As they neared the Baristani home, Ellie's step faltered and her stomach clenched in nervous knots. Her mother stood in the doorway of their house. Someone had obviously run ahead to announce her coming, and Mama did not look happy. As the first of the Fey neared the Baristani residence, the procession smoothly parted in two separate columns that circled around the sides of the house like a black river flowing around an obstruction in the effluvial plain. Within moments the house was surrounded and Ellie found herself deposited on the doorstep, looking up at her mother's grim face.

The twins ran to her, chattering excitedly about the Tairen Soul and fire cages and having been very afraid though now they weren't. Lauriana listened with half an ear, then shooed them into the house.

"What's this about the Tairen Soul and fire cages, Ellysetta?" she demanded as Ellie drew close. Her voice was sharp, filled with a brittle combination of fear and anger. She held no affection for the Fey. In her opinion, magic was the scourge of the earth. "And why is this … this army of Fey bringing you home?”

Ellie cast a glance at the surrounding avid faces of the neighbors. "Can we talk about this inside, please, Mama?" There was a note of desperation in her voice.

Fortunately, Lauriana firmly believed that respectable folk did not air laundry on the front steps. "Very well. Get yourself inside" Her eyebrows shot up into her hairline as Belliard vel Jelani and four other Fey—including the two who'd seen to Lillis and Lorelle—followed Ellie up the steps. "Sers, thank you for escorting my daughter, but you need not follow her into our home." Her teeth made an audible click as she gave the men a grimly pleasant smile. "Especially as you have not been invited.”

Belliard gave her a deep bow. "Eternal apologies, honored one, but we must enter. We protect the Feyreisa. We go where she goes.”

"The Fey-who?" Lauriana turned to Ellie. "What is he talking about?”

"Please, Mama. Let them in, if that's what they want. Let's go inside." Ellie glanced again at the crowd and tried to direct her mother towards the privacy of their home.

"And what are they doing?" Outraged, Lauriana turned to glare at a group of warriors weaving an intricate, nearly invisible mass of shining magic over the front of the house. "You there! Stop that this instant!" Four of the Fey behind her took advantage of her distraction to slip into the house. Belliard remained, his gaze intent and watchful as he waited for Ellie.

"Mama, I'll explain inside. Please!" Ellie tugged her mother across the threshold as yet another group of Fey took up guard beside the front steps. The rest seemed to melt away into the shadows of alleyways and rooftops. Ellie knew they were still there, unseen. She could feel them, like a ripple of wind on the back of her neck.

Inside the house, the five Fey guards positioned themselves by the doors and windows of the large main room. They stood silently, arms crossed over their chests, fingers a mere breath away from the countless knives they wore. After one look at their stern faces and resolute stance, Lauriana did not even attempt to oust them. Instead, she turned a dark look on Ellie.

"Well, young lady, what is the meaning of this?”

"It's a long story, Mama.”

Lauriana crossed her arms over her chest. "I have time, Ellysetta.”

Ellie bit her lip. When Mama called her Ellysetta and had that darkling look in her eye, she meant business. "Well … I took the twins to see the Feyreisen like you asked me to …" She related the series of incredible events, leaving out the more alarming parts like the bit about Rainier vel'En Daris claiming her as his shei'tani. "… and he sent the Fey to escort me home … and, well, here we are." Conscious of the five pairs of Fey eyes watching her steadily and her mother's patent disbelief, Ellie flushed and stared at her feet. Her story was a fabrication of partial truths laid over gaping chasms of omitted pertinent facts.

Before Lauriana could take Ellie to task, a commotion outside the front door drew her attention. "Now what?" Scowling, she marched to the door and threw it open.

The enormous crowd outside had grown even larger. It now included the strangers who had followed the Fey, nosy neighbors in search of gossip, and, to Ellie's dismay, Den Brodson. He had bullied his way to the front of the pack and was now loudly demanding to know what was going on. Den's mother, a plump woman with ruddy cheeks and frizzy brown hair, stood beside him, clutching his elbow and adding her shrill voice to his.

When she caught sight of Lauriana, Talla Brodson waved a frantic hand and yelled, "Lauriana Baristani, what in the name of the gods is going on? Tell these Fey to let us pass!”

At Lauriana's insistence—and a subtle nod from Belliard—the Fey allowed the butcher's wife and her son to enter the house. As they passed the Fey guards, Talla sniffed and stuck her nose in the air, while Den puffed out his chest and eyed the warriors haughtily.

Once inside the house, Den's haughty look changed to a scowl, and he marched across the room towards Ellie. "What's the meaning of this, Ellysetta Baristani?" he demanded in a bullying tone. "You have quite a bit of explaining to do, my girl." He reached out to grab her arm in what was sure to be a bruising grip, but before he could lay a finger on her, the sound of unsheathing swords cut the air. Den, his mother, Ellie, and Lauriana froze. Each of the five guards held naked steel in his hands. Though Belliard vel Jelani was still easily the most frightening of the Fey, now even the youthful smiling one looked like death waiting to be set free. Belliard tested his thumb on the edge of his blade, eyed Den's hand, and shook his head ever so gently.