Lord of the Fading Lands (38 page)

"I love you, too, Mama. You're my beacon.”

Mama stepped back, wiping her eyes with the heels of her palms. "Go on, then," she said gruffly. "I won't follow you down. I wouldn't want to embarrass myself by turning watering pot in front of the Fey."

Rain was waiting when Ellysetta descended the stairs. He was once again dressed in magnificent black, red, and purple, with the chain of large gold disks and Tairen's Eye crystals around his neck. The six-pointed crown rested on his brow, and he looked imposing and kingly.

He was scowling.

The knot in Ellie's stomach tightened.

His gaze raked over her in one critical sweep. "You won't need that necklace tonight. Bel, bring her jewels.”

Ellie lowered her eyes to hide a sudden flare of hurt and reached behind her head to undo the clasp of her necklace. What had she expected? That he would be dazzled just because she was wearing a gorgeous dress and had done her hair?

Bel approached, carrying a silk-covered box.
You are lovely, Ellysetta Baristani.’

She gave him a tremulous smile.

Beside her, Rain gave a quiet grunt, as if someone had just hit him. His scowl deepened, and he flashed a dark look at Bel. Then he returned his attention to Ellie, and warm approval touched her senses, mingled with faint apology. "You bring pride to this Fey, Ellysetta.”

She nodded, not looking at him.

She heard him draw a breath as if he were about to speak, heard him let it back out again on a sigh. "Open the box, Bel," he said.

Bel drew back the lid of the silk-covered box, and Ellysetta caught her breath in awe. Against the rich velvet lining gleamed a stunning golden tiara set with pearls and precious jewels and three large, shimmering Tairen's Eye crystals. Two equally stunning crystals adorned a pair of magnificent matching golden bracelets.

"These jewels are a gift for tonight only," Rain said. "The Tairen's Eye crystals are the
sorreisu kiyr
, the Soul Quest crystals, of your quintet. They requested the honor of having you wear them as we present you to Celieria as our queen.”

Ellysetta glanced around the room, meeting the shining eyes of each warrior in her quintet. "The honor is mine. Thank you all.”

She stood still as Rain settled the tiara in place and clasped the bracelets on her wrists. Her skin tingled where the jewels touched her flesh, as if the
sorreisu kiyr
hummed with warm, living energy. And Rain's emotions seemed clearer, sharper. She could feel his coiled tension and the sparks of anger flashing through his veins.

"Rain?" She touched his hand.

"We should go.”

"Just a moment." Sol stepped forward. "I need to kiss this pretty young woman before she leaves." Warm, loving arms wrapped around her. The familiar scent of fresh wood shavings and pipe smoke filled her nostrils. "I love you, Ellie- girl," Sol whispered.

Fresh tears sprang to Ellie's eyes. She blinked them back before anyone saw them and returned her father's hug. "I love you, too, Papa.”

"Enjoy yourself tonight.”

"I will," she lied.

A royal carriage was waiting outside. The bewigged footman standing attendance beside the carriage door helped Ellie into the vehicle. She took her seat on the blue velvet cushions, folded her hands in her lap, and stared out the far window at the throng of people surrounding her family's home. A strange, disturbing sense of darkness brushed her mind, and the hair at the back of her neck rose. Troubled, she scanned the crowd. Den Brodson's face stared back at her from a distance, his eyes filled with malevolence and thwarted desire.

Black leather moved at the corner of her eye, and Ellie turned her head to watch Rain take his seat opposite her. When she glanced back out the window, Den was gone.

"Ellysetta?" She felt Rain's concern even before she heard it in his voice. "Something frightens you?" The carriage lurched forward and began to roll through the parting crowds.

"No, I'm fine." Den was no threat to her or her family. The Fey had seen to that.

Rain's lips tightened in a faint grimace. "I did not mean to hurt your feelings a moment ago. Bel tells me I am an insensitive
rultshart
for not telling you how lovely you look.”

"It's all right.”

"Nei.
It is not." His hands fisted, then opened with obvious effort and pressed flat against his thighs. "I do not wish to attend this dinner. I do not wish to take you there. Not"—he added quickly, holding up a hand to forestall any misunderstanding—"because I am unhappy to take you, but because I do not want to expose you to their darkness. Or my anger.”

"Because of what happened yesterday?”

"In part, I suppose. But even without the current unpleasantness, I would feel the same. The last Celierian dinner I attended ended badly, and I cannot forget the memory of it.”

Ellie suddenly understood Rain's scowl, his inattentiveness, and the tense anger coiled inside him. The last Celierian dinner Rain Tairen Soul had attended had taken place a thousand years ago and ended in the assassination of Marikah vol Serranis and her husband King Dorian I of Celieria. That dinner provided the spark that Gaelen vel Serranis, Marikah's twin brother, fanned into the flames that became the Mage Wars.

"I'd forgotten you were there," she admitted.

"I expect many have forgotten.”

"I imagine it was horrible." Ellie heard the words leave her mouth and could have groaned. Of course, it had been horrible. It was a bloody, evil night that had led to an even bloodier and more evil war. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "You don't have to talk about it.”

"Nei,
it's all right. It was a very long time ago. The wound is no longer fresh.”

"But it still has the power to hurt”

He smiled a little. "Your heart is kind,
shei'tani,
to worry over such an ancient wound." Then his smile faded. "Marikah died. Gaelen, her twin brother, gave himself to the Wilding Rage to avenge her and plunged us into war. Millions died. These things I cannot change, and I no longer weep for might-have-begins. It's simply that my memories remind me of what can happen at such seemingly innocuous events”

She leaned across the carriage and reached out to take his hands in hers. She meant the gesture to be comforting, friendly. Loving, too, but in a gentle way. Perhaps it was his unsettled emotions. Perhaps it was her own unsettled emotions. Perhaps it was just the
shei'tanitsa
hunger rising in both of them. Whatever the reason, the moment she touched him, sudden desire roared up inside her, a gout of invisible flame leaping from her body to his.

Ellie's field of vision narrowed until she saw nothing but his eyes, searing amethyst, piercing her senses, her consciousness, then deeper. She felt her soul stir in response. A restless disquiet, a yearning … for something more than physical, something more than emotional. Her breath rasped down her dry throat on a ragged inward moan.

He gave a low, deep-chested growl, the warning purr of a stalking tairen, and invisible hands, hot and hard, cupped her through her dress. Invisible lips, firm and silky, tracked a burning path down her neck.

Her pulse thundered in her ears. Her eyes closed on a swell of unbearable pleasure. Her head tipped back, and real hands reached out to grasp her waist and bring her hard against his chest. Real lips devoured the too sensitive skin of her neck, dragging up, teeth grazing the curve of her jaw His mouth claimed hers in a hot, demanding, erotic kiss.

In her mind's eye, she saw the tairen. Magnificent, sleek, as black as death itself. Its eyes were burning lavender fire, its fangs white, sharp, deadly, bared in a snarl of feral wildness that had slipped its leash. It leapt towards her, massive wings unfurled, gigantic paws outstretched. So beautiful. So wild. So terrifying. White, sharp, curving claws dug into her flesh, holding her fast. The tairen screamed with hunger and dragged her close.

With a small choked cry, she tore her lips from Rain's and pushed against his shoulders.

Rain's empty hands curled slowly into fists that shook with visible effort as he once more caged the wildness within him. He groaned, closed his eyes, and banged the back of his head against the coach wall.

"Sieks'ta,"
he apologized, his eyes still closed. There was a fine sheen of perspiration on his face, the first she'd ever seen, a testament to the force he was extending to keep himself in check. "When you reach out to me, I lose all reason. The tairen is hungry for its mate. As, gods help me, am I.”

"It was my fault," she told him, shivering as she tried to recover her composure and still her racing heartbeat. "I started it.”

"Aiyah,
you did. Which gives me hope at least." He scrubbed his hands over his face. "But I should know by now that I must go slowly with you. Your ways are not ours, and you are still so young. I will do better the next time, Ellysetta. I do not wish to frighten you.”

"It's all right." She didn't deny that he had frightened her. She knew he had felt it.

"Nei."
He gave a slight, hoarse laugh. "When you accept the bond, it will be all right." His eyes opened, pinned her with glowing intensity. "Until then, it is quite the opposite”

She bit her lip, feeling miserable. She could feel his pain and the sharp edge of temper he was struggling not to release. "I'm sorry.”

"Do not be. I assure you, I will endure. Just be patient with my lapses, and know that I would never harm you." He closed his eyes again and leaned his head back. "And Ellysetta?”

"Yes?”

"Do not touch me that way again tonight. Please."

The palace was lit like a garden lantern, blazing against the Celierian night sky. The carriage slowly made its way up the crowded carriage path towards the massive palace steps and the waiting footmen, dazzling in their blue-and-gold livery and silvery-white powdered hair.

Ellie stared out the window, up the wide expanse of stairs to the brightly lit interior of the palace beckoning from the opened doors at the top of the stairs. How many young Celierian girls had dreamed of a moment like this? She had dreamed it countless times, and yet now that the dream had become reality, she couldn't stop wishing she were safe back at home, spending another dull night wrapped in the security of the familiar. Even while another part of her was eager to climb those stairs and taste the wonders of the dream.

"What are you thinking?" Rain was watching her with an intent expression.

"That I'm an awful lot like Ashleanne the hearth-minder," she replied with a self-deprecating smile. "And you're the Fey giftfather and the handsome prince all rolled into one.”

"Then perhaps that is to your advantage. The weave doesn't have to unravel at midnight if you don't wish it.”

"I'm not so sure I don't want it to unravel right now. I'm feeling cowardly.”

The corners of his eyes crinkled. "You are not the first to dread a royal dinner. Even without my dislike of the nobles and the memories of what happened here before, I admit I have never enjoyed these affairs. Especially in Celieria. Your people use far too many forks.”

She laughed, grateful to him for trying to put her at ease even when he himself was not.

The carriage pulled to a stop before the blue-carpeted stairs. Protective shields sprang up around them as they descended from the carriage and remained in place as they climbed the palace steps, not disappearing until they passed through the palace doors.

A servant appeared before them. His livery, the same rich Celierian blue as all the other servants wore, was much more elaborately decorated with gold braid. His hair was gold- powdered and tied at his nape with a Celierian blue bow. He bowed deeply to Rain. "Your Majesty." He hesitated briefly, then bowed again just as deeply to Ellie. "My Lady. If you will both follow me, please? I will escort you to the ballroom, where the guests are gathering before dinner.”

The corridors were brilliant with light and peopled with servants and courtiers dressed in dazzling displays of gilded cloth, sparkling jewels, and piles of glittering powdered hair. The extreme radiance of wealth was stunning to a girl so used to sensible moderation, and Ellie found herself holding her breath and trying desperately not to look like a goggle- eyed fool while still attempting to drink in every sight, every sound.

When they entered the upper level of the already crowded ballroom and stood at the top of the curving staircase awaiting their introduction, Ellie became instantly and self- consciously aware of how her deep purple and Rain's black

leathers stood out like dark beacons in a sea of gilded pastels. As they stepped onto the landing, every eye in the room below focused on them.

She shrank back against Rain.

Peace, Ellysetta. There is nothing to fear.»

She tried to stiffen her spine, tried even harder not to let her fear show on her face. Her free hand fell to the Fey'cha at her waist, fingers closing around the black handle with desperate need, but Bel's dagger did not offer her the comfort it usually did. Perhaps because she knew that if she made a fool of herself tonight, it would reflect badly on Rain and the Fey.

The servant who had led them to the ballroom whispered their names to another servant, this one dressed in pure silver. The silver-clad man announced in ringing tones, "His esteemed majesty, Rainier vel'En Daris Feyreisen, the Tairen Soul, King of the Fading Lands, Defender of the Fey, and Lady Ellysetta Baristani Feyreisa, truemate of the Tairen Soul, Queen of the Fading Lands.”

Ellie had an hysterical urge to laugh at the titles attached to her name. Oh, gods, this
was
all a mistake. Who did Rain think he was fooling? She was plain Ellie Baristani, woodcarver's daughter, not a queen. And judging by the haughty, sneering looks on the faces of the nobles below, every one of them was thinking the same thing. How could Rain hope to win their respect and convince them to stand firm against the Eld when he confronted them with a peasant on his arm? Even the servants of the aristocracy looked down their noses at her when they visited her father's shop at their masters' bidding.

Bel and Kieran preceded them down the stairs. Kiel, Adrial, and Rowan followed them. Ellie's knees trembled as she and Rain descended the stairs into the ballroom. She was aware of King Dorian and Queen Annoura sitting in gold and silver radiance on their thrones at the far end of the room, watching her with unblinking eyes. She looked out over the sea of faces and sensed the courtiers' swelling outrage and stiffening pride. They resented having a peasant's daughter shoved down their noble, aristocratic throats. She was beneath them. She didn't belong here. She sensed anger, rapidly escalating, and thought it came from the nobles.

When they reached the bottom stair, Bel turned his head to give her a warning look.
Peace, Ellysetta. Your emotions wake the tairen.

Her gaze flew to Rain's unsmiling, stone-carved face. His eyes were on fire with power. His mouth was grim. The anger she felt was his, and he was struggling hard to contain it.

"Rain," she whispered. "I'm sorry.”

«Apologize for nothing. Not to me, and especially not to these dark-souled mortals. You are the Feyreisa.»

She winced at the harsh bite in his Spirit voice.

"My Lord Feyreisen." A glittering man in a blue-and-silver coat dripping lace and jewels stepped forth from the throng. His hair was silver-powdered, his blue eyes cool above a pleasant smile. Though Ellie had never met the man, his face was famous throughout Celieria. Lord Corrias, Celieria's prime minister, bowed very deeply to Rain.

"Mistress Baristani." Lord Corrias bowed to her as well, more deeply than a woodcarver's daughter had a right to expect, but less than a quarter the depth of the bow he had given the Tairen Soul. Not that it mattered to Ellie. She was too busy struggling with the nervous fear that clogged her throat to care about the implications of a bow.

It mattered to Rain.

"She is the Feyreisa." Rain's voice was an iced shard of sound, the barest whisper, and yet it sliced across the rising murmurs of the onlooking crowd with chilling ease. "You insult her at your gravest peril.”

The prime minister blanched and immediately fell into a bow even deeper than the one he had offered Rain. "My Lady Feyreisa, please accept my apologies. No insult was intended."

"Peace, Lord Corrias. No insult is taken." Marissya v'En Solande's calm voice broke the tense silence. Deeply veiled and exquisitely gowned in unrelieved scarlet, the
shei'dalin
descended the stairs on the arm of her truemate. Tairen's Eye crystals flashed at her throat and wrists, and dozens more hung about her hips on golden chains. "Lady Ellysetta is the first Feyreisa in over two thousand years, and the only one ever to be truemated to our King. One small lapse in protocol can be forgiven.”

As Lord Corrias rose, Marissya's voice sounded in Ellie's head.
'Las, little sister. Rain will not be able to keep his promise if you cannot control your fears.'
Then, hesitantly,
^«I
can help calm you, if you will permit me.”

Ellie shook her head. She wanted no
shei'dalin
mind control worked on her, even if it was to make her feel better. The very thought of it made her stomach clench.

«Don't be frightened. I will do nothing without your permission. You must calm yourself so Rain can control his temper.»

Ellie took a deep breath and tried to do as Marissya asked, but she was too conscious of the many eyes on her. Whenever Ellie drew too much attention, she could almost
feel
people looking at her, as if their sharp gazes were fingers pinching and poking at her. It was an unpleasant, unsettling sensation, and trying to combat it always gave her a sick headache. Tonight, the sensation was stronger than ever before.

«Peace, shei'tani.”

"I'm trying," she muttered. "Can we just get this over with?”

«Of course.»
Even though Rain's eyes still glowed fiercely, his mental voice was warm and gentle and almost as soothing as the
shei'dalin's.

"Lord Corrias." None of the warmth Ellie felt from Rain was apparent in his voice as he turned his attention back to the prime minister. "Please escort us to the king and queen so that we may pay our respects. Then you may introduce us to your other guests.”

The prime minister gave another deep bow. "Of course, My Lord Feyreisen," he replied, with only the faintest hint of stiffness in his voice. "It will be my honor."

When they reached the dais at the end of the room, Rain bowed his head in greeting to King Dorian and Queen Annoura. He saw Ellie begin to sink into a deep curtsey and formed a rapid weave of Air to keep her upright.

«Nei, Ellysetta, »
he advised.
«You are our queen. Do not humble yourself before the throne of another. It is acceptable merely to bow your head to them to acknowledge their sovereignty in their own land.”

Blushing, she did as he instructed.

Garbed completely in gold, with huge yellow diamonds draped around his throat, sparkling on his fingers, and winking from every fold of his gold-cloth doublet, King Dorian was the sun. His dark hair had been pomaded, curled, and powdered with gold dust. A bright Celierian blue sash was angled across his chest and fastened at his hip by a large gold disk stamped with Celieria's royal seal. His feet, clad in gold shoes with stacked heels and yellow-diamond-encrusted buckles, were crossed comfortably before him, and his strong, sun-bronzed hands curled with familiar casualness on the arms of his massive throne.

Beside him, shining in cool silver and diamond-white radiance, Queen Annoura was the moon, though in truth she outsparkled her husband. Her hair was powdered silver, her eyebrows gilded to match. Brilliant blue-white diamonds set in shining platinum cascaded like a waterfall down her slender throat and across the deep expanse of skin exposed by the low heart-shaped décolletage of her gown. One large egg- shaped diamond trembled between her breasts. More diamonds winked at her ears, on her fingers, around her wrists, from the silver fabric and lace of her gown. Even the tips of her silver-polished nails gleamed with small diamonds.

The overdone brilliance of the king and queen offended Rain's Fey senses. In the Fading Lands, elegance and beauty were found in simplicity rather than ostentation. Ellysetta's unadorned gown and the restrained dazzle of her Tairen's Eye jewelry were far more appealing to him.

The queen's sharp gaze roved over Ellysetta. Her lips tightened as she examined the bracelets and tiara, and Rain knew Bel and the others had been right in offering their
sorreisu kiyr.
Annoura had no doubt hoped the Fey would forget the Celierians' custom of declaring social rank by the quantity and value of the jewels they wore. Instead, each one of Ellysetta's crystals surpassed the combined worth of all Annoura and Dorian's diamonds.

Finished with her perusal, Annoura arched a mocking silvered brow that set Rain's teeth on edge. His expression, however, remained stone blank. He would rather dance naked before the entire court than give Celieria's queen the satisfaction of knowing she could annoy him.

"My dear," the queen purred to Ellysetta, "you must meet the ladies of our Great Houses. Jiarine, Lady Montevero, will introduce you.”

Annoura waved and a sapphire-bedecked young woman came eagerly to the queen's side. Her large, silver-lidded eyes swept over Ellysetta, and a too-sweet smile curved her pretty lips. Rain didn't like the look in her eyes or the hint of darkness that clung to her neatly packaged form. She reminded him too much of the Kelissande creature who took such pleasure in wounding his
shei'tani's
heart.

"That is unnecessary," Rain interrupted, flashing a cold look at Lady Jiarine. "Lord Corrias has graciously offered to introduce us”

The silver lace fan in Annoura's hand snapped open and pumped drafts of air onto the queen's flushed cheeks. "How kind of him”

Now Rain permitted the barest hint of a smile to reach his eyes. "Indeed.”

«Must you go out of your way to annoy her?»
Marissya asked in an aggrieved tone.

«Only when she begs to be annoyed.»
The queen might enjoy playing her game of Trumps, but her attempt to use Ellysetta as a pawn would stop tonight. If Annoura persisted, she would soon discover that a Celierian queen was no match for a Fey Tairen Soul.

"Corrias is going to introduce you?" Dorian gave a hearty smile, either ignoring or oblivious to his wife's stifled pout. "You couldn't ask for a better man to steer you through this court's shark-infested waters.”

"Then we shall be well served." Rain gave a shallow bow.

As Rain turned to leave, the king's voice stopped him. "Be sure he introduces you to Lords Morvel and Barrial. Both have indicated their interest in pursuing closer ties to the Fey. I understand the Feyreisa's sisters will soon be of marriageable age." Ellie gasped in surprise, as did the courtiers close enough to hear the king's comment. A rapid murmuring rose up around them. "A happy way to strengthen the bond between our two countries, wouldn't you say?”