“The Massan will not approve.”
“The Massan have no say in the training of youngfeyreisen.”
Steli growled and crept closer, poking her head around Ellysetta to fix whirling blue eyes on Marissya. The edge of her mouth lifted up, baring fangs, and her nostrils flared, sniffing the air as if scenting for potential threats—or prey.
“Perhaps not, but tread lightly with them, Rain.” Marissya frowned at the white tairen and edged back, reaching for Dax’s hand. “They deserve your respect.”
“And they have it. But that does not mean this king must seek their approval for his decisions.”
“Change takes time.”
“Time is a luxury I do not have.” Rain’s eyes flashed lavender sparks. “War is coming, and my bond with Ellysetta is not complete. I must do what I feel is necessary. I allowed Ellysetta to heal therasabecause I need blades to fight. Ellysetta must be trained as both ashei’dalinand a Tairen Soul, because both are the gifts the gods gave her. If she cannot accept the entirety of herself, what hope is there for the completion of our bond?”
Before Marissya could answer, Steli pushed her nose against Marissya’s brown leathers and sniffed again.«This one has strong pride scent for a Fey-kin.»
“Marissya?” Rain eyed the tairen in confusion. “She is of the vel Serranis line. Manyfeyreisenwere born to her family in the past. Perhaps that is what you sense?”
«Perhaps.»Steli growled noncommittally. She sniffed some more, nudging Marissya with her nose, then sat back on her haunches.«This one can help Ellysetta-kitling heal our young?»
“We believe so.”
Thechakaithumped her tail.«Sybharukai says this one may enter the lair.»
Leaving Rain staring at her in astonishment, the fierce white tairen leapt into the sky and flew towards the wide mouth of the cave that led to the interior of Fey’Bahren.
“What is it?” Marissya asked when the tairen were gone. “What did she say?”
Rain gave her a look of sheer disbelief. “She said you may enter the nesting lair.”
Theshei’dalin’s jaw dropped open. “I don’t understand. I’ve been here before, and the tairen never let me set foot beyond Su Reisu.”
“Marissya, I’m as confused as you. Steli said you bear pride-scent. Maybe while you’ve been teaching Ellysetta, some trace of her scent was transferred to you. Does it really matter?”
Marissya shook her head emphatically.
“Good. Then let’s go. You can check the kitlings yourself and tell us definitively whethershei’dalinskills can heal them.”
Marissya started forward, then stopped. “Wait. What about Dax?”
“He stays behind,” Rain answered without hesitation. “There are eggs in the lair, and three tairen died last night. The pride would kill him before his foot touched the nesting sands.”
“But he is myshei’tan. The tairen have always welcomed the mates of those they welcome into the pride.”
“You were not welcomed into the pride, Marissya. Sybharukai merely said you could enter Fey’Bahren to help Ellysetta save the kitlings.” He glanced at Dax. “I don’t know how long we’ll be, but you have my oath I will protect your mate as if she were my own.”
“I know you will.” Dax waved them off. “Go.”
Rain flew Marissya and Ellysetta up to the main entrance of the lair. Together, with Rain in the lead, they walked down the winding tunnel towards the nesting sands.
Marissya’s eyes were wide with wonder, peering down every tunnel and drinking in the mysteries of Fey’Bahren as they descended towards the volcano’s heart.
“When we enter the nesting lair,” Rain instructed, “we will all walk slowly across the sands to the eggs. Marissya, if at any time tonight the tairen seem agitated, stop whatever you’re doing.”
«Would the pride really kill Dax if he entered the lair?»Ellysetta asked the question on a private weave, troubled by the possibility. The tairen were intelligent and powerful beings, not mere animals. She found it difficult to reconcile the warm welcome she’d received from the pride with the mindless, wild savagery Rain seemed so certain they would exhibit.
«Survival is a tairen’s strongest instinct, and this is where tairen hatch their young,»he answered.«Any intruder is considered a threat. When it comes to the safety of their young, tairen will kill anything and anyone that threatens them. Don’t ever doubt that.»
They reached the bottom of the tunnel, and hard stone gave way to a thick carpet of fine, dark black sand. Inside the nesting lair, the tairen had returned to their ledges except for Sybharukai, who lay curled around the eggs, crooning songs of tairen strength and ferocity to the kitlings.
