Ellysetta's fingers tightened around his. The Elf s attention switched to her, and she shivered as if she could feel his gaze prying into her soul.

But that was what it always felt like to be Seen by an Elf. As if your skin had been peeled back and your mind and soul had been opened up for inspection. All of the Elves possessed the talent to some degree, but with certain of their number, the effect was decidedly pronounced.

This Elf seemed one of the latter.

"Las, shei’tani." After a grief-racked night of her weaving peace upon him, he was grateful to return the favor. He ran a thumb over the back of her hand in a soothing caress, but with each subtle stroke, he could feel her tension rising higher. She was afraid of the Elf. Or, rather, unnerved by his presence and disturbed by his gaze. "This Elf is a Seer, like Hawksheart. It is his power you feel."

"He is probing me?”

"Not with deliberate force."

Her brows drew together. "It feels deliberate. And very unsettling."

"Build a barrier in your mind. Use the strongest weave of Spirit you can in a pattern like this." He demonstrated a dense, complex pattern of lavender threads. "It won't stop him from Seeing more than you'd like, but it will help you bear his gaze without discomfort."

She did as he suggested and together they approached the blond Elf, who introduced himself as Fanor Farsight of the Deep Woods clan.

The Elf fixed his penetrating gaze on Rain and said, "Galad Hawksheart, Lord of Valerian, Prince of the Deep Woods, King of Elvia and Guardian of the Dance, sends you greetings, Rainier vel’En Daris of the Fey."

Rain inclined his head. "I accept his greetings, and I offer his envoys welcome to our camp and my deepest thanks for your aid last night. Our hospitality is not so fine here as it would be in Dharsa, but we offer you all that we have." Rain waved towards the center of the makeshift camp. "Please join us and refresh yourselves."

"Alaneth. With pleasure, we do accept."

Fanor Farsight nodded and he and his Elves followed Rain and Ellysetta into the center of the gathered Fey. Earth masters spun a simple wooden table and stools for their use, and set out a platter of journeycakes while Water masters filled cups with cool water drawn from a nearby stream.

Fanor was the only Elf to take a seat. The others remained standing in a semicircle at his back, but one of them leaned forward to pluck a journeycake and a cup of water from the table. He took a bite of the journeycake and passed it to the Elf beside him, then took a sip from the cup and passed that on, too. The gesture was an Elvish sign of courtesy acceptance of Feyan hospitality shared by all the members Farsight's party. The last Elf to eat and drink handed the final bit of the journeycake and the near-empty cup to Fanor, who consumed what was left.

Rain waited for the Elf lord to finish before he leaned forward and put his palms on the table. "I must tell you, Farsight, I am as surprised as I am grateful that the Elves have decided to join us in this war after all."

"You misunderstand, Worldscorcher." The Elf’s expression did not change. "We know what you wish from us, but that Song ended before it could begin. The aid you seek from the Elves can no longer help you."

Rain's eyes flickered, the only outward hint of the anger coiling in his veins. "If you are not here to join us, then why did you come?"

"Because my king sent me to escort you and your mate safely to Navahele."

"Keita? Why?” Rain's shoulders drew back.

"You already know the answer. Your mate calls a Song in the Dance. My king wishes to understand that Song better."

Anger rose, swift and furious, threatening to rip the fragile rebuilt barriers in his mind. Ellysetta laid a hand over his, and that warm touch gave him the strength to stifle his Rage.

He drew a short, hard breath and curled his free hand in a fist. "I do not understand you or your king," he said in a low voice. The Eld slaughtered thirteen hundred Fey and nearly five thousand Celierians at Orest and Teleon less than a month ago; as you saw yourself last night, the High Mage hunts my mate to claim her soul; we're facing a new Army of Darkness; and still you tell me the Elves will do nothing to help us?" Despite his efforts, anger spiked. He flattened his palms on the wooden surface of the table and half rose from his chair. "What will you do when the Fey are gone from this world and there are none left with the strength or will to champion the Light! What good will your Dance be then?”

Rather than taking offense, the Elf lord crossed his hands ever his heart and bowed his head in a polite Elvish gesture. The Elves have Seen your plight and the dangers that exist for your truemate. Our king understands what hangs in the balance, but the way is not certain. That is why you must come to Navahele." Farsight turned to Ellysetta. The Song call is more powerful than any living Elf has ever Seen.

More powerful even than the Worldscorcher's Song. Many will die; that much is certain. How many will live is yet to be |Seen."

Ellysetta flinched, and Rain wrapped an arm around her in a protective gesture. "Enough, Elf," he growled. "You will not frighten my mate with Elvish visions of doom."

The Elf looked puzzled. "Tenala. Forgive me. But how did I offer fright, when your own Eye of Truth has already shown a much grimmer future in greater detail?"

"The future Shei'Kess showed us is only a possibility, not a certainty," Rain replied with an aggressive thrust of his chin.

"Banas ," the Elf agreed, "but the possible outcomes of the Song are far fewer than they were when Ambassador Brightwing extended my king's first invitation this summer. Lord Hawksheart regrets you did not come then."