She took a deep, restorative breath and turned around in a slow circle. She was standing in the Fey Hall of Scrolls, probably the most ancient collection of documents in existence, surrounded by millennia of history and legends and ancient secrets lost to the world.

Just being here was the fulfillment of one of her most cherished dreams, and she was not going to let anything cast a pall over it. She was going to dive into the stacks of books and scrolls and discover all the wonders held within their pages, and she was going to find some way of saving the tairen.

Ellysetta flipped the catch on the scroll case and unraveled the first handspan of parchment. There was no telling how old the scroll was. Fey magic had kept it in perfect condition. She drank in the elegant, artistic Fey calligraphy, her mind instantly processing the familiar script of Feyan words and sentences: On the Identification and Treatment of Illnesses of the Spirit, Observations of the shei'dalin Carenna vol Espera.

While Ellysetta immersed herself in the knowledge of the Fey, Rain immersed himself in military planning. He stood before the great map wall that showed a detailed tairen's-eye view of the Fading Lands, Celieria and their surrounding neighbors: Elvia, Eld, the Pale, and Danael. Behind him, the five lords of the Massan were seated at a broad table, watching as tiny figures moved across the map with each gesture of Rain's hand.

"One thousand of our brothers are already on their way to Celieria's northern march." He waved, and tiny Spirit Fey armies dispersed across the southern banks of the flowing Heras River. "They will train the mortals and help them prepare for the coming conflict, but I intend to put another six thousand blades on the march within the next three months."

"Six thousand?" Tenn interrupted. "Why should we send so many? Do they not have armies of their own?"

"They do, but it's been too long since they have known real war. Except for the occasional Eld raid, many of their soldiers have let their blades grow dull with disuse."

Yulan grunted. "Perhaps that is the gods' way of putting an end to them, then."

Rain bit back a retort. As one of the Fey who, up until three weeks ago, had shared Yulan's opinion of Celieria, Rain could hardly condemn the Earth master's views; but he no longer agreed with them. The Fey were few. Celierians were many, but they could not stand against the Eld without Fey help. And as Ellysetta had once pointed out, if the Mages conquered Celieria, all the mortals would find themselves Mage-claimed conscripts in the army of Eld.

"Celieria has always been only a stepping-stone to the Eld," Rain said instead. "We all know their ultimate destination."

"Let them come," Yulan scoffed. "The Mists will devour them."

"Will they?" That Rain did not let pass unchallenged. "For how long? How much Mage Fire will the Mists withstand before failing? And if the Mists fall, what then? Celierians outnumber us two hundred to one. Can we afford to let the Mages claim so many? They may be only mortals, but even ants can bring down a lion if they attack in large enough numbers."

Rain saw consternation cross their faces, as if the thought had not occurred to them. "We have to assume the Eld will come. We have to assume the Mists will fail. We have to plan for that and take steps to protect ourselves in every way possible."

He turned back to the map. "I've already spoken with Eren Thoress at Blade's Point. I will fly there later this week to light another two of the forges." All Fey steel was made at Blade's Point in the great forges that could be ignited only by tairen flame. There were six forges in all, and he hoped he would not need all of them working day and night, as they had during the Mage Wars. "I promised Teleos I would come to Orest by month's end, to bring him a thousand more blades to defend the Veil and enough swords and armor to outfit his own warriors. Our best defense is to help the Celierians defend themselves."

He turned back to the map and continued marching Spirit weapons and troops to key strategic positions throughout the Fading Lands and Celieria's northern border, but when he was finished, his main concern became easily discernible.

"As you can see, our defenses are thin. We'll need the Elves." He turned back to the Massan. "Hawksheart's ambassador in Celieria extended an invitation for me and Ellysetta to visit Deep Woods. I was going to send Marissya and Dax in my stead, but with the child, we cannot risk her safety outside the Mists."

His gaze fell upon Loris. Of all the Massan, the Water master was the one Rain had always trusted most after Marissya. He wasn't a hothead like Tenn, or a stubborn rock like Yulan. He was…adaptable…yet steady and relentless, like the element he mastered. A perfect ambassador.

"Loris, how long has it been since you and Nalia last dined with the Elves?"

The corner of the Water master's mouth curved up. "Too long, my king. My mate and I would enjoy a chance to dine again with our southern cousins."

"Good." Much as he hated losing Loris's support on the council, there was no other Fey better suited to negotiate the terms of an alliance. "Meet with me after we're through here."

Tenn leaned forward. "Until the Elvish troops set foot on Fading Lands soil, we'll need every one of those six thousand blades you're planning to send to Celieria for ourselves."

Rain frowned. "But I need those six thousand on the borders, if we're to give Celieria any hope of holding back even a tenth of the army that attacked during the Mage Wars."