Chapter Sixteen #2
Ellie grimaced. Everyone, it seemed, had read about what happened.
The flood of pamphlets yesterday was nothing compared to the storm that all but papered the streets this morning, decrying the release of the child murderer Belliard vel Jelani.
The crowds outside the Baristani home had doubled since yesterday thanks to all the protestors, rabble-rousers, and Brethren of Radiance fanatics joining their ranks.
Mama couldn’t quite decide whether she was more worried about the damage to her family’s reputation and Sol’s business or enraged at the gall of the fanatical busybodies who had decided they had some right to camp outside the Baristanis’ home and destroy the peace of the neighborhood.
She’d even appealed to Rain, saying, “What in the Haven’s name good is your magic if you can’t make that rabble clear off?
” When Ellie had stared at her in shock, Mama had shrugged defensively and said, “Well? It’s clear the Fey aren’t going anywhere.
Since they’re determined to stay, they might as well make themselves useful. ”
The gods weave as the gods will, Ellie thought with a smile. She would have volunteered for getting stabbed earlier if she’d known how it would alter Mama’s opinion of the Fey.
Dragging her thoughts back to the present, she smiled at Selianne.
“I’m fine, Sel. Lady Marissya healed me and no matter what those pamphleteers are saying, Bel didn’t kill that boy—and don’t believe for one second that child was an innocent bystander, either.
” Quickly Ellie recounted what had happened.
“Rain thinks the Eld may be behind it. He’s been trying to keep the northern borders closed, and the accusations leveled against Bel seem specifically designed to rouse more suspicion and ill will between the nobles and the Fey. ”
Selianne glanced at the surrounding Fey. “Can you have them do that privacy thing?”
“Of course.” Ellie made the request, and Bel spun his weave in a matter of seconds. “It’s done. What is it, Sel?”
Selianne turned her back to the Fey and reached out to clasp Ellie’s hands.
“The nobles aren’t the only ones feeling suspicious.
Ellie, I’m serving as your Honoria because you’re my dearest friend in the whole world, but I wouldn’t be any kind of friend if I didn’t tell you how worried I am.
I don’t think you should wed the Tairen Soul.
I’m terrified of what will happen to you if you do. ”
Ellysetta stared at her in surprise. “What? Selianne—”
“Hear me out, Ellie. What do you know—what does anyone really know—about the Fey? They’re magic.
And no matter how beautiful they are or what the legends say about them, not one of us really knows what goes on behind the Faering Mists.
Once you go to the Fading Lands, you’ll be locked away from all your family and friends, caged by magic just like those flowers in your hair.
Who’s to say what will happen to you then? ”
Ellysetta pulled her hands free. “Selianne, don’t be silly. Rain’s not plotting to imprison me. He’s been nothing but kind and attentive and caring.”
“Of course he has. You’re still in Celieria.
But don’t you realize, the only woman to leave the Fading Lands since the Mage Wars is the shei’dalin Marissya?
Once you’re through the Faering Mists, the Fey can make up any story they like about why you don’t wish to return, and no one in Celieria will be able to gainsay them. Not even your family.”
Ellie gave a troubled frown as a bobble of doubt rose inside her. Guilt followed fast behind. Simply contemplating such an idea seemed so disloyal to Rain.
As if sensing that brief doubt, Selianne leaned forward. “Ellie, my mother has a friend. A sea captain. He has no love for the Fey, and he’s offered to take you someplace where you’ll be safe should you choose not to wed the Tairen Soul.”
Ellysetta reared back in surprise. “No.”
“Ellie—”
“No! I could never do that. Even if I wanted to leave Rain—which I don’t!
—Papa would never condone breaking another betrothal.
He wouldn’t have allowed it the first time if the king hadn’t interceded.
And if I ran off by myself, my family would be shunned, beggared.
You know that, Selianne. I would rather sacrifice myself a thousand times than bring such hurt to them.
How could you even think I could be so selfish? ”
Tears pooled in Selianne’s wide, guileless blue eyes. “I’m just so worried for you. I would do anything to keep you safe.”
“But not at the expense of my family, Selianne. You’d buy me only misery at that price.”
“I’m sorry.” She wiped at her eyes and sniffled.
“As am I. Please, let’s speak of it no more. You obviously weren’t thinking clearly to make such an offer. Agreed?”
Selianne nodded with obvious reluctance. “If that’s what you want, Ellie.”
“It is.” With a forced smile, Ellysetta hugged her friend and tried not to flinch.
Selianne’s embrace felt oddly oppressive.
Just my imagination, Ellie thought. As was the trick of light that made Selianne’s eyes seem to flicker with black shadows, reminding Ellie unpleasantly of her young attacker. Still . . .
“Sel,” she whispered hesitantly, “is everything all right with you? You’re not in any sort of trouble, are you?”
Selianne pulled back. “Me? I’m not the one marrying the man who scorched the world.”
“It’s just that Rain warned me that Mages could control anyone born in Eld.” She bit her lip. When Selianne didn’t respond, she added, “Your mother was born there. She didn’t leave until she married your father. According to Rain, she could be used to hurt you . . . and me.”
Any hint of shadow in Selianne’s eyes was gone now—as was her earlier guilt—replaced by horror. With a quick twist, she broke free. “Did you tell him about her?”
Ellie’s jaw dropped. “Of course not! I would never do that!”
“Then how would he know it?”
“He doesn’t. I didn’t mean that.” How had this gotten twisted around? “He wasn’t talking about your mother specifically. He was talking about the Eld in general, and how the Mages can control them from childhood.”
“Ellie, my mother loves me. And you too, for that matter. She’d die before doing anything to hurt either of us.”
“I know she loves you, Sel. That’s not what I meant. I—”
“I think you’d better not say anything more. It would break my mother’s heart to know you could even think something so vile. She’s not some . . . some slave of the Mages.”
“Sel . . . please . . . I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply anything bad about your mother.”
Selianne sniffed. “We’d better go. Your mother and the Archbishop are waiting.”
Ellie’s brows climbed halfway up her forehead.
“Selianne, you little prig. I just forgave you for suggesting I should abandon my honor and my family and run off with some sea captain. And now you’re all in a twist because I’m worried the Eld might try to hurt you and your mother to get to me?
” She laughed in disbelief. “I was stabbed yesterday. Can you not understand why I might be a little more suspicious than usual?”
Selianne’s irritation fled. “What an idiot I’m being. I swear I don’t know what’s come over me.” She shook her head. “I’m supposed to be your friend and beacon, and here I am being an obnoxious ninnywit. I’m sorry. Friends?”
“Of course. The very best.” They hugged again, a tight squeeze, and this time Ellie sensed nothing but genuine concern and love in the embrace.
When they broke apart, she saw her mother gesturing with escalating ill temper.
“I guess we’d better go,” she said. “Greatfather Tivrest is getting impatient.” Ellie signaled to Bel, and the privacy weave dissolved.
She and Selianne hurried to join Lauriana and the Archbishop.
The initial devotions of the Bride’s Blessing were a lengthy, sonorous affair, full of prayers and hymns and meditation. Fortunately, everything proceeded smoothly. When they were done, Ellie gave Selianne and her mother quick hugs and hurried home to meet Rain and Master Fellows.
Lauriana stayed after Ellie’s departure in order to discuss the upcoming services and the wedding schedule with the Archbishop. To her surprise, Selianne was waiting for her when she left the cathedral a full bell later. “Selianne? What are you still doing here?”
The young woman Lauriana had known since childhood twisted her hands together in the same way she and Ellie always had when confessing a misdeed. “I needed to talk to you, Madame Baristani, and I couldn’t do it in front of Ellysetta and the Fey.”
“Talk to me about what, Selianne?”
“About Ellie, Madam Baristani, and about the Fey.” Selianne clasped her hands. “I’m very worried for her. Very worried.”
Rain wasn’t alone when Ellie returned home. Marissya and Dax were with him, and a vehement argument—one that clearly had begun quite a while ago—was in progress. The three of them fell silent when Ellie walked in, but the tension in the room remained so thick it set her teeth on edge.
“What is it?” she asked. “What’s happened?”
“Nothing,” Rain said. He stalked off to one corner and stood there, arms crossed, glaring out the window.
“Not nothing,” Marissya corrected. “Tell her, Rain. Tell the Feyreisa what her shei’tan has been doing. She has a right to know.”
Ellie stared at Marissya as if she’d grown a second head.
The shei’dalin actually sounded . . . angry.
Furious even. And with her veils thrown back, her cheeks hot with color, her appearance confirmed it.
If she weren’t seeing the proof with her own eyes, Ellie would never have believed it possible.
She glanced at Dax. His head was down, shoulders slumped, and he was pinching the bridge of his nose as if he were painfully resigned to suffer through an argument he’d already heard many times over.