"Amarynth? The undying flower?" Ellysetta had seen mention of Amarynth in the ancient tales and Fey poetry she'd read all her life. Supposedly, the flowers bloomed for a hundred years and had special magical properties. "I always thought they were just a legend."

"So they have seemed even to the Fey for most of these last thousand years. We call them the flower of life. They bloom only in the footsteps of a fellana who is with child."

"The gift is a great one," Marissya said, "but it can be exhausting." At Ellysetta's blank look, she explained, "When a Fey woman is with child, her gifts are the strongest they will ever be. The ground around her literally blooms with life. To share that magic, she walks the land. It wasn't so bad before the Mage Wars—Amarynth grew abundantly—but after the Wars, there were no births. The Amarynth faded. By the time I became pregnant with Kieran…Well, let's just say I had plenty of exercise for twelve months."

Beside her, Dax made a haggard face. "We," he interjected. "We had plenty of exercise. I measured it. Four thousand miles we walked, and that's not counting the miles spent going from house to house blessing all the other matepairs who were hoping some of Marissya's fellana magic would spread to them." He shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Best you and Rain pray for a sudden epidemic of fertility among the Fey before the gods shower their gifts upon you. By my reckoning, the first matepair to carry will need to run, not walk, the Fading Lands even to make a dent."

"That doesn't sound so bad." Ellysetta leapt over another kaddah plant, spreading her arms as her body momentarily took flight. "I've discovered I like to run." Rain smiled.

Eld ~ Boura Fell

His hand was trembling again.

Vadim Maur clasped his palms together, squeezing his fingers tight, and looked across his desk at Gethen Nour, one of the Mage's most promising former apprentices who had long ago joined the rank of Primages. "I'm sure you've heard that Kolis has recently disappointed me."

Though he tried to hide it, Gethen couldn't completely restrain his instinctive flinch. Kolis's fate had become common talk in the Mage Halls upstairs.

"He still lives," Vadim assured him. Then he smiled. "Unfortunately for him."

Gethen managed to keep his gaze steady. "I hope never to disappoint you, master."

The High Mage nodded. "That is my hope, too, Gethen. And now you have an opportunity to remind me how skillfully you can serve me." Three stripes adorned the cuffs of Gethen's blue Mage robes, only two less than those Primages who served on the Mage Council. Vadim wasn't going to make the same mistake he'd made with Kolis. This time, his envoy would be a full-ranked Mage, as experienced as he was powerful.

Nour gave a quiet cough to clear his throat. "Master?"

"You will take Kolis's place in Celieria." He eyed the younger man critically. Nour wasn't half as pretty as Kolis had been, but his body was tall and firm, his features appealing enough that he had no shortage of willing bed partners. His hair was thick and dark, his eyes a shrewd forest green. That was a plus. Queen Annoura preferred brunettes, the better to set off her own fair beauty. "Kolis's umagi in the court will smooth your path into the queen's inner circle."

"Forgive me, master," Nour ventured cautiously, "but I thought the Fey had left Celieria City and our plans there were uncovered."

"We suffered a setback, yes, but our work in Celieria City is not done. Dorian still sits on the throne, and after all these years, it appears he's finally grown steel in his spine. He is arming the keeps along the borders. That doesn't suit my plans. I'll take Celieria by force if I must, but I prefer to save our strength and resources for the Fey."

The Primage bowed his head. "Of course, master. When do you wish me to depart?"

"Tonight. Kolis's umagi will gain you entrance to the court and access to the queen. Dorian must be controlled, rendered ineffective, or removed. One way or another, I want the hand of Eld guiding Celieria's throne four months hence, before the night of the new moons."

"I will not fail you, master."

"If you do, you will do so only once." Vadim's left hand began to tremble again. The Mage rose to his feet and clasped the shaking hand behind his back. "There is one other thing, Nour."

Gethen's face settled into an expression of mild curiosity. "Master?"

"You will find a way to bring the Tairen Soul's truemate to me. Alive. Before she completes the matebond with him."

The Primage's jaw went slack, and for one brief moment alarm flashed openly in his eyes. He tried to rally, dropping his gaze and covering his gape with a forced cough. "Forgive me, master, but every Mage in Boura Fell knows the Fey have taken the girl through the Faering Mists. No Mage can reach her now. Such a feat is beyond even your vast power, Great One."

"We will see about that," Vadim snapped. He took a breath and forcibly calmed his temper. "I am not asking you to reach her in the Fading Lands, Nour. I'm telling you to find a way to draw her out. The girl's family has still not been found. They've not entered Orest, but the same scouts who spotted the Tairen Soul reported a powerful redirection weave spun around the Garreval. I find myself wondering why the Fey would trouble to spin such a weave if they were just passing through to the Fading Lands."

"You think the girl's family is there?"