"Do you really think this could work?"

"Aiyah" she said. "1 do."

For the first time since he'd stepped into the suite, she felt hope flicker inside him.

Unfortunately, when Adrial awoke a bell later, he didn't share his brother's interest. Instead of embracing the idea—or even considering it—he shook his head. "I will not leave Talisa."

"But, Adrial," Ellysetta protested, "if you stay, you'll die. This gives you a chance, at least—hope that you can still find joy together in this lifetime."

Adrial smiled gently. "I know you mean well, Feyreisa. And I appreciate the idea—truly, I do. But my place is at my shei’tani’s side. I cannot leave her." He rose to his feet and adjusted the straps of the Fey'cha belts crisscrossed over his chest. "We should go now, Rowan. We've been away long enough."

Rowan's eyes fell, but without a word, he followed his younger brother to the door.

"Adrial..." Ellysetta followed them. "Please. Stay with her if you must for as long as you can, but before the bond madness has you in its grip, before you take your own life or force Rowan to slay you, please reconsider. The Fey are too few. Every life is precious. We can't afford to lose you—or Talisa, for that matter."

Adrial hesitated, then nodded before he stepped out the door.

The war council continued past the first silver bells of night. Together, and with the aid of Bel's Spirit weaves, they examined scenario after scenario for the coming battle of Kreppes and the naval invasion of Great Bay.

"There's one last possibility we must consider," Rain told the assembly. "Celieria City." He paced over to the wall of maps and pulled out the map of Celieria City and Great Bay. "We must assume the Eld are here in the city, and we must assume they can simply open gateways inside the city and release their armies directly. We cannot leave the city unprotected. When Prince Dorian goes to King's Point, we must leave an experienced commander with enough forces to ensure the safety of the city."

"The queen will be here," said Dorian. "She will oversee the defenses of the city."

Rain's expression turned to stony blankness. A glance at Bel, Gaelen, and Tajik showed similar reactions. Queen Annoura's blatant distrust of the Fey would make her an uneasy ally at best. He didn't trust her to put her people's safety above her own animosity towards the Fey.

Reading their doubts, Dorian bristled. "Ser vel Serranis has already checked the queen for Mage Marks. She bears none. I can think of no reason why I should not entrust the safety of the city to her, as I always have in my absence. Lord Corrias will be at her disposal, as will Lord General Voth. Both of them have ample experience in military matters."

Rain exchanged a brief glance with Bel. What choice did they have? Despite their concerns, she was Dorian's queen and the ruler of Celieria in her own right. Reluctantly, Rain inclined his head. "If that is your will, doreh shabeila de. I suggest, however, that we leave a contingent of Fey here in the city to aid her in the event that the Mages do open a portal within the gates."

«The regiments remaining in the city should be checked weekly for Mage Marks, Gaelen remarked on a private weave. «And we should check all other troops before they depart. No sense in leaving a fangtooth in the woodpile.»

«If there were time, I would agree,» Rain replied, «but we cannot delay our departure to EIvia.» «I could send for the dahl'reisen.»

Rain's muscles clenched in instant protest. «Out of the question.» No matter how much he might trust Gaelen now-— no matter even that Rain was technically dahl’reisen himself— putting his faith in warriors who walked the Shadowed Path was an altogether different matter. «Even if Dorian would approve it, I would not. I could never trust them. You saw the same thing I did in Orest.»

«I cannot deny some dahl'reisen have chosen to serve the Eld; but the dahl'reisen who serve the Brotherhood are not so devoid of honor. They remember what it was to be Fey, and they fight each day against the Dark.»

«Do you believe in their honor so deeply you would risk your life to prove it?»

«Aiyah,» Gaelen answered without hesitation.

«And do you trust them so completely you would also risk Ellysetta's life?»

Thick black lashes shuttered the piercing ice blue of Gaelen's eyes for a brief moment as he cast his gaze downward. «Perhaps not,» he admitted.

«Neither would I,» Rain agreed. «So do not speak of it again. The Fey have survived and fought the Eld for millennia without knowing who was Mage-claimed. Tempting as it may be to know which mortals have been turned, I will not fight off the wolves by inviting a tyrant into our midst.» He straightened from the table and directed his attention to King Dorian. "The day grows late. We have accomplished much today, but now Ellysetta and I must depart."

"Will you not stay the night, at least?" the king asked.

"There is no time. We must travel swiftly if we are to have any chance of reaching Danael and Elvia in time. I must take my leave of you. My lords." He nodded to the assembled war council. "Cann." To the brown-eyed border lord, he offered a warmer smile of friendship and a handclasp. "Be well, my friend. And good luck... with everything." He let his eyes say the words his lips did not.

"Same to you. Rain."