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Julien stepped onto the podium. “Esteemed Parliament members, the ambassador from Tarenhiel, Princess Jalissa, would like to address this assembly.”

Lord Crelford, one of the lords who did not exactly like elves but did not hate them either, climbed to his feet. “We told you we’d let you in when we were ready.”

Jalissa speared him with one of her looks. “I am ready now. I came here in good faith to bring the goodwill of my people to yours. But if you do not wish to hear what I have to say, then I will leave. I am sure Mongalia or Afristan will be more open to the trade deals I am prepared to present.”

Oh, Jalissa was good. Essie struggled to keep her expression regal as she stood next to Farrendel off to the side.

Most of the Parliament members took their seats, pausing just long enough to pretend it had been their idea. Lord Crelford made a magnanimous motion with his hand. “Please make your case.”

Not exactly the best invitation, but it was the best Jalissa was probably going to get.

Jalissa held her head high and faced the ranks of the members. “Six months ago, the incidents at the border between Escarland and Tarenhiel escalated to the point that citizens of both kingdoms were raiding across the border. Destruction and eventually deaths occurred. Your king and mine both decried these actions and took the unprecedented step to meet and sign a peace treaty, a peace treaty that was strengthened by the marriage of my brother Prince Farrendel Laesornysh to your Princess Elspeth.”

When Jalissa gestured to Essie and Farrendel, Essie glanced up at Farrendel and smiled. It was for show for Parliament, but she hoped some of the true warmth of her feelings for Farrendel had shown through.

He, of course, remained cold and still as an ice statue.

“For three months, we have had peace.” Jalissa’s jaw tightened. “But, recently, the royal family of Tarenhiel was attacked by trolls using Escarlish weapons. Your king has assured me that this was caused by the actions of a few traitors in your midst and does not represent the view of most in Escarland.”

That gained her some nods, but also some crossed arms. A few glares.

Lord Kranshaw shot to his feet. “You filthy elves would’ve had it coming.”

Jalissa stiffened. Beside Essie, Farrendel’s magic crackled beneath the surface. Essie felt it building, ready to be unleashed. She should’ve expected Lord Kranshaw to speak up. He was up there on her list of possible traitors in Parliament. He had enough hatred of the elves.

“Now, now.” Lord Bletchly held his hands out, palms up. “No need to insult our guests.”

Lord Bletchly. He had lost a son in the war, but he was one of the few who didn’t seem to unequivocally hate elves because of it. He tended to be a voice of reason in Parliament.

A cane thumped on the floor, drawing everyone’s attention to the white-haired lord sitting in his chair near the center of the room. Lord Fiskre was one of the oldest lords there, and one of the most respected. He cleared his throat in the silence. “I, for one, would like to hear what she has to say. I’m eighty-three-years young, and I remember a time when Tarenhiel and Escarland were at peace. I grew up on stories from a time when our kingdoms had more of a friendship than they do now. I would like to see where Princess Elspeth and her elf can take our two kingdoms.”

Essie knew there was a reason she had always liked Lord Fiskre.

Jalissa gave a slight nod. “Thanks to Princess Elspeth and the actions of your King Averett, King Weylind, my brother, has gained a new respect for Escarland. We have seen the way the times are changing. No kingdom will be able to stand alone. We have seen the strength in Escarland. We are not offering a stronger alliance with Mongalia or Afristan. We are reaching to you as the kingdom with whom we wish to ally.”

Several of the lords murmured. Some had louder discussions with each other. Lord Crelford huffed and crossed his arms. “Why should we ally with you? Why would we risk being drawn into your war with Kostaria? What do you have to offer Escarland?”

“Thanks to the traitor operating within your borders, you are already in this war, though you do not know it.” Jalissa’s mouth tilted into a sharp kind of smile. “Thanks to our healers, we can show you advances in your medical practices. We can offer magically infused products, like our shampoo and conditioners, that your magicians cannot manufacturer.”

That had lords like Lord Bletchly nodding. Trade they could understand.

“And we can offer our magic.” Jalissa gestured toward Farrendel.

A crackle built a moment before blue lightning swirled from Farrendel’s palms and up his arms. He raised his hand and magic exploded in the air before it dissipated in a fizzle of sparks in a bigger, more powerful version of what he’d done for the nephews.

About half the Parliament members were now huddled on the floor by their chairs. Others had jumped to their feet, as if preparing to run.

Guards dashed into the room, but Julien held up his hand, holding them back.

Even Essie, knowing how powerful his magic was and that this was such a small demonstration of it, had found herself taking a step back.

“That is the kind of magic found in Tarenhiel. If you wish to beg for a defense alliance, I will be at Winstead Palace.” Jalissa spun on her heel and marched from the podium.

Essie should be taking notes on how to make a dramatic exit. Jalissa sure knew how to make a statement.