"Again, you've just proved my point. We should be worried about Fey lives, not Celierian." Tenn crossed his arms. "You've already committed one thousand to the borders, another thousand to Orest, and the five hundred in Teleon. Two thousand more perhaps we could spare, but no more than that or we might as well tear down the Mists ourselves and welcome the Eld within."

Rain regarded the map with a frown. Two thousand was too few, but Tenn had a point. Until the Elves arrived, he could not afford to send more without weakening the Fading Lands' own defenses. He needed more warriors. Or a way to make the ones he had more effective.

Sequestered in the Hall of Scrolls, Ellysetta pored over book after book, scroll after scroll, until the stack of texts she'd read began to outnumber the dwindling piles she hadn't. She lost all track of time, until a pair of booted feet entered her field of vision and she looked up to find Rain standing beside her, his lavender eyes filled with amusement and affection and a hint of scolding.

"I was beginning to worry you'd gotten lost in the city, but now I see you've never moved from this spot."

"I've been reading."

"So I see."

"You told me about the Hall of Scrolls, but you never mentioned how big it was. There are millions of scrolls and books here." Her Fey-lore-hungry mind still boggled at the thought. Histories lost to the world, tales and legends no living man had ever heard. Who knew what she might yet find? "Millions!"

Rain's mouth curved up at the corner. "Aiyah, shei'tani, but you needn't read them all in one sitting." He put a hand beneath her arm, helping her to her feet. "Come. It's late. Have you eaten?" His gaze drifted to an untouched plate on the neighboring desk.

"Tealah, Venarra's assistant, brought me something, but I wasn't hungry."

His expression turned stern. "Here all day, with no food to sustain you?"

"I could eat something now," she offered to appease him.

"I imagine so. Night has fallen."

Only then did Ellysetta realized that the daylight streaming in from the glass roof above had been supplanted by the bright glow of myriad orbs now shining overhead like stars plucked from the sky. When had that happened? Who cared?

"I found some interesting possibilities."

"You can tell me all about it—over dinner."

"I can't leave now! I've still got all the rest of those books left to read." She pointed to the stacks she hadn't yet touched. "Venarra told me the books will all be returned to their places if I leave, and I don't want to lose count of which ones I've already read."

"She didn't tell you how to set aside the books you want for your next visit?"

"I can do that?"

His lips compressed. "Of course. Here." He walked to the blue circle around the mirror and said, "Mirror, set aside the books Ellysetta Feyreisa requested but has not yet read. Put them back on the table when she returns."

The face in the Mirror murmured in a low voice, "Doreh shabeila de." So shall it be. The stacks of texts Ellysetta had already read disappeared in a flurry of green sparks that shot out in all directions.

"There," Rain said. "The others will be awaiting you when you come back. Now, come with me to the palace and we'll find you some food."

Outside, the sky was dark, the stars abundant and bright, and the Mother and Daughter were waxing crescents riding low on the western horizon. The scent of honeyblossoms and jasmine perfumed the air as Rain and Ellysetta climbed back up the mount towards the gleaming white-and-gold brilliance of the palace. Fairy-flies danced in the shadows of the surrounding gardens.

"How did your meeting with the Massan go?" she asked as they walked.

He shrugged. "As well as could be expected. Tenn and Yulan think I am a fool for risking Fey lives in defense of Celieria. They think I should leave Celieria to its fate and concentrate our efforts and strength on protecting our own. How can I blame them? I felt the same until you reminded me that Celieria's fate is but a preview of our own."

"But you are Defender of the Fey. Command of the Fey army is yours. They cannot interfere with your decisions, can they?"

"Nei, but they can cause distractions and delays I cannot afford. The Eld will move quickly to establish a foothold in Celieria, and they won't be gentle about it. You've seen how well the Mages turn doubt and fear to their advantage. If our warriors go into battle with even the smallest doubt in their minds, the Mages will use it against them. We must be united. It is our only hope of victory."

"Surely the Massan know that."

"They know, and I am counting on their honor to keep our differences private. Tenn thinks I am acting rashly, but so far he does not distrust me enough to risk open Challenge."

She glanced at him, alarmed. "Would he do that? Challenge you?"

They turned down a dimly lit path bordered by scented hedges and rows of blooming flowers…Glimmering fairy-flies darted and whirled from flower to flower, leaving trails of sparkling light in their wake.

"A thousand years ago, no member of the Massan would even have considered it. The Tairen Soul was king, and the Massan only offered guidance and counsel. But this Massan has spent the last thousand years directing our defenses in my stead. It does not sit well with some of them that Rain the mad Feyreisen may actually expect to rule." He gave a brief huff of humorless laughter. "And I criticized Dorian for letting his council usurp his power."