Chapter Fifteen #5
They came to a small, exquisitely carved bridge that crossed one of the gently burbling streams winding through the palace’s hillside gardens. Rain’s steps slowed as they crossed the bridge, and he paused to look down at the lights of the city below.
“I keep telling myself that perhaps the gods set Gaelen in your path and gave you the power to restore his soul for this very
reason. That perhaps he chose self over sacrifice because this—his presence here, now, with us—was the pattern the gods spun
into his weave all along.” He gave a humorless laugh. “I’m not sure I believe it. The Fey in me will probably always think
he should have chosen sheisan’dahlein. But no matter what I think of his choices or his honor, the one thing I cannot deny is that Gaelen has spent most of the
last thousand years defending Celieria against Eld incursions. There’s no one more capable of teaching this generation of
Fey warriors how to fight the Eld and win.”
Ellysetta could feel how torn he was. “Well, at least you’ll have Marissya on your side to help smooth things over with the
Massan.”
“She probably could—she has a way with them—but she has already stepped down from her service in council.”
“What?” Her jaw dropped. “But why?”
“Because of the child. Don’t look so outraged, shei’tani. She will continue to serve the Fey . . . just not as our Shei’dalin. Until her child is born, she will walk the Fading Lands to sow Amarynth and hold back the desert. Venarra has agreed to
serve as the Shei’dalin in Marissya’s stead and continue the training you began with Marissya.”
“Oh.” Ellysetta bit her lip.
“This does not please you.” His brows drew together and his eyes sparked with lavender fire. “Venarra was discourteous?”
“No, of course not.” Good gods, the last thing she needed was to cause further ill feeling between Rain and the Massan. “She
wasn’t rude. . . .” Fury and rudeness were not the same. “It’s just that . . . well, Rain, you know how hard it is for me
to trust shei’dalins. It took me weeks to warm up to Marissya. Now I have to start all over again? With a woman who thinks the High Mage is going to take over my mind and use me to destroy the Fading Lands at any moment?”
His brief flare of temper subsided. “Ah, well . . .” He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and they resumed walking. “Give
yourself and Venarra time to get to know each other, shei’tani. The Eye deliberately sowed discord among us. I do not know why. At the moment, all the Massan are wary, but once they come
to know you, they will love you as I do.”
Would they? Ellie wasn’t so sure. She’d spent a lifetime as an outcast—and no matter how hard she’d tried, she had never managed
to win most people over. And for all Rain’s talk about sacrificing self for the good of the many and choosing death rather
than risking corruption, he didn’t seem to see the parallels between herself and the dahl’reisen.
The dahl’reisen scar was a visible mark of the former Fey warrior’s slow slide towards corruption. How were the Mage Marks she bore any less
condemning, even if they were impossible to see except in the presence of Azrahn? If sheisan’dahlein was the only honorable choice for dahl’reisen, then what did that say about her?
Ellysetta looked up at the stars shining over the palace and followed Rain slowly up the hill.
Celieria City ~ Royal Palace
Half a continent away, the flames of a thousand candles gleamed like stars from the chandeliers overhead, and the sparkle
of ten thousand jewels glittered from the resplendent raiment of the courtiers gathered in the gilded ballroom of Celieria’s
Royal Palace.
A voice called out in ringing tones, “Lord Geris Bolor,” and the members of the court watched with interest as the broad-shouldered and handsome newcomer to the court made his entrance to bow before their royal majesties, King Dorian and Queen Annoura of Celieria.
Despite the titillating scandal of the prior Lord diBolor’s disinheritance, the royals welcomed the new Lord Bolor warmly enough.
Moments later, one of Queen Annoura’s own favorites, Lady Jiarine Montevero, was escorting the new lord about the ballroom and introducing him to the nobles gathered there.
Nour’s gaze scanned the ballroom, then stopped abruptly. His spine stiffened and his shields instinctively locked into place.
“And who, my dear, is that lovely young lady there in the rose and the gentleman in bronze beside her?”
Jiarine followed his gaze and arched a brow. “You have a good eye, my lord. That is Great Lord Barrial and his daughter Talisa
diSebourne. One of the Fey who accompanied the Tairen Soul claimed she was his truemate.”
“But she’s married to Sebourne’s heir?”
“Yes, that’s why she has such a tragic, melancholy air about her. The king upheld Lord diSebourne’s marriage claim, and the
Fey who tried to claim her left with the rest of his countrymen two weeks ago. She’s been quite distraught ever since.” Jiarine
heaved an exaggerated sigh, and then her red lips curled.
Nour’s eyes flickered with faint irritation. “You may understand the court, my dear, but you have much to learn about the
Fey.” He directed his attention back to the very beautiful and indeed quite melancholy Lady diSebourne and let his gaze sweep
across the section of ballroom surrounding her, counting the faint telltale glow of Fey invisibility weaves. A full quintet,
to guard the precious shei’tani, plus another two off to one side. The unfortunate suitor, no doubt, with a friend to keep him from doing something rash
like starting a war.
The corner of his lip curled up. The possibilities of that situation bore careful consideration. For now, however, he had
other work to do.
“Where is this Great Lord Darramon you were telling me about?”
“Over there, just approaching Queen Annoura.” Jiarine nodded her head in the direction of Celieria’s beautiful queen. “As
I told you, his wife is very ill, and from what Fanette was able to pry out of his servants, the Fey have offered to heal
her. He’s preparing a caravan to take her to the Garreval. Fanette tells me they’re scheduled to leave tomorrow.”
“Then we must move quickly.”