Rain looked down at Ellie, his eyes steady, his face an impassive mask.

She took a breath and gathered her composure. "No, my lord. No problem." She put her hand back on Rain's wrist, and his emotions surged up her arm at the first touch: determination, pride, a hint of remorse, but not much. She had a gift, one he was determined she would accept and learn to use. As frightening as that seemed, she'd already been using some measure of that gift all her life. Did it really matter whether she called it magic or an eye for an honest man? Her shoulders squared. Her chin lifted. «Lord Morvel will honor his contracts to the word, but not one letter more.»

A quick, surprised glance brushed her cheek, then warm approval flowed across her senses. The arm beneath her fingers lost a bit of its tension. «Beylah vo, Ellysetta.»

She gave a small nod, but kept her eyes fixed forward and forced a pleasant expression as Lord Corrias introduced yet another noble couple. "Lord Durbin, Lady Durbin. It is a pleasure to meet you both"

When they met Lord Cannevar Barrial, Rain could tell that Ellysetta liked him more than anyone else save Teleos. So did he. The border lord had a sturdy, no-nonsense look about him. His clothes were impeccably fine, but tailored for practicality with no long swags or bulk of fabric to hinder him should a ballroom unexpectedly turn into a battlefield. He wore two long, jeweled daggers at his waist—one on each side—and Rain would be surprised if both weren't razor sharp and made to fit in Lord Barrial's hand with comfortable ease.

The most intriguing thing about Lord Barrial, however, was the heavy gold chain draped around his throat—or rather, the large, cabochon Tairen's Eye crystal hanging from it, surrounded by a sunburst of diamonds in a graduated rainbow of shades. How had Cannevar Barrial, a Celierian border lord, come to possess a Fey warrior's sorreisu'kiyr?

"Have you or a member of your family performed some special service to the Fey, Lord Barrial?" Rain asked when the introductions were complete. He gestured to the jewel around Barrial's throat. "A Tairen's Eye that size doesn't usually find its way out of Fey hands.”

"It's been in my family for centuries." The border lord's brow lifted. "Who knows? Perhaps there is a Fey ancestor somewhere far back in the Barrial family tree.”

"Perhaps there is," Rain acknowledged seriously. "Guard it well, Lord Barrial. There are those who would kill for such a prize.”

Lord Barrial gave a smile that changed him instantly from wealthy courtier to dangerous predator. "The warning is appreciated, My Lord Feyreisen, but unnecessary. I am well able to defend what belongs to me. It's something of a requirement for surviving on the borders.”

Rain liked the man all the more. "Dax tells me you have several children.”

"I do. Four sons and one lovely daughter who recently wed the heir of my neighbor Lord Sebourne, whom you met yesterday.”

"Then I am doubly in your debt for your words in Council yesterday and your willingness to entertain a close connection with the Fey. I hope your support did not cause a breach between you and your daughter's bond-family.”

Lord Barrial smiled. "Sebourne and I share long years between us. It would take more than a simple disagreement in Council to set us at each other's throats." The smile faded, and seriousness took its place. "He's not a bad sort. Pompous, yes, but the zealous dislike of dahl'reisen is a recent development. Too many of the attacks have been focused on his lands, and he's begun seeing enemies in every shadow. That's one reason I agreed to the king's request. My daughter lives on Sebourne land now—or will once she and Colum return from their bridal voyage. For her sake, I'll do whatever I can to help put an end to those attacks.”

"Was your daughter betrothed at a young age, Lord Barrial?" Ellysetta interrupted.

"Why do you ask?”

Rain pressed his fingers against her waist. «Shei'tani, leave it. I have said I will speak with him.»

Ellie firmed her jaw and blurted, "I don't approve of betrothing young children. They should have a choice of whom they wed. A chance to find love.”

The border lord drew back in surprise and Rain cast her a reproving glance. Blood rushed to her cheeks, but she set her face in a mulish expression and held Lord Barrial's gaze.

Rain sighed.«You must learn to trust me, Ellysetta.”

Looking from Rain to Ellie, Lord Barrial said quietly, "I would never willingly do anything to cause my children unhappiness. Nor would I propose a union that was unwelcome.”

"The Feyreisa is very protective of her sisters' happiness," Rain told him. "And she was recently betrothed to a man not of her choosing. She has asked that no betrothal offers be made to her parents at this time.”

"Ah." Understanding dawned. Lord Barrial nodded to Ellysetta. "I heard of your betrothal, and your day in court. On the borders, happiness is too fleeting to waste a moment of it trapped in a cold marriage. Talisa wed the day of her twenty-fifth birthday, by her own choosing, because she had never found another who suited her better than Colum diSebourne. It is not the love match I wanted for her, but they are friends." The border lord bowed to Rain. "My offer was merely that—an offer. Any bond between us is negotiable.”

Rain returned the bow with a nod, and Lord Barrial moved away. When he was gone, Rain turned to Ellie and shook his head. «You may think you are a coward, shei'tani, but you are mistaken. No other woman in this room, with the possible exception of Annoura or Marissya, would have challenged a man of Lord Barrial's standing as you just did.» He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss upon it. «When it comes to those you love, Ellysetta, you are fierce as any tairen.»