Mats? He’s done this before.” My boot taps on the polished floor.
Father just looks at me.
I throw up my hands. “All right, I get it. Whatdoyou know?”
Firecats. That was on the rude side. Before I can open my mouth to apologize, my father says, “He didn’t appear for breakfast or lunch. His bed was not slept in. We think he snuck out last night.”
I must’ve missed all of this because I was out learning about Roy’s sex life. I mean, performing princely responsibilities. “No one saw him?”
“Not that we know of.”
Double firecats. I should’ve been paying more attention to Mats. Instead, I’ve been all in my own feelings about duty and annoyances.
“What about …”
“The wedding?” my mother finishes.
“Yes, that.”
She exchanges a long look with my father. “I just hope he’s okay,” she finally says.
What aren’t they telling me? We are ceding portions of the forest to the Fire Realm in exchange for Eleanor’s dowry, which is a significant sum of fire gold, along with written assurances that the Fire Realm will not use its volcanoes to destroy our lands. My parents told me that there’s a looming cutoff date to join the two realms, although I’ve never understood when, specifically, that is, or why there’s a deadline at all.
“Do you want me to try to find him? Do you think he went to visit Princess Eleanor? I can take a trip to the Fire Realm?—”
“No. That is not a good idea,” Mother says.
I poke my tongue into my cheek.
Mother holds her chin high. “We need to approach that realm from a position of strength. We can’t let them know he is missing except as a last resort. That would be a diplomatic disaster on so many levels.”
“We still need to talk with them,” I insist. “Eleanor deserves to know. Especially if the wedding isn’t going to go forward.”
“It will go forward,” my father says. “Therewillbe a union between our realms.”
It was originally supposed to be me marrying Eleanor, until Mats volunteered to take my place. So it’s pretty clear what my father means—and I’m not delighted at that idea. I must find Mats.
My mother tilts her head. “We will send a contingent there to do reconnaissance. We do not want to alert the fire queens that anything is wrong.”
