"You're going to—" Her voice choked off and she stared at him, aghast. "Rain, have you lost your mind? Two months ago I was a woodcarver's daughter who'd never even seen the inside of a palace. Now you want to appoint me to a council that leads a nation?"

"I know it is a great deal to ask, and if I had any other choice, I would not add this burden to the ones you already bear. I need someone I trust to lead in my absence and ensure my will is carried out."

"But—"

"The Massan are all honorable Fey," he continued quickly, "but they are not comfortable with the changes I've introduced. That's why I need you to stay here and be sure my commands are carried out. Tenn and Yulan may think to … reinterpret my orders. And with Venarra taking Marissya's place as the Shei'dalin, Nuri will not oppose them. Loris won't be back for another two weeks at least, and the others will silence Eimar's objections if you are not there to prevent it."

Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline. "And you think they'll listen to me? Half of them are waiting for me to turn into the Hand of Shadow and usher in the end of the world!"

He grimaced. He'd known this would be her reaction, but he had no choice. "If it's any consolation, I'm not just throwing you to the thistlewolves. Bel has agreed to stay behind in Dharsa to guide and advise you. There is no Fey I trust more."

"Oh, well. That will do the trick then." She spun away, her skirts twitching furiously as she stalked a short distance down the battlements.

"Ellysetta. Shei'tani." He went to her side and caught her arms, holding her when she would have turned away again. "I need you to do this. Listen to me," he ordered, giving her a shake when he saw that stubborn jaw of hers clench.

She glared at him in angry silence, then focused her gaze on a point in the distance.

He ground his back teeth together. Really, much as he loved her, there was no woman alive who could infuriate him more. "There is another reason I want you to serve as my proxy. You need to understand how the Massan governs and learn how to work with its members. Because if I don't return, you will be the next Tairen Soul."

Her gaze whipped back to his, horror etched upon her face. "Good sweet Lord of Light. That's what this is really about." She gave a disbelieving laugh. "You're preparing me for your death."

She tried to wrench her arms out of his grasp but he would not allow it. "Stop. Parei! Flames scorch it, Ellysetta! We do not choose what tests the gods set before us. We only decide how we will endure them!"

"Well, I'm not going to stand here while you tell me what to do after you die fighting the Eld in Celieria. There's no need for this discussion because you will be coming back."

"There is nothing I want more, shei'tani. But if I do not, you must rule. At least until Marissya's child is old enough to claim the throne for himself."

"But our bond—"

"—is not complete. You will survive my death." He held her tight as she struggled against him. "Listen to me. Listen!" He gave her a brisk shake, and she grew still. "The Massan will not make your rule easy. They are used to command and will try to convince you to do as they want. Do not allow it. Tenn and Yulan delude themselves that if we leave the Eld in peace, the Eld will not attack us—or that we can hide behind the Mists and somehow live in peace with an enemy whose sole desire is to extinguish Light from the world and enslave souls for the glory of Seledorn. You cannot let yourself be swayed by their arguments—and they will be good arguments, full of reasonable concerns. But they will be wrong. You and I both know the Fey will not long live free if the Eld are left to spread their evil unchecked."

"And why ever would they listen to me?"

"They will listen to you, Ellysetta, because you will be the Defender of the Fey."

She yanked her hands free of his grip and crossed her arms. "I'm no warrior, Rain. And I'm no real Tairen Soul, either. I've found neither my song nor my wings."

"Sybharukai has accepted you into the pride. You are tairen enough. As for being a warrior, don't forget I've seen you in battle. You slaughtered two Primages and sent Eld soldiers fleeing like mice—and that you did with no wings and no training."

"There's a lot more to being a leader than just being good at killing people."

His spine went stiff, then he gave a humorless laugh. "No one knows that better than I, Ellysetta."

Remorse flickered in her eyes. "I wasn't talking about you."

"Perhaps you didn't mean to, but truth is truth. I know my shortcomings all too well."

She ran a hand through her hair in frustration. "You're a good king, Rain. You have the best interests of the Fading Lands at heart, and you're willing to make the hard decisions, not just the easy ones everyone agrees with. That's what leadership is."

"Up until the last month, I haven't been making any sort of decisions. I've been letting Marissya and the Massan rule in my name. It's only because of you that I've finally begun to be the king I should have been all along." He drew a breath and squared his shoulders. "Teska, I need you to do this for me, Ellysetta. Promise you will serve as my proxy while I'm away—and that you'll lead the Fey if I don't come back."

Her arms crossed again and she scowled down at her feet. "Fine. I promise."