The silver lace fan in Annoura's hand snapped open and pumped drafts of air onto the queen's flushed cheeks. "How kind of him”

Now Rain permitted the barest hint of a smile to reach his eyes. "Indeed.”

«Must you go out of your way to annoy her?» Marissya asked in an aggrieved tone.

«Only when she begs to be annoyed.» The queen might enjoy playing her game of Trumps, but her attempt to use Ellysetta as a pawn would stop tonight. If Annoura persisted, she would soon discover that a Celierian queen was no match for a Fey Tairen Soul.

"Corrias is going to introduce you?" Dorian gave a hearty smile, either ignoring or oblivious to his wife's stifled pout. "You couldn't ask for a better man to steer you through this court's shark-infested waters.”

"Then we shall be well served." Rain gave a shallow bow.

As Rain turned to leave, the king's voice stopped him. "Be sure he introduces you to Lords Morvel and Barrial. Both have indicated their interest in pursuing closer ties to the Fey. I understand the Feyreisa's sisters will soon be of marriageable age." Ellie gasped in surprise, as did the courtiers close enough to hear the king's comment. A rapid murmuring rose up around them. "A happy way to strengthen the bond between our two countries, wouldn't you say?”

«Border lords,» Dax supplied before Rain even asked the question. «Barrial was the one who stood up with Teleos yesterday. He holds the land along the Elden border from Carthage to Kreppes. Morvel controls everything from the Estemere seaport to Norwal.”

Dorian was offering nearly a sixth of the Elden border.

Rain eyed Dorian with new appreciation. The king had been very busy—and much more effective in dealing with his nobles than Rain had been. "Indeed. Such consideration is a great honor to the Baristani family and the Fey.”

"Excellent. My queen and I hope you and your Feyreisa will honor us with your presence at Prince Dorian and Lady Nadela's betrothal ball." The ball would initiate a week of city-wide celebrations leading up to the betrothal ceremony itself.

"We will be there, and we thank you for the honor of the invitation." Rain bowed.

"Your attendance will bring us joy." Dorian smiled and laid his hand over his wife's. Her face was a frozen mask.

«Lillis and little Fey'cha are but children.» Stalking at Rain's right hand side as he and Ellysetta walked away from the throne, Kieran did not even attempt to disguise his displeasure. «.Fey do not sell children, not even to protect Eld border land.»‘

"I don't like the idea of betrothing Lillis and Lorelle to anyone," Ellie whispered at the same time. "They should have a chance to grow up and find someone they can love.”

Rain wove a quick net of Air and Spirit about their small group to ensure privacy before he responded. "It is the offer of alliance that is important, not the manner of bonding “

"Then why would the king mention marriage?" Ellie asked, frowning at Rain.

"He was telling us Lords Morvel and Barrial are willing to garrison Fey warriors in their holdings," Dax said. "Ellysetta, they know the Fey would not leave your family members anywhere in Celieria without a substantial number of warriors to protect them.”

Rain wondered how the king had achieved such a coup. As he'd spent the past few days discovering, reason alone didn't seem much of an inducement to the nobles.

"And," Marissya added, "by publicly inviting you to the Prince's ball and mentioning the possibility of a betrothal between your sisters and two of the Great Houses, the king has also made it clear that you and your family are to be accepted by the other nobles.”

"That's all well and good, but I don't want Mama or Papa thinking high-ranking political marriages are in the girls' best interest. Lillis and Lorelle aren't chattel to be bartered and sold.”

"Las, shei'tani." Rain said. "I will speak to Morvel and Barrial and make it clear that no formal offers of marriage are to be extended to your parents." He dispelled the privacy weaves and turned to the prime minister. "You may begin the introductions, Lord Corrias."

During the next two bells of introductions and polite mingling, Lord Corrias introduced Ellie and Rain to what seemed like hundreds of Celierian nobles and whispered a steady stream of information into Rain's ear as they went, identifying each individual's estate holdings, and what each one stood to gain or lose if the Eld borders were opened for trade. Ellie's head was swimming with the bombardment of information, but Rain seemed to take it in and process it with enviable efficiency.

She stood at Rain's side, trying her best to be "grave and gracious" It was a good thing Master Fellows had told her not to smile, as that would have proven difficult. The Tairen's Eye crown and bracelets, while physically light, discomfitted her. A low, constant hum of power radiated from the crystals, resonating in her skin and setting her nerves on edge.

Despite the king's announcement, many of the approaching nobles made a point of eyeing the sparkling crystals before forcing themselves to bow before the woodcarver's daughter. Some pretended to be more welcoming. They smiled with too-bright smiles, complimented her hair and dress, and murmured concern about yesterday's attack, but she knew their hard, glittering eyes were sizing her up and searching for any little fault in her appearance or behavior that would put Rain to shame. She refused to give it to them. Holding her head high, she greeted each with solemn reserve. Rain, to his credit, kept his temper in check—and was even on occasion rather charming. The nobles who'd come hoping to gawk at a wild tairen and his peasant bride found themselves meeting a Fey king and his reserved queen instead.