"Shadow in the Shadows" by Christopher R. Regan

Winter was almost a memory. The last remnants of snow had fled, being replaced by the verdant green of new Spring grass. Although there were very few flowers spotting the lush, green carpet, Starshadow could feel the stirring of life in the Forest of Everlasting Green. The trees were still bare, but he knew that the sap was beginning to flow in them once more as they readied themselves for the newest cycle of life.

This forest held many memories for the wood elf, and he did his best to rediscover one now. He had grown up in this forest and he remembered a healing herb that his adoptive mother used to use. He sought that herb now, hoping it might heal his beloved's knee. Arëanna had taken an arrow wound to the knee while off on a quest for the master of an order of wizards. The wound was nasty and would not heal. Starshadow brought her the best healers in Crystalmist, but to no avail. Even her own healing powers were of no use. While perhaps crude in comparison, and possibly altogether useless, Starshadow wanted to try to find this herb. With any luck, the search would not end up like his quest to find that last-of-its-kind flower.

Wandering this forest always set Starshadow's emotions in gear. He was raised here. His foster parents died here. He slew his first human here. Elspeth was born here. He even lost his virginity here.

Celeria was her name. She was a dryad and she lived in an ancient oak tree. Starshadow had been seduced by her nymphly charms when he was just past puberty, but sought her out many times thereafter when he was in need of company. It was a symbiotic relationship. Starshadow had certain needs and the wood nymph was only too happy to oblige. After all, nymphs have their own needs. The last time Starshadow saw Celeria was about fifteen years ago, a few years prior to meeting his current circle of friends.

Starshadow remembered Celeria as he laid his eyes upon an ancient oak. He could see her morphing out of the tree, her greenish brown skin, speckled like bark. Her long, soft, leafy hair, smelling like new blossoms, cascading over her shoulders, barely concealing her well-formed breasts. She approached the wood elf and he realized that this was no illusion based on memory. Celeria was right here, now, walking toward him and beckoning.

The dryad ran toward the wood elf and embraced him. Her scent filled his nostrils as her softness aroused other memories. He took her by her small, smooth shoulders and pushed her gently away, so he might look upon her face. Tears.

"Celeria, why do you cry?" These were not tears of happiness, shed for the joy of their reunion. Starshadow knew something was terribly wrong.

"Starshadow, they've taken him," she sobbed. They will kill him if you don't come for him."

"Who, Celeria?" Starshadow pressed her angrily. "Who? Who was taken and who did the taking?"

"The Unseelie have taken my son," whimpered the nymph. "They said they will kill him by the next full moon if you do not come for him."

"Wh-what? Why?" Starshadow was clearly confused. None of this made sense. "Why me? I haven't seen you in years, how did they know I would ever see you again, let alone come for your son?"

"The Unseelie have strong magic. They knew you would see me soon," she replied, her tears subsiding somewhat.

"But why would they think I would come to get your son? Unless..."

"Starshadow," she said softly. "It is our son. Mine. And yours."

Starshadow stared at her.

"We made a baby, you and I." She told him, trying to smile.

Starshadow stared at her some more.

"The last time we made love, I nurtured your seed. We now have a 12 year old elfling. His name is Twilight. He was taken by minions of Belladonis..."

"Periwinkle." Starshadow finished her sentence. His eyes narrowed and his lips curled back, sneering.

"Why did you not seek me out?" the elf asked her. He was still tense and his fists were clenched.

She pushed her body closer to his and reached up to play with a copper lock of hair. She smiled at him and stared into his emerald eyes with her own hazel orbs. "You know that I am eternally bound to my bond-oak. I could never leave here lest I die." Her smile broadened as her fingers glided over Starshadow's biceps, working downward. "Otherwise I would have followed you long ago."

Starshadow pulled away from her. He had forgotten the charms of the wood nymph, and he suspected she wanted to have her own little adventure before setting the elf off on one. "Celeria, I will find our son and Periwinkle will suffer for it."

The wood elf turned swiftly and ran into the woods, leaving behind a very wanting and very frightened dryad.

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Starshadow waved off the giggle of fairies that flitted about his head.

"Us only wants to braid you's hair Elf Kingie", they chittered. They were having fun, but Starshadow had no time, and his patience was gone. They continued to flit about, enjoying the birth of spring in Crystalmist. The sun upon their wings created rainbows of light and Faerie glamour. At some other time, Starshadow would have enjoyed the game - but not now.

"I said begone, NOW!" With that final word, he drew Darklight and held it aloft. It almost sang in exultation as the Faerie glamour illuminated it in a swirling spectrum of scintillating light. Instantly the fairies vanished.

"I should change your name to Fairybane", he sneered as he resheathed his sword. Then he imagined Angelica, the Fairy Queen, pouring honey on him and covering him with ants and thought better of it. Contrary to popular belief, Starshadow actually liked fairies.

The errant knight pulled the canoe from its hiding place and removed the deer's hide cover. Grabbing the vessel by the gunwale, he pulled it out into the loch and hopped in. Grabbing up a wooden paddle, he made for the center of Loch Undine. He moved with deliberate conviction without taking in the sights as was his usually habit. He needed to see the water nymph known as the Loch Undine. She was mysterious, beautiful, wise and dangerous. Starshadow suspected that, short of the treefolk, she was the oldest creature in the forest, and the wisest in Faerie matters.

Suddenly the canoe began to rock and the water started to churn. Starshadow slowed the canoe's progression and attempted to steady the small boat with his paddle. A whirlpool appeared before him, and from it rose the Loch Undine. Starshadow forgot to breathe as he watched her. She was easily the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Even the knowledge that he had seen her before did not mute that fact. The elf was filled with awe and desire, and yet he still did not breathe.

"Take a breath, Son of Moonbeam, lest ye die." Her voice was serious at first as she held his gaze with her large, dark liquid eyes. Then she laughed mirthful and it sounded like a waterfall. Her naked, female form approached the elf as he finally gasped in some air.

"You nymphs will be the death of me yet," he said, lying the paddle across his lap.

"But we would be a pleasant death I assure you," she said with a smile. Then she grew more serious. Starshadow was forced to pull his eyes away from her breasts to look into her captivating eyes. "I know why you have come," she told him, rising to stand still upon the water as if it were grass. "I cannot help you in this matter, though my heart longs to do so."

"Why are you wise ones always so damned cryptic?" he asked in frustration.

She offered him a small smile.

"The Path of Peace has many roads,

what initiates comes after.

And pain it seems,

will make you dream,

of wisdom, fear and laughter."

Her voice was ominous and Starshadow memorized her words.

"Farewell Son of Moonbeam. Visit me again when you have finished your quest." Without another word, she returned to the watery depths of the loch.

Starshadow sighed. "Well Grandfather, I guess I must see you after all." The elf had not wanted to bother Blackwolf. His one time mentor had been very busy training Sparrowreed to be an Elemental Mage and working with the Whitebriar as well. He also felt very uneasy being alone with the shaman ever since the news of their blood ties. But at this point, he had little choice.

He sought out Blackwolf in the older elf's ancient cottage, and was surprised to find him alone.

"No students today?" Starshadow asked quizzically.

"I sent your sister and your human off on a research assignment," the shaman replied, handing his king a cold ale.

Starshadow took the ale and plopped himself down unceremoniously into the nearest chair. He took a long drink and looked at the elder, sneering slightly. "You knew I was coming." It was not a question.

"If you continue to seek comfort from the Undine, the queen may have to chain you to the manor." It was the older elf's feeble attempt at humor.

"You know you speak nonsense old elf. Though I admit it is hard."

The shaman stared wide-eyed at the elf, then smiled.

"I order you to stop that!" the king protested. "You should know better, you dirty old elf."

"You have lost your sense of humor, Star. That is always a bad sign with you. What can I help you with."

"She gave me a riddle. You know, like the ones that mad giants, evil wizards and you like to give: The Path of Peace has many roads, what initiates comes after. And pain it seems, will make you dream, of wisdom, fear and laughter."

"And what do you make of it?" asked the shaman.

"I think I see a double meaning in the second line, though it is not grammatically correct," Starshadow told him, his eyes unfocused as he spoke.

"They seldom are, these riddles. Go on."

"Initiate means to start, so perhaps the beginning is also the end. But an initiate is a student. So what is a student after? I am clearly the initiate, so must I begin something that will bring me back where I started when I am done? Or am I to be locked in an endless cycle?"

Blackwolf smiled. "You have learned a few things, I see. But you always forget that your life is a series of endless cycles. Stay for a few moments and finish your drink." Blackwolf got up and left the cottage. He returned a few minutes later with a sack, tied at the top. "Take this with you when you go." He laid the sack down at Starshadow's feet.

"When I go where?" asked the younger elf.

"On the Path of Peace," replied the shaman. He crossed the small room and sat down on a simple wooden stool. "It is a road in a secluded part of Crystalmist. It ends at a cave, a secret place used for meditation. I think you should go there, and once you are inside the cave, open the sack."

"What then?" Starshadow asked, rising from his seat and setting his mug down on a table. "What's in the sack?" He looked at it curiously.

"Are you willing to tell me more about your quest?" The shaman asked. A mildly pained expression crossed his face, but Starshadow did not see it.

The elven king said nothing. His eyes were glued to the bag, his jaw set.

"Very well Your Majesty. Good luck." Blackwolf headed for the door, removed a cloak from a peg on the wall, and opened the door.

"Thank you, Grandfather," Starshadow said sincerely.

Blackwolf turned his gaze upon Starshadow, his eyes piercing the wood elf in that intruding way. "Do not open the bag until you are within the cave." The old elf left the cottage and closed the door.

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The Path of Peace was exactly as its name implied. Walking along this ancient road made Starshadow's worries melt away. The stress seemed to leave his muscles and joints as he walked along a trail of soil, mulch and loam. The chittering of the birds accompanied the sighing of the trees, forming a harmony of sound and spirit. The elven knight concentrated upon his quest, and in a completely non-panicked state of mind, went over the ramifications of the incidents leading to this point.

He had a son, an elf child who would be just coming into puberty. Why had he not known earlier? How would the Unseelie have found out about the boy before Starshadow? What coincidence lead Starshadow to Celeria at this particular time, exactly when he was needed? There was no question that this was a trap. The game had Periwinkle written all over it, for it was exactly the same type of ploy used to incriminate Brother Bartholomew with that letter found at the Corellon Moon. What did Belladonis want from Starshadow? If he had wanted the elf dead, there were many ways in which he could have accomplished that goal. Did he seek a truce? Was he afraid of the war that Ghostdancer was planning? Did he have some horrible torture planned for his own amusement, something akin to the spirit-leech incident with Neftah?

Starshadow's musing broke off as a cave came into view. It was nothing elaborate; no fancy shapes with intricate runic carving. It did not glow with a nimbus and had no discernible aura. It was simply a very large outcropping of bedrock with an opening conveniently located at the termination of the path.

Starshadow simply entered the cave. It was dark, except for the light that filtered in from the forest. It wasn't damp or musty. It had a tidy, dry earthen floor, and it smelled like an apothecary shop. Patchouli and Frankincense hung in the air, though there were no signs of a brazier or urns of exotic oils.

The wood elf shrugged and sat down upon the floor, crossing his legs. He put the sack in his lap and gingerly untied the rope that bound it. He opened the bag and peered inside. At first glance, he could see nothing. Perhaps it was a small, dark object concealed within the folds at the bottom of the sack. He reached his hand into the bag and shouted in pain.

Dropping the bag, he pulled his bleeding hand out to inspect the injury. There were two puncture wounds, a half inch apart, on the fleshy part of his hand. He sucked hard on the snakebite and spit out the blood onto the cave floor. The iridescent snake slithered out of the bag and headed toward the cave door. Starshadow thought of killing it, but two things stopped him. Blackwolf must have put that snake in there for a reason. He did not tell Starshadow what was in it because he wanted his grandson to be bitten. Starshadow never would have submitted himself to a snake bite intentionally. The second reason was that Starshadow lacked the strength to go after the snake.

His head began to spin, and his body tingled as the venom flowed through his veins. Every part of his body felt heavy and his tongue seemed to swell and fill up his mouth. He wondered if he would die as he continued to suck at the wound in a vain attempt to purge the poison. Starshadow became dizzy. His vision blurred as everything around him took on a non-corporeal feel. His Elfstone glowed softly and seemed to hum, and Darklight seemed to respond, as if the two artifacts were communicating with each other. The stone at his breast and the sword at his hip seemed vividly clear in contrast to everything else, which wase now completely ethereal to him. Within moments, his eyelids became so heavy, he could no longer keep them open. His body went cold and he was gone.

The King of Crystalmist found himself walking through unknown terrain. He was in a forest of twisted, malevolent looking trees. There was mist everywhere, and he was grateful that he could not see the obscene landscape more clearly. He walked for some time upon a path that seemed to lead nowhere. The Moonbeam Elfstone and his long sword, Darklight, were both glowing and emitting a low hum. Time passed slowly, or perhaps it didn't pass at all. After an eternity, the forest vanished and Starshadow found himself beneath a sky of violet. A silvery, white moon tried to cast down its illumination but was hindered by thick clouds, clinging to it like hungry vampires trying to suck out its remaining light.

In the distance, Starshadow could see a castle upon a hill. It was horrifically beautiful. The architecture was familiar, yet alien. As the elf made his way toward the castle, he observed the way it constantly changed in appearance. One moment it was pearly white, with high reaching spires and colorful pennons. Starshadow imagined he saw a rainbow behind it and unicorns frolicking on the lawn. He blinked and the story book vision became one of Gothic horror. Black, crumbling basalt jutted from the earth in a grotesque excuse for architecture. The fortifications were strong, and there were gates and portcullises and drawbridges everywhere. He thought he could make out the forms of crucified bodies lining the road, with many heads dangling from pikes. On the walls he could see all manner of demons fornicating and tearing apart helpless victims.

"No!" he shouted. Starshadow's Elfstone burst into white light as he shook himself from his stupor. He looked upon the castle once more. It was closer now, and he saw that it was neither obscene nor pure. It was simply a castle, well made and pleasing to the eye. Impervious to an army's attack, yet not impenetrable by stealth. Starshadow the thief could scale those walls or pick those locks. But Starshadow's days of thieving were gone. He was now a knight, a king of noble blood, and he would call upon the codes of chivalry to get him through this. And of course, he was an invited guest.

As Starshadow approached the main gate, he saw two guards standing outside a closed portcullis. At first he thought they were minotaurs, but they were not.

"Whoooo are yooooou? And what dooooo yooooou seek at the Court of Dreamingdark?" asked the bull pooka, lowering his halberd to cross that of his companion's and bar the way.

"I am Starshadow, King of Crystalmist," he told them arrogantly. He always felt uneasy using his title, but under the circumstances, it was appropriate. "The lord of this keep has summoned me. Take me to him at once."

The dark, glassy eyes of the pooka indicated a total lack of intelligence. It was the perfect guard; big, strong and it followed orders without question. It reached it's gnarled hand through the portcullis and pulled on a golden cord. Somewhere, deep within the castle walls, Starshadow heard the faint chiming of a bell.

After a few minutes, Starshadow heard the echoing sound of hooves upon stone. But this was not the sound made by a four-legged steed. There were only two. hooves. The portcullis started to rise, accompanied by the rattling chain sound that is normal for such a device. A satyr appeared and the pooka guards pulled back their pole arms.

"Mooooove throoooough," bellowed the pooka.

Starshadow passed through the gate and was greeted by the satyr, who bowed low with a flourish. "Greetings, Your Majesty. On behalf of my Lord, Belladonis Periwinkle, I bid you welcome to the Court of Dreamingdark." The furry-legged chap seemed quite sincere. "Please follow me and we can attend to your comfort at once."

"You are most gracious," the elf replied, his words dripping with sarcasm.

The satyr was actually a cheery fellow. He had a handsome face, dark, with a black goatee. His hair hung down in loose curls about his face and shoulders. It was difficult to make out where the hair stopped, since his shoulders, back and chest were also covered with the same dark, curly hair. His stomach was bare, with tight musculature, and below that he was virtually a goat. He had goat legs, goat fur and even a goat tail. He managed to walk erect on two goat hooves, a feat that seemed to defy the laws of physics. He had no clothing of any kind except for a single shoulder strap holding a pouch.

Starshadow saw no difference between this satyr and those found in Crystalmist. Neither he nor the bull pookas seemed as perverse and twisted as the unseelie of Neftah's court. Neftah was obviously some perversion of a fairy while Val da Ga might have been a satyr type. Did their evil twist them physically as well as mentally? Both could have been demons by their appearance, yet he knew they were fey. Even Malpheus had deformed feet, but looked otherwise like a sidhe. How could Dreamingdark be so much different than Neftah's Court? Perhaps it was only the sidhe, the noble elves, who bore the unsightly disfigurements.

". . . and Lord Periwinkle is quite excited to have you here." The satyr had apparently been speaking non-stop while Starshadow's thoughts were wandering. "You don't remember me, do you?" the satyr asked, stopping briefly to look at the wood elf.

Starshadow knew better than to look surprised. He recovered quickly, hazarding an educated guess. "You are the satyr that contacted me at the Corellon Moon." Starshadow stated this matter-of-factly, as if he had known at their first meeting who he was.

"Very good, Your Majesty," chuckled the satyr. "Gnok is my name. Consider me at your beck and call while you visit."

What kind of a trap was this? No armed escort, no bindings on his hands, just a courteous and cheerful guide. Was this politeness a ruse to throw him off guard or simply a form of chivalry. Starshadow had heard that even the unseelie could be well-mannered and highly civilized. Or perhaps this was a plan to dull the edge of his anger.

Gnok came to a pair of huge, ornately carved doors. They appeared to be oak, but were inlaid with silver and mother of pearl. The workmanship was beautiful and exquisite. Starshadow recalled how gaudy the halls of Neftah were. Dreamingdark resembled the faerie kingdom of Ravenhilt more than that other unseelie court. He wondered if they were even in the same land. Even the wisest of sages tended to be confused about the various Faerie Realms and how they were interconnected.

The doors glided open on silent hinges and Starshadow broke off his musing to prepare for the meeting. His blood began to run hot as he brushed aside all of the politeness and beauty and focused on his true purpose for coming.

Gnok lead Starshadow through a large hall of awesome splendor. They walked upon hand woven carpeting and rich tapestries ornamented the walls of the high vaulted chamber. The assembled court turned to look at him as a trumpet sounded.

"All hail Lord Starshadow Moonbeam, Knight of the Crescent Moon and King of Crystalmist". The herald's voice was loud and melodic, though Starshadow could not see who it was. The assembled fey eyed him respectfully, though some barely concealed sardonic grins.

Starshadow continued to follow Gnok as the satyr sauntered forward. After a few more steps, Starshadow could see the raised dais and the ornately carved, oaken throne which rested upon it. The throne was flanked by two tiger pookas with claymores, while at the foot of the dais, a half-dozen armed redcaps waited. Starshadow remembered the time a red cap made a visit to his clan, and he remembered Barret's intense hatred for them.

Upon the cushioned seat of the throne was a handsome elf of about Starshadow's age, perhaps a bit younger. He had long, honey blonde hair and eyes as green as Starshadow's own. He smiled impishly and slouched lazily with one foot dangling over an arm of the chair. The foot was not misshapen, but a normal booted foot.

Gnok dropped to one knee and bowed his head to his master. The young elf corrected his posture to a more respectable pose and smiled in a most untrustworthy way.

"We meet at last Son of Moonbeam," the sidhe said in an almost childlike voice. Yet there was power and authority in his tone.

"Belladonis Periwinkle, I assume." Starshadow neither bowed his head nor bent his knee, but stood erect. He ignored the redcaps who were gnashing their teeth and almost whining, as if they were constrained against devouring the elf on the spot. "Where is my son?" Starshadow's voice was steady and even. He allowed no trace of temper to show.

"Son? What son?," responded Periwinkle, shrugging his shoulders and holding his hands out, palms upturned. His face was innocent. "Gnok, did you know that our guest has a son? I thought you only had a daughter, Starshadow."

"Celeria the dryad told me that you took our son and that you would kill him if I did not come here." The wood elf wanted to rip the sidhe's throat out with his bare hands, but showed no trace of it. He knew that he was outclassed here and would not act in foolish haste. "Was she lying, Belladonis?"

"It is amazing how resourceful a nymph can be when one threatens to burn down her entire grove and make her a red cap hors' deouvre." Belladonis was now smiling once again. "I knew I could get the former King of Thieves here on a matter of honor."

"So why did you summon me?" Starshadow planted his legs apart in the carpet and folded his arms across his chest. He had a feeling he would be standing for a long time.

"We have much to discuss, you and I." The smile was now gone and Belladonis no longer looked quite so youthful. "Join me for dinner and we shall converse in more detail."

"I do not dine with my sworn enemy," he said. He could not stop the involuntary sneer that was second nature to the elf when he was angry. The lip began to curl back, and Starshadow stopped it before it became full. Belladonis saw it anyway.

"I see," Belladonis said with humor. "What have I done to cause such venom toward me? Surely whatever it is can be forgiven. After all, isn't it normal for cousins to bicker."

"The fact that we may be of the same race hardly makes us cousins," This time it was Starshadow's turn to laugh.

Belladonis smiled and narrowed his eyes as they locked in on Starshadow's. "I was not being figurative, cousin. We are related by blood." Belladonis arose from his throne and stepped off of the marble dais. He reached out toward the pale King of Crystalmist and slapped him on the back in a friendly manner. "Let's have that meal, cousin. You look like you could use a drink!"

Laughter filled the chamber.

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The meal was hot, tasty and satisfying. It was not at all what Starshadow had expected. Actually, he wasn't sure what he had expected. Perhaps he thought Belladonis would be eating what the red caps ate. He didn't know exactly what that was either, but since they fed in a special room away from everyone else, he had his suspicions. While the fairies, pookas, satyrs and other assorted fey held their meal in the same hall, the food they ate varied, and was in some cases, quite exotic. But not the food at Periwinkle's board. While other sidhe and higher members of his court often shared his table, today the two kings dined alone at the center table and out of easy hearing from everyone else. The fare consisted of venison, pheasant, boar, quail and a variety of fruits, nuts, breads and cheeses. The ale was good, and surprisingly cold, just the way Starshadow liked it. The wood elf enjoyed the meal in spite of himself and ate a portion of just about everything except for the mushrooms.

"You serve a feast much like we would have in Crystalmist," Starshadow told his host. He was making small talk to get a feel for what Belladonis was like. Also, the unseelie lord was hesitant to speak of their business until their appetites were sated.

"Did you think I would dine on living, human flesh, like my red cap associates?" He saw the answer in Starshadow's face and laughed heartily. "As I have tried to tell you, cousin, I am of your race. While we are called sidhe here, that is simply another term for noble elves. While you country folk back in Crystalmist may shun the indulgences of Court, they rather appeal to my sensibilities and tastes."

"So how is it exactly that you are my cousin?" Starshadow could hold back no longer.

"I was wondering how long you would hold out," Belladonis retorted, grinning broadly. "It seems you are discovering new relatives all the time aren't you?"

"You mean I do have a son?" Starshadow was a little confused.

"No. That was indeed a fabrication. I was referring to the relatives on your mother's side. That's my side as well."

"You are related to Juniper, my mother?" Then Starshadow understood. "But more directly through Blackwolf." That was his other newfound relative.

"That is correct!" Belladonis seemed pleased. "But you will never guess how." He paused as if waiting for Starshadow to guess, but the wood elf just stared at him. "Blackwolf is you grandfather, and his brother, Greyfox, was mine. They were twins, you know. Blackwolf became king and Greyfox served as a prince under his brother. Anyway, they both desired the same woman, Whippoorwill. She was beautiful and gifted, a mage with a voice even more magical. But she only had eyes for King Blackwolf. The rivalry persisted for years however, even after Blackwolf and Whippoorwill were wed and had a daughter. One day, Greyfox sought to take Whippoorwill by force. Blackwolf got there in time to stop the abduction. When Greyfox challenged Blackwolf to a duel for the lady, Blackwolf declined. He would not spill the blood of his own kin. Greyfox was angered, and threatened to kill Whippoorwill, so that neither would have her. She pleaded for her lord to defend her, but he hesitated. Greyfox went to stab her, or perhaps just to grab her and menace her with the blade. He slipped and plunged the knife into her belly. She screamed in horror and called forth the last of her powers. Greyfox was banished from Crystalmist forever, and Blackwolf was cursed. The curse was such that he could never be a warrior again, and according to Crystalmist custom, the king must be a warrior. So Blackwolf lost his wife, his brother and his kingdom. Blackwolf held her as she bled to death, and she apologized for her rage and hatred. But it was too late. The spells she had called down were a travesty, and she had broken the laws of magic, as well as the laws of the land. She was cursed to walk Crystalmist in death, never to rest. That is why your grandmother is a ban sidhe.

My Grandfather ended up here in Dreamingdark. He had become filled with hate and gloom and became what you would term unseelie. But his power was still great and he became the ruler here. They were the last of their dynasty, our grandfathers. Because of the curse of Whippoorwill, Blackwolf became introspective; a shaman. He gave the rule to Duke Moonbeam, a young and talented elf. Wisely, the former king married his only daughter to the youth, and so the Moonbeam dynasty began. As a result, you are of noble birth and the rest you know."

Starshadow did not speak. This was much to take all at once, though it did answer many questions. Sparrowreed's powers actually came down from her grandmother. Blackwolf was once king. No wonder he would not speak of the ban sidhe.

"How is it you make your presence known to me now," the wood elf asked. "Where have you been all my life."

"Oh, I've been here. But I think your trusty weapon gave you away." Belladonis smiled and pointed to Darklight. "Did you know that I had that forged as a gift to Malpheus? We were childling friends. You should have suspected something when Lady Laurel Angelica told you it was unseelie."

"So let me get this straight," Starshadow began. "You found me because of the sword that I stole from Malpheus?"

"In a nut shell," the blonde sidhe replied, grinning again. "From time to time I give gifts that I can hone in on later, to um...check up on my friends. You know; to see how they are faring."

"And the dreams I have been having?" Starshadow asked, getting a little impatient.

"Darklight's way of interpreting. You are its master now, and it recognizes you as such. It is quite powerful, as I see you have noticed from time to time. Especially with the dead types." Belladonis began to chuckle and Starshadow clenched his fist about Darklight's pommel, remembering how his sword had prevailed against the walking dead.

"We may be cousins, but we will not be friends, Belladonis." Starshadow rose from his seat, and several guards made towards the elf.

"Sit down cousin before my bodyguards begin to see you as my enemy." He waved his hand and the guards retreated. "Besides, I invited you here for my own reasons."

"I suspected it wasn't for a genealogy lesson," Starshadow retorted, sitting. "What do you want from me."

"Tell Baron Ghostdancer to call off this silly war of his. I do not wish to repeat the sins of our forefathers. I did not spill elven blood on his soil, and the time for seelie to war against unseelie has not yet come. Personally, I do not believe it will ever come." The cocky sidhe grew serious, his brow furrowed. "If such a day should come, Starshadow, it would mean the end of all the Faerie realms: Dreamingdark, Crystalmist, Avalon, Arcadia, all of the ones I have never even heard of. And that would be the end of us all. The mortals would take over where magic once was and a new age will dawn. I think we should hold that time at a reasonable distance. Don't you?"

"Then why stir up so much trouble? Who did kill that soldier?" Starshadow began to feel dizzy.

"Mischief is in my nature, and I have my own plans which are truly no concern of yours. But it was a human spy of one of Ghostdancer's many enemies that killed that elf. By the way, tell the Dream Warrior not to come snooping around anymore. I knew when he was here and as a favor to you, I allowed him to live."

Starshadow sneered slightly, laughing softly. "I think you would have found Ghost a slippery eel to catch, cousin." The King of Crystalmist ceased his laughter and fell into his chair. "You have poisoned me after all, eh?"

"Not I." Belladonis said calmly. "The Dream Snake venom wears off. It was nice to chat with you cousin. Just remember one thing." Starshadow fought for consciousness even as his cousin's words grew weak in his ears. "Our grandfather's lost everything they loved. Don't repeat their mistakes..."

Starshadow lost all awareness and fell into a deep sleep. At the end of the Path of Peace his cousin's words would echo long in his mind.

"Don't repeat their mistakes..."