Dorian blinked in bewilderment. “Yes, of course. I meant no offense.”
«Celierians consider it polite to ask after the health of one’s mate,»Dax murmured silently.«It was the same, before the Wars.»
Rain had a vague memory, long forgotten, of a similar incident many centuries past.«I remember now. I didn’t like it then either. They should take better care of their mates, so the question of their mates’ health need never be in doubt.»
With Dax’s laughter rippling through his mind, Rain shook offhis irritation and got straight to the purpose of the meeting. “I have come to discuss the situation in the north. Dax and Marissya tell me you believedahl’reisenhave begun murdering Celierians.”
Dorian nodded. “There’ve been half a dozen attacks in the last two months, and twenty Celierians slain since First Moon this spring. Another ten since harvest last fall. Mostly farmers and village folk along the northern march. The Border Lords had been keeping the situation quiet, but now that the pamphleteers and newspapers have wind of it, all hope of quietly resolving the problem is gone.” He explained about the witnesses and showed Rain the recovered Fey’cha. “Dax has already told me it’s unlikely the blade was left behind by accident.”
“Beyond unlikely,” Rain agreed. “All blades forged in a Fey smithy have a weave spun into them so their owners may summon them back to their sheaths after use. The spell works on any blade within half a mile of its owner. It was either left deliberately as a challenge, or stolen and left to cast suspicion on the Fey.” He examined the dagger and the name-mark forged on it. “I don’t recognize this mark, but it does appear to be a true Fey’cha.”«Dax, send an image of the mark to all the Fey. See if any of them know it.»
Turning his attention back to Dorian, he added, “As for witnesses to adahl’reisencrime, that, too, is unlikely.Dahl’reisenlive outside our laws. If it serves them to manipulate mortal minds, they would likely do so. Not even Marissya would be able to tell the false memories from the true ones. Still, you should bring the witnesses in for Truthspeaking, just in case they are using these rumors ofdahl’reisenmurders to hide their own crimes.”
King Dorian shook his head. “Sebourne—the lord whose lands were attacked—has already refused. He says the witnesses are terrified of having their minds manipulated by the Fey, and he’s angry enough over the number of murders on his land to support them.” Dorian cast an apologetic glance Dax’s way. To suggest that Marissya would misuse her powers was a grave insult.
“Is there a map that shows where the raids have taken place?” Rain asked.
“Here.” Dorian walked around his desk and opened a narrow door in the corner of the far wall. “We started monitoring the incidents after the first half-dozen deaths last year.” He pulled out a large map of Celieria mounted vertically on a wheeled spongewood backing. A handful of colored pins set with tiny annotated flags were scattered across the northern border. “Except for the fact that most of the raids have taken place in the villages along the Celierian-Eld border, there is no apparent pattern to the attacks.”
Rain examined the collection of pins. The raids had taken place over a thousand miles of border land, ranging from Bolla near the eastern coast all the way to Toulon in the west.
“What would a band ofdahl’reisengain from slaughtering Celierian peasants?” Dorian asked. “That’s what I cannot understand.”
Rain cast a glance back over his shoulder. “Have you considered the possibility that it might not bedahl’reisen? Fey enemies are numerous, and as you know, the greatest of them lies just across your northern border.”
The king’s brows rose. “You think the Eld are behind this?”
“The possibility must at least be considered.”
“But the Eld have no more reason to kill Celierian peasants thandahl’reisendo.”
“Unless they mean to drive a wedge between Celieria and the Fading Lands. Celierians have rarely distinguished between Fey actions and those of thedahl’reisen. The Eld know that. They would use it to their advantage.” Rain turned back to the map, frowning at the large expanse of border. “How many troops do you have on the border?” he asked.
“Two thousand, give or take a few hundred.”
“That’s not enough. You should have triple that number at least.” Rain straightened and turned around. “I can offer two thousand Fey to ward the borders and track the attackers when they strike again.”
Dorian’s jaw sagged in surprise. Fey and mortal troops had not stood side-by-side along the Eld border in nine hundred years. Not since Celieria had reconstituted its military after the decimation of the Mage Wars. Fey had periodically quartered themselves in the border keeps to watch for signs of Eld magic and strengthen the wards put in place at the end of the Wars, but never more than that. The Mages had been defeated, and the Fey had withdrawn from the world.
“Your offer is... quite generous, My Lord Feyreisen, and an unexpected honor.” Dorian cleared his throat. “I don’t know what to say.”
“I do not offer Fey lives or Fey steel lightly,” Rain answered. “I have sensed a growing darkness in Eld. The Mages are at work again. It is one reason why I question whether thedahl’reisenare truly behind these raids of yours.”
“Do you have proof of this Mage activity? Reports from spies?”
Rain raised a brow. “This I do not need. I sense the darkness, and that is enough.”
“I see.” Dorian drew a deep breath. “Well, unfortunately, the Council of Lords will require more than just Fey intuition before they authorize tripling the number of troops along our border, or quartering foreign warriors—especially Fey warriors, given the current suspicions about thedahl’reisen. Besides, the Eld would view a troop buildup as an act of open aggression.
“You must understand,” he added when Rain’s expression darkened, “our relations with the Eld have settled considerably in the last decades. In fact, the Elden ambassador was here not a fortnight ago seeking to recommence direct trade between our two countries. He spoke quite eloquently, and the terms he offered were very appealing.”
Rain’s hands fell to the silk-wrapped handles of the curvedmeichaat his hips. His fingers curled tight around the grips. “You letthe Eld ambassador set foot on Celierian land?” he growled. “You’re contemplatingtradewith those black-souled vermin?” The windows of Dorian’s office rattled in their panes.
The king cast a confused glance in Dax’s direction. “We’ve been trading with them indirectly for more than three centuries... ever since the Great Plague threatened the mortal world. They possess the only supply of keio, one of the ingredients required for the cure. We still purchase it yearly through Sorrelian intermediaries, along with a few other goods.”
«Dax...»Rain hissed with silent fury.
«You had only just regained your sanity. Marissya and I both agreed it was best you did not know. Thousands—hundreds of thousands—had already died. Millions more would have. There weren’t enough healers to have stopped it.»
