"My name is Rain. You may call me that." He held out his hands to them. "Come, I will show you some magic my father once showed me.”

"You have a father?" Lorelle took his hand without hesitation, though Lillis held back.

"I did. He died in the Mage Wars along with so many of my people. His name was Rajahl vel'En Daris. He was a Tairen Soul, like me." He remembered his father as a proud, somber man, devoted to his mate, his son, and the protection of the Fey. What gentleness his father had retained was reserved for his family, and Rain still treasured the memory of his father's rare, beautiful smiles and his even rarer laughter.

"He died with your mother, the Lady Kiaria, at the Battle of Torrin's Pass," Ellie said.

Rain shot her a startled look. "Aiyah. He did, though I am surprised you know of it. Torrin's Pass was a terrible battle, but very small. I would not have thought it made the history books.”

"It didn't, at least not as more than a footnote. I read about it in an old book of Fey poetry.”

"Ellie reads lots of Fey poetry," Lillis offered, now venturing to put her small hand in his.

"She's read lots and lots about you," Lorelle informed him. "And she knows the poem Rainier's Song by heart. All of it." Which, apparently, was an amazing feat.

"Does she?" Rain's brows arched. Though lamplight made it difficult to be certain, he thought his shei'tani was blushing. He opened his Fey senses and became certain. She was blushing, furiously. Curious. "I am not familiar with this poem.”

Relief at his ignorance warred with shock on Ellysetta's face. It was as if he'd admitted to some terrible crime not to know the poem. "It's one of the most famous poetic works in Celierian history," she exclaimed. "Required reading in all Celierian schools.”

"Ah." There was a poem, about him he assumed, that was required reading in all Celierian schools. Incredible.

«They have put the poem to music, theater, opera, and ballet as well.» Bel's amused voice sounded in his mind.

Rain shot his friend a dark look before turning his attention back to Ellysetta. "Then, of course, I must hear this poem. Would you recite a little?”

Ellie shook her head, avoiding his gaze. "I don't have the voice to do it justice.”

"Yes, you do!" Lillis exclaimed.

"She performed it at the All Souls' Eve pageant at our school just last fall," Lorelle added.

"So what is this magic your father showed you, My Lord Feyreisen?" Ellie asked quickly.

"Rainier, please. Or Rain. Or shei'tan, if you prefer." In a rare show of tairen-mischief, his lips curved up at the corners. "Else I'll insist you recite this poem.”

Ellie's breath caught in her throat. The tiny smile softened the coldness of his face; the sparkle of mischief warmed his eyes. His legendary Fey beauty stunned her senses, but it was the unexpected flash of gentle, laughing humanity that stole a place in her heart.

"Rain," she whispered.

His eyes flared bright. She gasped and pressed a hand to her pounding heart. In an instant, the world ceased to exist except for him. He wasn't touching her, and yet she knew he was clutching her to him with every Fey sense he possessed.

Then, abruptly, she was free, her knees so weak she thought she might collapse.

"Sieks'ta. I'm sorry," he muttered, dragging a hand through his hair. "Your father was right to complain about my lack of control" He grimaced, then forced a pleasant expression on his face and took the twins' hands again. "Come. I will show you this magic. I think you will like it." He escorted them to a riverside bench partially secluded by the long, leafy branches of a burlwood tree, and stood beside the bench as Ellie and the twins sat. Bel and the rest of his quintet formed a protective semicircle behind them.

"Watch the river," Rain instructed. He raised his hands and summoned Water and Fire, easily blending the weaves until spouts of crystalline water fountained up in the center of the river, each fountain lit from within by various colors of Fire.

At his command, Fire and Water danced together in the shimmering patterns of Cha Baruk, the Dance of Knives. A circle of five fountains splashed in perfect symmetry. They sprayed up in a bright flare of light, whirled, and began to move in a perfect circular clockwise motion. A tiny bright blue spurt of water jumped from across the circle, looking exactly like a glowing dagger tossed across a small distance. Another blue blade of water was returned. The number of water blades increased, cartwheeling across the center of the circle until Fire and Water formed a glowing dome of flashing blue lights performing a stunning aerial display.

Water-blades still flying, the five fountains split into five new circles, each with its own dome of flashing Fire-lit Water-knives in a different color, while the blue blades, increasing exponentially in number, continued to dance from circle to circle. The twenty-five fountains became a hundred twenty-five, and now there were thousands of Fire-lit Water- blades flashing an endless rainbow of colors.

Crowds had gathered on both sides of the river and on the bridges to watch the Tairen Soul work his magic. Ellie and the twins gaped at the incredible display in awestruck silence.

Rain shifted the weave from the fierce exuberance of the Cha Baruk to the gently flowing Felah Baruk, the Dance of Joy. The Cha Baruk fountains subsided, and ten new fountains arose to dance in an interweaving loop. Five tall, fierce jets of water circled five gently arcing fountains that twirled slowly within the weave. Watching, Ellie could almost see Fey women bending and swaying seductively as their fierce suitors paid court.