A knock sounded on his office door. "Enter," Vadim called. He looked up from his desk as his apprentice, the young but very powerful Mage Kolis Manza, entered. The younger man's red robes swirled around him as he walked. About his waist, Kolis wore a scarlet sash embroidered with golden threads and decorated with numerous dark, shining jewels, each a commemoration of a great achievement. Kolis was a Sulimage, the Eld equivalent of a journeyman, and he was famous among the novitiates, apprentices, and his fellow Sulimages for his magical prowess. His current service in Celieria, coveted by even the most experienced, fully ranked Primages, was one of the many important tasks that Vadim had set before him over the years to complete his training.

"Well?" Vadim prompted.

Kolis bowed deep, his vivid blue-green eyes suitably unfathomable, though Vadim thought he detected a hint of excitement. "I'm almost certain it is she, Master," he replied, "the one that was lost. She was found abandoned twenty- three years ago in the forests of Norban. The Celierian who tried to wed her said there are rumors she is demon-cursed, and he claims to have seen her work magic. Healing, finding lost things, perhaps more.”

Anger curled in Vadim's belly, and just as quickly was snuffed out. If his pets had deceived him, they would suffer for it … but first he must ascertain the depths of their deceit. After a thousand years of captivity and experimentation, they were fragile, close to succumbing to the catatonic death sleep that had claimed all but a few of their fellow captives. He would not risk destroying them without cause.

"If her magic was substantial, I would have detected it before now. She must be powerful to be of use to me." His fingers drummed on the polished wood of his desktop. "Does it matter, Master? She is the Tairen Soul's truemate. Isn't that enough? Through her you can destroy him.”

"No, Kolis. We've seen what this Tairen Soul will do when deprived of a mate. I'm not as big a fool as my predecessor was. We've made too much progress to risk that sort of destruction again without an extraordinary reason. She must have exceptional power, and I must have proof of it." His fingers stilled. His eyes flashed up. "Take your rest for a few bells. Rejuvenate yourself, then return to Celieria," he instructed. "Test her magic. A master's strength in any of the six branches would be enough for me to risk the Tairen Soul's wrath. And bring me back her blood. She hides too well. I need her blood to strengthen the seeking spell.”

"But, Master, she is guarded round the clock.”

"I trust your judgment, Kolis. You will find a way. Use that Eld girl you told me about and your other umagi." He held Kolis's gaze steadily.

"I will not fail you, Master." Kolis bowed again, deeply as befitting an apprentice to his master, as befitting any man before the greatest Mage of Eld.

Ellie was dreaming she was back in the park. Only this time, the girl who was pushed into the river wasn't Kelissande, it was Ellysetta.

Mocking laughter rang out. A crowd had gathered at the river's edge, all the tradesmen she'd met today, the king and the queen, the courtiers, even the Fey. They were laughing and pointing at Ellie as she dragged herself out of the river. Maestra Binchi howled and said, "What did I tell you? Sowlet ears." The Archbishop stood beside Ellie's mother, and both of them pointed at her, shouting, "Demon-cursed!”

"Did you really think he would ever choose you?" Sariel stood with Rain at her side, one hand clutching his arm possessively. "He's mine, and he always will be." Sariel's midnight hair lightened, turning golden blond. Her face changed, too, and then it was Kelissande who stood at Rain's side, sneering, "Ellie Lack Grace." Ellie stared at the hand on Rain's arm, and a terrible fury bloomed in her heart. She struck out wildly, raking her fingers across Kelissande's face, but her hands had become talons. Kelissande's perfect skin shredded. Blood soaked Ellie's clawed, hideous hands. She screamed and screamed. Fey leapt towards her, blades bared and deadly. Power flamed in Rain's eyes and shot from his fingertips as he cried, "Demon cursed! Servant of the Dark Lord!”

A cold, howling wind swept over her, a maelstrom of darkness that ripped her away and left her alone and shivering in a cold, dead world of shadows. Her own weeping was the only sound in the emptiness. And when that died away, she heard the familiar hissing, malevolent whisper. "Girl ... you cannot hide forever. Your true nature will reveal itself eventually."

Rain stood on the palace rooftop, breathing in the still-warm night air and absorbing the scents and sounds of the city. Eyes closed, senses flowing out on every path, he searched as he had all evening for traces of the "wandering soul" that had attacked Ellysetta. He found darkness and evil, but nothing more sinister than that which existed in every mortal city.

Horse hooves and steel-rimmed carriage wheels clattered on the cobbles below. He released his weaves and glanced down to watch a noble family alight. Throughout the day, the nobles from the outlying estates had been arriving for Prince Dorian's betrothal celebrations and the biannual convening of the Council of Lords. By this time tomorrow every room in the palace would be full, every grand residence in the city buzzing with activity, and soon the heads of those noble houses would decide the fate of their country.

Too many, he feared, had forgotten the harsh lessons of the past and the sacrifices of their ancestors. Mortals always did. Rain had not. He remembered Dorian I and Marikah vol Serranis Torreval and the abrupt, shocking brutality of their deaths. He remembered Dorian II and his courage as he led his country through bitter, bloody years of war. He remembered the staggering price that Fey, Celierians, Elves, and Danae alike had paid to live free of Eld corruptions and the domination of the Mages.