"So the Eld are on the move, planning an attack, and you came to warn your sister," Rain said. "And how did you come by this information?”

Gaelen shrugged and left off taunting the others for the moment. He selected a crystal goblet and pulled the stopper from a flagon of pinalle. "My men reported Eld troop movements along the western border not long after I stumbled across an Eld raiding party in Norban.”

"Your men?”

"The Brotherhood of Shadows. Dahl'reisen who still protect the Fading Lands." He poured a stream of pale blue liquid into his goblet, filling it generously. "We guard the borders against Eld attack.”

"The rumors are true, then.”

"Some are. I don't eat small Celierian children for breakfast." He lifted the goblet to his lips, met Kieran's angry stare over the rim, and smiled wickedly. "Infant Fey playing at being warriors are much more satisfying.”

Rain's eyes narrowed. "Kieran is your sister's son, and a fine warrior. Young, but stronger in Earth than any other Fey in the Fading Lands. He holds a master's strength in Air and Fire as well, plus a fourth-level talent in Spirit and Water. If you prick him one too many times, vel Serranis, you will regret it.”

"I doubt that. He may be my sister's son, but he has his father's reflexes.”

"I'm so glad you've returned to us, Gaelen," Dax announced dryly from the doorway. "I'd forgotten what a pleasure it was to have you around." He, Marissya, and her quintet entered the suite.

Gaelen raised his glass to Dax. "You never were and never will be good enough for her, but at least you're Fey and possess some minor ability to ensure her protection and happiness. Not like that worthless mortal Marikah chose." He downed the rest of the pinalle in one swallow and set the goblet aside. "But enough of that.” He raised a hand. The suite doors closed with a bang and bolted. Shining nets of Air and Spirit shot out from his fingertips to seal the room. It happened so quickly that even Rain was left blinking in surprise.

Galen arched a dark brow "I am a master of Earth, Air, Spirit, and Fire, and a fifth-level talent in Water, mentored in the Dance of Knives by the great Shannisorran v'En Celay himself." He looked at Kieran, and his face hardened. "I was the sharpest blade in the Fading Lands, and still the Mages murdered my sister while she was in my presence and under my protection. One brief hesitation, one split second cost her life." He met Kieran's gaze steadily. "If I demand perfection, young Fey, it is because nothing but perfection will do. Not when protecting the Fading Lands, and certainly not when protecting a shei'dalin who has truemated a Tairen Soul and can bring the Dark Lord back from living death.”

"You said you stumbled across an Eld raiding party," Rain interrupted. "Tell us what you know. Marissya, verify every word he speaks.”

When his sister's hands closed around his arm, Gaelen lifted his chin. "Three days ago I found the remains of a Celierian woodsman just outside Norban. He'd been tortured and slain by an Eld raiding party led by an apprentice Mage. The Eld were seeking information about a red-haired child found there some twenty-four years ago." His gaze flickered to Ellysetta, touching on her flame-red hair. "I tracked the Eld, and found them in the final moments of a battle with two Fey”

"Truth," Marissya said. "That must have been Sian and Torel.”

Rain frowned. "The Fey-Sian and Torel-they were slain?”

"Aiyah. One was already dead. The other took his last breath before I could reach him. They died with honor, as warriors should." Gaelen reached into his tunic and tugged two pendants free. "I have their sorreisu kiyr to verify my claim.”

Marissya touched the stones and closed her eyes. "These are the crystals of Sian and Torel. And their death happened as Gaelen has said.”

"Do you have any idea what the woodsman might have known about the Feyreisa that was so important a Mage would come to interrogate and kill him for it?" Rain asked.

"The woodsman's memories were gone," Gaelen answered. "Someone-your Fey warriors, by the look of it-erased them before the Mage got to him.”

"If the woodsman was already dead, and Sian and Torel died before you reached them," Bel said quietly, "how is it you know they erased his memories?”

Gaelen hesitated. "You are observant, Belliard vel Jelani." He tilted his head in acknowledgment. "As I said, I'm a master of Air, Earth, Fire, and Spirit, and a fifth-level talent in Water. From what I can tell"-he met Rain's gaze without flinching-"I am also a fourth-level talent in Azrahn." Marissya gasped. Both her quintet and Ellysetta's suddenly looked alert and deadly. Gaelen bestowed a gentle smile on his sister and freely condemned himself. "I summoned the man's soul back from the dead to learn what I could before Firing his body”

"Oh, Gaelen.”

"Use of Azrahn is a banishing offense," Kieran said.

Gaelen gave a bark of laughter. "That's not much of a deterrent when one is already banished for far worse, now is it, puppy? Besides, Fey law also forbids tampering with Celierian memories, so I am not the only one to break Fey laws when the situation warrants." He eyed Rain coolly. "I never expected to walk again in the Fading Lands. If you choose to deny me entrance because I called Azrahn as a dahl'reisen, so be it.”

"I will not deny you entrance. But you will not call Azrahn again. It is forbidden.”