"Don't worry," Ellie rushed to reassure her. "They've sworn the same oath not to read your thoughts or eavesdrop on our conversations. You can trust them," she added when Selianne continued to look skittish. "Fey don't lie, and they won't betray a sworn oath.”

"If you say so, Ellie," Selianne muttered, but she didn't look very reassured.

Her fear was understandable. Sel was terrified the Fey-or, worse, Rain-would discover that Sel's mother was Eld rather than Sorrelian as everyone believed. Considering Rain's especially vehement loathing of his ancient enemies, even Ellie feared what he might do if he ever discovered the secret.

Before Ellie could say anything else, a mocking voice announced from behind her, "Well, well. Ellie Baristani. Fancy seeing you here.”

Selianne grimaced and bent close to whisper, "Sorry ... I meant to warn you.”

With a sinking feeling in her stomach, Ellie turned to find her childhood nemesis, Kelissande Minset, standing just inside the cathedral entrance. She was staring straight at Ellie, her summer-blue eyes positively glacial while her lips curved in a cloyingly sweet, mocking smile. A handsome young nobleman stood at Kelissande's side, looking haughty and rather brittle.

"Kelissande," Ellie greeted.

Daughter of one of the wealthiest bankers in the city, Kelissande was dressed as finely as a noblewoman. Her gown was an elegant confection of blue watered silk, sapphires and diamonds dripped at her throat and ears, and on her left hand she wore a huge new diamond ring circled by several rows of small sapphires in varying shades of blue. Kelissande's gaze swept over Ellie's equally elegant saffron silk gown, and her smile tightened. "I see the Fey have been improving your wardrobe.”

Ellie returned a smooth smile, knowing Kelissande Minset could find no fault with Ellie's appearance. "Actually, it was the queen who was kind enough to ask her dressmakers to attend me." She saw Kelissande's fingers clench and changed the subject. "I didn't realize you attended services here.”

"Kelissande just got betrothed," Selianne said. "She and her intended, Ser Challen Sonneval, were meeting with Greatfather Tivrest to plan their own wedding. Ser Sonneval, may I introduce my friend Ellysetta Baristani, who was herself recently betrothed to the Tairen Soul.”

"Ah." The young nobleman finally spoke. His voice was a bored drawl, thick with affected court accents. "I had heard talk about the Tairen Soul and a woodcarver's daughter." Cold brown eyes swept over Ellie from head to toe. "Interesting.”

Ellie blinked at his chilling rudeness, and beside her, Ravel took a threatening step forward that made Ser Sonneval's eyes widen.

"Nei, Ser Ravel, it's all right." Ellysetta lifted a hand to forestall any trouble.

Around her waist she wore the black Fey'cha dagger that Bel had given her when he'd bloodsworn himself to her service. Her fingers closed around the silk-wrapped hilt, and the feel of Bel's bloodsworn blade in her hand filled her with reassuring confidence.

"It is happy indeed that we live in such enlightened times,”

she continued, "that a woodcarver's daughter can wed a king and a banker's daughter can wed a Ser.”

Ser Sonneval paled, then flushed as the blades in her remark struck home. Beside him, Kelissande's eyes blazed with scarcely contained fury.

Keeping her expression composed and polite, Ellie finished coolly, "On behalf of my family, I offer you our felicitations, Kelissande. May you find all the happiness you deserve in your marriage.”

Ravel stepped forward, his face carved from stone. "Mistress Minset, Ser Sonneval, I must ask you both to leave. The Feyreisa's devotions begin soon, and the Fey will be warding the isle.”

As he spoke, two dozen warriors spread out along the perimeters of the isle to spin protective weaves that would keep anyone from entering or leaving the isle as long as Ellysetta was there. Since canon law forbade anyone to enter the Grand Cathedral bearing weapons, the Fey had insisted on erecting their barricades of magic to protect Ellysetta each time she was there, and though he spluttered in outrage and threatened to tell the king, not even the Archbishop himself had been able to stop them.

"She truly hates me," Ellie murmured as Kelissande and her betrothed took their leave.

"She's never liked anyone to best her," Selianne said. "The way she was crowing before you got here, you'd think she was wedding a lord, rather than a mere Ser. He's as poor as a dorn, of course-the seventh son of a small southern lord-but he's of noble blood. He liked the size of her brideprice, and her father liked the blueness of his blood. Personally, I think she couldn't stand the idea of your wedding the Fey king, and this was the best she could do to trump you." Selianne rolled her eyes. "It's a shame you'll miss her wedding. It's sure to be a grand event.”

"I'd have missed it anyway," Ellie replied dryly. "I sincerely doubt Kelissande Minset would invite me.”

"Ah, but you're the Tairen Soul's bride now. Of course she'd invite you.”

"Then I'm even sorrier to miss the spectacle of Kelissande Minset currying my favor." They both laughed at the preposterous idea.

The sound of Selianne's laughter and the familiar sight of her bright smile and dancing eyes sent a wave of love rushing over Ellie. She'd missed this so much these last few days: giggling with her very best friend in the world. They'd spent so many years growing up together, sharing confidences and laughter, hopes and fears. Outside of her own family, there was no one in the world she loved more.