"I think we need to teach you moderation," he murmured. "What happened?" Ellie looked at the tree in dismay. "Did I do that?”

"Nei, it wasn't really you, Ellysetta. You weren't weaving magic. You only asked the tree to respond to you. But you must have asked very, very strongly." He shook his head.

"Can you fix it?" She couldn't bear to leave the poor tree like this.

"Ai yah. “

As Ellie watched, Rain's eyes began to glow with summoned power. He gestured with his hands, and silvery white threads of what Ellie now knew was Air wrapped around one of the branches and raised it high overhead. Bright green Earth threads knit the branch back in place. Rain continued, branch by branch, until the fireoak was once more whole and undamaged.

When he was done, Ellie thanked him and whispered a heartfelt apology to the tree, not daring to touch it again lest she feel it quivering like a frightened puppy.

"That was good," Rain said.

"Good? I almost killed the poor tree!”

"But you did not. I want you to try weaving magic.”

"I don't think that's a good idea. I just destroyed a tree without even trying to weave magic. I shudder to think what I might destroy if I was trying ...”

"Shei’tani, trust me. You promised me you would accept instruction.”

"I promised to accept instruction when we reached the Fading Lands," she countered. "We're not there yet”

He opened his mouth, then shut it. A rueful smile tilted up one corner of his mouth. "When you wager with tairen, take care with your words.” Then his expression grew serious. "This is important, Ellysetta. I will not allow you to harm yourself or anything else, but you need to understand what magic you possess, and you need to learn to control it. Both our bond and the tairen depend on it.”

She hesitated in indecision. On the one hand, she was terrified of the magic she seemed to possess. On the other hand, she was desperate to learn how to control it so she could stop herself from weaving it accidentally or with unexpected consequences as she had last night and with Adrial this morning.

"All right," she agreed. "Teach me."

CHAPTER FIVE

Terkaz, Blood Drinker, slake your thirst.

Frathmir, Flesh Eater, feed your hunger.

Boraz, Bone Grinder, mill your dust.

Choutarre, Soul Taker, claim your due.

-Feraz Witchspell

"We'll start with something simple," Rain said. "You've already shown you are strong in Air, and it is weightless and easy enough to direct for what I have in mind. Sit here." He indicated a grassy spot beside the Same River.

Ellysetta sat where he directed.

"Now we'll borrow a little bit of the river and shelter both it and us from the current and the breeze." He lifted his hands and wove a curtain of still Air around them and a small portion of the river near Ellie's feet. She started to dip her toe in, but he stopped her.

"Nei, do not touch the water. The surface must be perfectly still for this exercise." His eyes glowed faintly and a pale blue light shone around his hands. A moment later, the small portion of the river before them was smooth as glass. "There. Now I want you to try to weave enough of a breeze to make the water ripple.”

"How do I do that?”

"Find the silence inside you. Just a moment ago, when you. asked the fireoak tree to respond to you, you found the silence and through it you could see the weaves that make up all living creatures. The silence is the source from which your magic springs. You call the magic from there and let it flow through your body. And when it fills you and becomes you, then you can direct it as you do your own limbs. The process takes effort at first, but eventually the path will become as easy to find when you seek it out as it currently is when you travel it instinctively.”

Once again he guided her through the meditative exercise to find the silent, shining place where the world was lit with glowing threads of magic.

"All around you is Air. You will see it as a soft whiteness. Summon it to you.”

"I see it, but how do I summon it?”

"Much the same way as you asked the fireoak to share its essence with you. Open yourself to it. Imagine that you are a cistern and magic is the water that must flow to fill you.”

Ellie gave it a try, but no shining white light answered her call. "It's not working.”

"I will show you what I mean; then you can try again.”

The shadowy world evaporated in an instant when Rain set aside his sword belts and settled behind her. He pulled her back against him. Tingling warmth raced up her spine as his body pressed against hers. He surrounded her. His thighs cradled hers, his arms covered her own, his fingers interleaved with her own.

"What are you doing?" Her voice came out a bit thready.

"If you were my chadin, my pupil, I would be able to enter your mind to observe your efforts and guide you. Since our bond is currently unfulfilled, I cannot enter your mind yet, but by holding you close this way, you will be able to feel what I do as I call and weave Air. I'm hoping you will be able to emulate my efforts and perform this exercise on your own." Against her cheek, she could feel him smile. "And besides, shei’tani, not a moment passes that I do not seek an opportunity and excuse to touch you”

Pleasure shuddered over her. "If you think I'll be able to concentrate with you snuggled up against me like this, think again," she warned him.