Spiredore, one of the sacred keeps of Tencendor glowed in the moonlight, it's seven pure white
walls winking softly.
DewStar could not sleep.
The two men stayed in the water chatting well into the night and till the early morning, keeping
each other company as lonelyness is always more bearable with two. It was already starting to
light on the horizon by the time DewStar made it back to his nest. TOP
Andrea TrueSong sat on the stone bench, absently fingering the fringe of her golden cushion.
There would not be much support for her son amongst this crowd if he chose his words
incorrectly, but, knowing her son, he would enchant them with honeyed words and keep their
families secret intact. And if not he would learn from his mistake and there would be few
TrueSong enchanters to punish him. StarStreak would not hurt his son. He would be dissapointed
but shrug it away, knowing very well how close he himself had come to revealing the family
secret.
*~*~*~*
DewStar peeked outside a crack in the door, scanning the crowd that had almost finished gliding
down from on high. He stood in the dressingroom, concealed behind a small door at the front of
the Great Hall. Many a Talon had paced these carpets in the moments before countless sessions
and gatherings, awaiting the fate the people chose for his latest dictate.
His eyes traveled up, scanning the crowd and reading their emotions as his mother had taught
him. There was shock there, and anticipation as others considered the gossip that had obviously
been travelling the halls of StarFinger for days.
He spread his wings wide and low, bowing in a long gracefull movement and turning to include
the whole congrigation in his greeting. The people were silent, watching his movements,
awaiting what would come next. Rising from his bow he looked to the lowest occupied tier of
seats, marked with red cushions indicating the eldest members of the combined families present.
Glancing to StarGrace, DewStar smiled encouragingly as EagleCrest tapped his staff once more,
calling the next item of business to the stand.
TOP
DewStar looked to his father and shared a thought to him through their "secret" bond. He nodded
turning to the enchanter sitting beside him and whispering in her ear. She too nodded after a
time and then turned to her neighbour, whispering in their ear. DewStar watched in amusement as
the thought was passed along the row of enchanters, sometimes stopping for a moment as a slight
hatred interrupted the flow, but eventually the thought was recieved. The row as one stood,
arranging their garments and wings gracefully and stepping as one down to the speakers circle.
DewStar did not know what he would find, his previous excursions into the mind relating to
memory blocks and severe shock. He found those, yes, but nothing could have prepaired him for
what else he found. Gasping at the immensity of it, of the twisted minds behind it all he almost
missed a beat in his song. The other enchanters had already begun singing, fortifying his melody
and keeping perfect time. Without their help DewStar could truly have been lost amongst the
stars. Feeling their melody he began to wrap his enchantments, stilling the being within
FallingStar for the briefest of moments, enough time for StarGrace to do her work, to briefly
glance at what possibly could be behind all of this and see if there were any remaining pieces
of what was once FallingStar's soul.
Slightly shaken he looked to StarGrace, seeing her well but quite aggrivated at being treated
so harshly, he was about to make an appology but a movement from FallingStar disrupted him.
The Being was awake.
TOP
DewStar wailed.
The sound was lost amongst the screams and echoes of panic that filled the giant chamber. No one turned their head as they were too busy scrabbling for an exit from the chaos. The smell of burnt feathers permeated the air in a noxious miasma.
Spikefeather lay before him on the stone floor, twitching occasionally as his eyelids fluttered.
Glancing around the room he saw that all the exits were clogged with clawing terrified people. He couldn't see any faces he recognized, everything coated in a sickly red coating transforming fine features and majestic stone into an image of horror.
But his concern wasn't for his family but for his friend. Spikefeather. That Being was inside him and Dew had no idea how to manage it. All he could do was save Spike's body and hope there was someone left to occupy it.
Dew stood, swaying on his feet and wincing in pain as his wings complained at their rough treatment. He couldn't fly. The muscles were pulled and strained, requiring many days of rest to recover. Grimacing he bent over to lift Spike. A soft groan issued from the unconscious birdman's lips gave Dew a glimmer of hope, doubling his efforts to wrap his arm around him and haul him to the central circle of stone.
"Let's get out of here Spike, the noise is giving me a headache.." Dew muttered, knowing there wouldn't be a reply but fortifying his own resolve. He began to sing, an old melody he had discovered when he had just begun his training what seemed like a lifetime ago, the familiar tune comforting and calming him, a smile on his lips as the "door" opened before him.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Rising, then falling, in blackness then into light as he breached the threshold, pulling the dead weight of Spikefeather with him. He stood in the lowest chamber of StarFinger, the entrance to the waterways.
A boat was waiting and in it sat Orr. His face was hidden deeply in the hood of his robe, no indication of life in his posture.
Orr didn't move as the boat started to glide silently along the calm green glowing waters and Dew shifted uncomfortably. Trying to peek under the hood he asked,
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pushing his way through the black mists Spikefeather ran down the stone passage. Reaching the Talon's apartments he reached for the latch on the door, his fingers trembling, grasping it and turning..
Blood. A river of blood spilled out, coating him up to the waist in scarlet warmth.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
DewStar slept softly as the boat glided silently down the waterways. Orr was not in the mood for conversation and Dew was too tired to talk to himself.
Orr watched the young enchanter from under his hood between glances at his ailing protege, he too worrying about the battle raging within.
DewStar passed out, slumping to the floor of the boat.
TOP
DewStar moaned softly between clenched teeth, SpikeFeather's insistant fingers probing into his screaming flight muscles. With SpikeFeather crooning softly in his ear and his muscles slowly loosening, the pain fading into blood warm tingling, he began to think.
There has to be somewhere. Somewhere in this land is a place we can use as a stronghold. Defendable, enchanted... safe. A home.
All this was broken as the door of the keep was blown in by an incredible force. Two stone statues, too tall to enter erect, scrabbled through the remains of the wooden door. The enchanter and the strikeleader took one look and bolted.
The tower looked on, frowning slightly.
DewStar could see the mists forming. A tunnel of blue mist writhing lazily before him, the smell of new grass and sweet spring waters filling his nose with hope, doubling his effort and sprinting the last few paces into safety, Spikefeather overtaking him and leading the way into the sunshine.
The tower smiled to itself as the visitors left, turning its attention to the statues.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The statues were so sure they'd found their prey. The Hunter's scent was so strong. But somehow they had failed.
What had gone wrong?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Lake of Life was beautiful as always, it's ruby tinged waters steaming gently in the sunshine, the people of the lake going about their daily motions, content and safe. The ocassional flock of Icarii winging through the air with the birdlife often drew eyes upwards to watch in slight awe, but other than that the people mingled and spoke happily with each other.
DewStar watched all this from his position on one of the surrounding hills, taking stock of what was here and how much it had changed from his days of winging overhead before the reformation. Spikefeather had gone off to converse with a group called the Lake Guard. Like a strike force he supposed but with a different mission. Spike had not been forthcoming with much information but DewStar had just shrugged, knowing his friend would tell him more when he was ready.
Standing with a sigh, dusting off his black pants he decided it was time to introduce himself to the bridge.
TOP
DewStar awoke with a start.
The howl pierced through the mist once more and DewStar uttered but one word.. "Penn!" before diving out of bed and flying as quickly as he could to his love who he knew was waiting for him.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Andrea TrueSong awoke to the sound of the birds in the trees, singing sweet music to the warm sun as it dawned over the Wildog Plains. She was glad to be alive. StarFinger was gone and along with it the majority of the Icarii StrikeForce and their millenia of learning. And many thousands of Icarii.
But life went on. Obsticals were overcome. Her son was safe. Her husband was safe, still sleeping by her side in their guest quaters inside the keep of Sigholt.
Her son, and another man, tangled in their bedlinen and each other's limbs, naked she assumed and so blissfully content she could only smile softly before retreating demurely to find a morning cup of herbal tea.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
DewStar chuckled gently, kissing his husband tenderly goodmorning, not expecting a response as Penn continued to snore softly, whispering,
So blissfully content.
DewStar sat at the small table by the window, wrapped in a light robe and sipping his morning herbal tea as the sunshine filters into the room and across the bed where his husband still slept.
After a time of description, explination and listening, Penn finally asked the question that had most been worrying him.
Afew moments later the two stood amongst the roses, Dew looking back around the shoreline of the lake to the bustling township and eternally strong keep, Penn frolicing among the flowers, categorising the varieties and planning crossbreeding..
Humming the song of the StarDance.
TOP
While his love was out exploring the strange land of Tencendor DewStar spent most of his time in bed. He was not ill or tired. He was out exploring himself.
Part of his skill as an enchanter was due to his nightly excursions out into the universe, travelling through the stars to listen and remember songs he absorbs along the way, learning how to manipulate the powers of the raw universe. The powers of creation and destruction on a global scale, riding the waves of starsong through the cosmos.
But most of all he examined pathways through the stars that a physical form could fare if the soul was strong enough. He sometimes roamed close to the thread tieing the being that had posessed SpikeFeather to it's homeworld, not risking close examination lest he be detected. Even from this far distance he could see the stardance corroding it's bond slowly. Not sure as to the creatures intentions if it were freed he witheld judgement on the implications of this fact.
Sometimes he thought too well of others.
Returning to his body was always easy. He only needed to follow his own golden cord back to his homeworld, humming gently as he returned to his slumber.
Waking slowly he looked about the room. Penn was absent. No doubt hiding in his rosebushes. Pulling on a light tunic and some breeches he stepped towards the doorway of his room, enchanting himself a passage to the roof.
The room was cold and dark. Soft dripping could be heard somewhere in a dank corner where the waters from the moat trickled through the stones of the keep. SpikeFeather sat keeping watch on his captive, ocassionally twitching in amusement at a particularly witty thought.
DewStar felt terrible. There were stars exploading in his head to the beat of his heart, he was cold and sweaty trying not to shiver, and worst of all... worst of all he was kidnapped by his best friend.
TOP
StarStreak TrueSong stormed through the halls of Sigholt looking for his son. It was now dusk and Dew had been invited to a formal dinner in the StarSon's presence, but dinner was now over and the enchanter had not appeared. And his father was furious muttering blackly under his breath.
"Have you seen my son?" StarStreak said, slightly sharper than he had intended, seeing his son-in-law flinch at the barbed words he instantly regretted them.
Since DewStar had first introduced his husband to the family StarStreak had always felt awkward around Penn. The man was quiet and reserved - a black raven amongst the peacocks. Though he didn't dislike the man, on the contrary he had great respect for someone who would follow his son on his wanderings back home… all in the name of love.
His strange abilities were another subject of much confusion and curiosity. Someone who could shift forms, much like that of Uberth the great mother icebear living amongst the icy landscape of the north. So intriguing…
Reaching his son-in-law's side he puts what he hopes is a comforting hand on the man's shoulder looking into his closed depressed face. "Son?" the word seemingly slipping with ease from between unaccustomed lips.
*~*~*~*
Penn looked at the man’s face, a bit stunned by the word. He thought he had accustomed himself to always being the outsider here but to hearing this word of acceptance touched deep emotions in him. He had grown up without a father and to hear the word son from this man sent his world off kilter further than it already was. While he was working to recover his wits he thought of something that startled him with its simplicity. Of course, he thought, it isn’t only me this has been hard on. It’s been hard on them all. Not a one of us understands the other and though they have made little effort to understand me, how much effort did I make in trying to understand them? Looking at his hands is easier than looking at the worry on the man’s face and Penn sighs once as he tries to find his unused voice.
“I haven’t seen much of Dew since I got here. He’s been resting a lot and I don’t like to intrude – there’s so many things I don’t understand yet… about him or about myself or even where I am.”
Meeting StarStreak’s eyes at last, Penn puts his hands in his pockets and asks what he has wanted to know all along, seeking the confirmation of what he is sure of already.
“They talk about him, make fun of him… don’t they… because I came here… That wasn’t what I wanted at all, but I couldn’t live without him. If they understood… knew how I felt… .” Penn cuts himself off, perhaps its folly to think that way. He looks away, not wanting the man to see the hurt in his eyes. While he looks at the rocks under his feet, the urgency with which the man asked the question sinks in and he looks at StarStreak, all his hurt gone in an instant. “Why do you ask me? Is he alright?”
*~*~*~*
StarStreak sighed, still slightly agitated, withdrawing the hand from the man's shoulder.
*~*~*~*
Penn blinks as the man walks away. The switch from caring to forgotten happened so fast it takes him a bit to recover but his annoyance finally boils over into action and he takes two steps after StarStreak. Using his courtroom voice, a deep confident tone that caught the thoughts and imaginations of jurors a million dreams from here, he calls after StarStreak.
“No… you can’t just get me worried then walk away from me. I love him. When will you all see that? I’m tired of being ignored, tired of being an outcast and if he’s missing then damn it I want to be in on the rescue effort, not left hung out by the lake to dry!”
Penn blinks his hazel eyes and stands with his shoulders straight and his spine stiff. There’s no taking back the words now, and they hang in the air a minute as he looks at StarStreak, having no idea how the man is going to take this outburst.
“He’s been busy with things your people don’t want me to know about. I know they have no reason to trust an outsider but I love him and I want to help find him. I can at least be a part of finding him.”
*~*~*~*
StarStreak stilled, ceasing his movement and looking down at his feet for a moment, sighing and turning to look at the man his son had chosen as lover and lifepartner. Changing the direction of the conversation once more.
TOP
Stepping up to the familiar door he stubbed out his ciggarette at the step with a slight grimace. It had been a very long time since his last visit home and he wondered idly if anything had changed. Reaching out to open the door he noticed the splashed mud on his grey suit jacket sleeve.
For the first time in the last three months he actually noticed how he looked. Physically sound would probably be the most generous description. His suit was rumpled and dirty and his hair needed a good wash. Nicotine stained fingers reached for the doorhandle and he was sure that his face had gained some new lines.
Blinking he looked around and wondered if there was anyone he knew here..
*That door opened and for a moment she froze. If she had been sitting down she would have literally fallen out of her chair. Most of the shock being from not seeing Dewstar in several years. In fact it had been quite a while since she had even heard Dewstar's humming voice. The other thing that threw her off balance was that her and Dewstar were pretty good friends, but ever since her death and the changes between the two would that friendship still hold up?*
He only spent a short time looking for familiar faces, catching a glimpse of movement at the back stairs he thought was Deia, seeing a strange man flicking through a book and scribbling.
Moving quietly towards a back table he slumped down into a chair, the momentary flash of a lighter accompanied by a thick cough and a waft of smoke coming from the shadows the only indication that there was someone sitting amongst the blackness.
He wasn't in a very sociable mood, unable to remember the last words he had spoken all those months ago.
*A thousand actions seemed to happen all at once. Some people took a look at her, noting her familiar looks but unable to place them. Several others were occupied as Raven brought in a man. There was something about him. Completely different in body, but a piece of him spoke out to her. She could feel it when he walked into the tavern and sat down near the fire, only to have his image stolen away as the shadows wrapped around him.*
Watching the familiar woman approaching he shifts slightly in his seat, curling his arms around his front almost protectivly... the lit ciggarette in his hand never far from his lips.
Normally he would have been able to recognise Deia almost straight away but since he had lost his connections to the stars and celestial songs his powers revolve around he was deaf and dumb.
He said nothing, unable to utter anything besides grunts and coughs, meerly raising a questioning eyebrow to the woman that reminded him so much of Deia..
*She smiled thankfully as the smoking Dewstar waved a hand towards a seat at his table allowing her to sit with him. Nodding her head respectfully towards him, she pulled out the chair and took a seat right next to him instead of across from him.*
With a gentle shake of his head and a soft grunt the hopelessness of his expression tells everything. Sighing and butting out the ciggarette, noticing the lady's reaction to the poisonus miasma he has chosen to kill himself with, and not wanting to offend.
Pulling a small notepad from his pocket and a silver pen he flips through the pages of little notes and comments, finding a well thumbed page and showing the woman.
*She looked at Dew for a moment, the concern evident in her eyes as he just grunted towards her and gave her a hopeless expression. What had happened to the humming Dew? What happened to the bright Icarii that seemed to just bounce with energy? Now it felt as if something were missing. Picking up the notepad before her, she let her eyes read over the writing. In fact she read it a few more times just to let the words sink in. The same concerned expression looked at Dew, yet within those eyes there was a sign of hurt. Sighing lightly, she dropped the notepad back down onto the table.*
Grunting softly and sitting back in his chair he now reached for another smoke.. He knew it had been a bad idea coming home again for someone would try to help him "pucker up" and say "life isn't that bad, it'll pass".
Not noticing the tear slowly slipping down his cheek he looked to the strange but familiar woman sitting across from him. Why was she so comfortable with him and willing to help? There was a story there but finding the motivation to investigate it would be too much trouble.
*She knew the look on his face and she understood it. In the many years of her life she was faced with the prospect of ending her life. The temptation during that time was always strong, but somehow she survived. Something kept her alive, something kept her from taking that temptation. In fact she was pretty sure that some years ago she had a choice of being dead or living and it was Dew that dove into the uncharted waters and helped her out. Maybe now it was her turn to return the favour. She did not wish to replace the void that he was feeling, but she did wish to help him in some way. Lifting one hand she reaches across the table and places it on one of his hands. Her eyes looking into his as she leans forward, sparking a small connection as she did not wish to use her voice for what she was about to say.*
Blinks... Slightly startled and flinching at someone's touch on his mind. Shuddering at the sensation it reminds him of he reacts violently and pulls away with a soft growl.
Heading for the door he pulls out another smoke to replace the one disguarded in an ashtray on the table behind him, lighting up and stepping into the awaiting night.
*She sat there for a moment just staring at the now closed tavern door. Her first thought was to follow Dew outside. Pursuing the matter might actually get him to open up to her or it might make him bolt and do something drastic. She did not want to offend him anymore then she already had. It was obvious by her mind link with him that it made him uncomfortable, but she had only done it for her own benefit. Saying those words out loud would have surely made everyone's head turn. There could only be a handful of elven ladies with silver hair and that comment would make them all assume she was the one elven woman who had been their friend. In fact she still saw herself as friend, but still had this fear of mentioning her name. Like it was a curse to utter it outloud.*
Stepping through the dew soaked grass the enchanter looked for a quiet hidden rock to perch on. Footprints in the turf and a ghostly trail of smoke the signs of his passing.
Sitting and looking up into the crystal clear night sky he began to count the stars. Denied the right to hear or sing with the music of the stars the only comfort he could find was reaching out in the vain hope to maybe attain that closeness once more. Efforts he knew were pointless.
*.*.*.*
The creature's nostrels flared at the scene before him. Silly bird, spilling the blood that could be satisfying the hunger of his predator.
The enchanter made no move to acknowledge the creature's presence, nor did he even flinch as fangs drove deeply into the flesh of his pale neck.
The creature growled softly as the enchanter's life-blood infused it's undead form, the ritchness of it racing through his mind. Drawing away with a snarl it tore at the shirt denying him his second bite, partaking deeply once more of the exquisit essence.
*.*.*.*
His breath caught in his throat as the creature made quick work of the task which should have taken longer. Long enough for someone to save him? Perhaps, but he didn't want to be saved. His salvation was in the reunion to come on the other side of the veil of death when once more he would be united with his love. Sliding away. Answering the call that even the creatures death grip could not deny.
A soft expression of peace the last impression the enchanter's spirit left on the shell it had called home.
*.*.*.*
Draining the last drops of sweet blood from the enchanter the creature even licked the gashed wrists clean.
It would be a long night.
The winters night was crisp and clear, the moon half full, its light reflecting off the pristine
waters of Grail Lake and the high city walls of Carlon.
The night was still as the city's inhabitants slept, an occasional guard half heartedly pacing
between the massive wall's turrets. Peace was over this land and defences, while still kept,
were not required, as all heads and hearts rested at ease in Tencendor..
A shooting star streaking across the sky, Spiredore's walls winking in the moonlight.
DewStar was home.
*~*~*~*
StarStreak TrueSong awoke with the sun and slipped out of bed gently so as not to disturb his
wife's sleep, wrapping a light silk robe around him and padding across his chamber floor
silently. Briefly glancing back to his wife, a soft smile on his fine features, her gentle
beauty breathtaking as she slept undisturbed. He opened the polished darkwood door softly and
sliped out of the room.
His appartments, though comparitively small, were neat. The decore tastefull with only a hint
of ritchness in the velvet drapes seperating the parlor from the sleeping roosts and the finely
polished darkwood furniture throughout. The main feature of the appartments was the polished
granite walls, remnants of a violent ancient past.
The kitchen branching off the parlor was clean and seldom used, his family usually dining with
his father RavenCry. It had been so since the death of his mother, his father staying in his
nest rather than questing for another mate.
Sighing softly at the memories, not wanting to spoil the glorious morning with brooding, he
passed through the main archway of his appartments and into the passage, seeking the sun.
TalonSpike had long been the home of the Icarii nation, sheltering them from the heavy axes of
the Seneschal in it's rocky depths. Having tunnelled out the mountain, lighting it with their
enchantments and heating it from the depths of the earth, decorating it's halls with their
talents and ritches, the Icarii now used their traditional home as a place of learning.
StarFinger. Many thousands had moved from their beautifully crafted caverns to make way for
books and experiments, prefferring to live down in the plains with their brothers the Acharites.
But StarStreak was loath to leave his home. Brushing the marble walled passage wall lovingly
with a wingtip he shook his head. He could never leave his beautiful mountain.
Turning a corner in the passage he spied his familiar sunbeam. The beam he had greeted every
morning since he had first been able to leave his appartments unaccompanied centuries ago,
shining happily now before him, picking out crystals in the polished stone floor of the passage.
Walking out onto the narrow ledge confidantly, unaffected by the sheer drop below him, gazing
down hundreds of feet to the glacier below slowly grinding it's way to the ocean, looking up to
the sun sharing it's warmth with the world, he laughed with joy.
And the sun laughed back?
Puzzled and slightly shocked he looked up.
"Sun?"
"Exactly!" A familiar and dear voice replied...
*~*~*~*
Andrea TrueSong awoke to the sound of excited talking and laughing coming from the main parlor
of her appartments she shared with her husband and youngest daughter. Rising off the soft warm
linen grudgingly she ran her fingers through her ebony hair briefly, slipped a soft silk robe
about her and walked out into the source of the commotion.
As she turned the latch on the door, opening it a fraction, she knew the source of the
excitement. Her son was home. Her magical renegade son.
Smoothing her robe as she collected her thoughts she slipped out of the room softly and into
the parlor.
He was thinner than he had been the last time she saw him, and older. Wiser? Perhaps. Smiling
gently to him she opened her arms and was quickly spun about in a fierce hug. Laughing, truly
glad to see him home safe at last, she looked into his golden brown eyes, searching.
"What do you see mother?" DewStar asked, a hint of seriousness in his voice as he placed her
back on the ground, staring into his mother's searching eyes deeply.
"Pain, and happiness," She replied softly after a moment. "And a son.." She stilled. A son?
Blinking and breaking the contact quickly, rubbing her temple softly, her thoughts span. A son!
And an enchanter! She had never dreamed that the enchanter seed would extend to the next
generation, knowing her son and his habits, which while she didn't detest, found slightly
unsettling. Her Arachite mind never truly being bent to the Icarii way. "But how? Dew, tell me."
she said softly but firmly, moving to one of the soft furnishings, perching on the edge facing
her son.
DewStar sat facing his mother, looking away for the moment as he gathered his words. StarStreak
sat near his wife, eyes happily watching his son, his curiosity pricked. He was overjoyed at
the oppertunity to pass on his knowledge to another enchanter of the blood, not caring where
the child came from.
"Well,.." Dew said after a moment with a sigh, "it was an accident." Andrea nodding slightly,
confirmation that her son had not changed his nesting habits. "She is a dear friend of mine and
she was getting married. It was her last party before she was to be attached, so I thought I'd
give her a little gift. And it turned out to be a big surprise." With his father chuckling
softly and his mother expressionlessly looking at him he felt a fledgeling again. Caught after
throwing snowballs at the strikeforce as they flew past on their rounds. "The child is a bond
between four people. Myself and Alexia, her husband and my current partner. We will share the
duties of parent, and hopefully Alexus will turn out a marvelous person."
"Or a totally unbalanced individual without a sence of identity." Andrea said firmly, looking
sternly at her husband as he threw another bout of chuckling into the conversation.
"He will be beautiful." Dew replied firmly. "A valuable addition to any bloodline, mortal or
otherwise. He will have the skills of a knight, learned from his step father, the powers of an
enchanter, taught by his father by blood, the morals and compassion taught by my partner and be
mothered to perfection by Alexia. She is a singing marvel in her own right, though she dosn't
follow the StarDance. All in all Alexus TrueSong will be complete. And also your grandson." His
final point made he sat back gauging his parents response.
His father was proud and very happy. DewStar knew there would be no objections from his father,
he himself taking a partner for breeding reasons only. The strength and stability his mother
had provided had been a coincidence but her strong will had been the cornerstone of all their
lives. Before her arrival his father had been a rouge. A powerful drifting rouge. As was his
son? Perhaps.
Andrea sighed and brushed a stray lock of ebony black hair from her face, giving up on any
arguements, knowing the act was done and her son would grow from the experiance.
"Well I truly hope your son turns out the way you say he will. And if not, I will be here to
pick up the pieces you evil Icarii Enchanter's leave behind in your rouge wanderings." Giving
her husband a firm poke in the ribs she added with a hint of mirth, "Look what your son has
become. A feather from his father's crest, no doubt in my mind. Mother's lock their sons and
daughters away safely in fear because of the likes of you both." And with that she stood,
smoothing her soft silk robe firmly but fondly, walking to the kitchen to boil some water for
a morning drink as the two enchanters shared an amused look with each other.
It was business as usual in the TrueSong household.
TOP
"A WHAT?!" RavenCry TrueSong cried out in astonishment.
The TrueSong family were sitting at RavenCry's table in his spacious appartments, now mostly
unused. DewStar was smiling at his grandfather around a mouthful of meat. Both Andrea and
StarStreak had heard the tail told many times since this morning. ScarletWing, Dew's little
sister having heard it only once was still quite amazed, the thought of being an Aunty quite
appealing to her.
But RavenCry was shocked and amazed, thrilled at having a great grandson to learn his lost
wife's skill of enchanting, glad the knowledge was not going to be lost. But he had long
thought that there would be no great grandson or daughter to learn the knowledge, Dew's
alliances in the nest quite strongly against the idea of children, the enchanter's blood only
passed down the generations through the male line, unless as in the case of his wife, the
mother was an enchanter. But DewStar had been the only enchanter born this generation. Many had
sighed, dissapointed when he had first shared his love with another Icarii male, the hopes of
another enchanter diminishing rapidly.
But you could not blame it on the boy. It was the way he was, and there was nothing worse than
a depressed enchanter. His magics would be lifeless and lacking the strength to be potent. His
notes flat. And the father being crucial in a young enchanter's growth and development would
not teach his child correctly if he was unhappy within himself.
So RavenCry and many other elders had waited, for a miracle. And they had recieved it thank the
Stars.
"My boy that is marvellous! Are you sure he is an enchanter?"
"Very sure. He already sings his own creation, a counterpoint to the music I sustain him with.
He is a marvel, as is his mother. Both of them protected and safe, the music countering all
evil." Taking a sip of water from a sculpted glass infront of him he smiled, "The bloodline is
secure. DearStar would be pleased."
"Aye, that she would." a small tear slipping down his cheek gently, happiness overwhelming him,
mingled with relief, RavenCry leaned back in his chair, his bronze eagle wings draping
gracefully but lazily on the floor behind him. "This news is most pleasing. We must tell the
other elders of it, if they haven't heard it in the wind already. You know the speed at which
rumour can fly in these halls."
"As fast as the quickest enchanter." Andrea said with a chuckle, the rest of the table joining
her in laughter. DewStar smiled at his mother's sarcasim fondly, swallowing and collecting his
thoughts. There was still more to tell of this tale.
"Grandfather, now that the whole family is here I feel it is time to tell you all more."
RavenCry looked puzzled but nodded aquiesing to his grandson's wish to speak.
"The mother of
your great grandson is quite interesting. She is, or was and will be again, a vampire." All at
the table blinked in puzzlement.
"Could you enlighten us more on this?" StarStreak said with a slight catch in his voice, not
liking the sound of his son's words.
Sighing softly Dew continued. "A vampire is a new species I encountered during my travels.
Apparently they are dead beings, anamated with a soul and feeding off the blood of other living
beings, preferably mortal. It is not a breed as such as the creatures are dead, devoid of any
living actions including reproduction, but a sickness, transmitted by drinking a vampire's blood.
Some mortals gladly loosing their breath in the hope to cheat death and stay forever young.
There are many degrees of evil amongst this kind, a large majority being predatorial, hunting
down innocents and draining them of their lives to feed their own existances. Thankfully Alexia
is not one of these. She only feeds when absolutely necessary and does not kill, to the extent
of my knowledge." The table was stunned. The colour had drained out of Andrea's face and the
hand holding her fork was trembling slightly. The grin that usually lived on his father's face
had drained away, replaced by an expressionless guise. ScarletWing was choking softly on her
last mouthful of food and RavenCry was somberly looking him in the eye.
"Well this is an interesting predicament. I don't exactly know the implications of your actions
or even how you managed to seed a dead creature with life, but I do know the councel is not
going to like it. One bit at all." RavenCry said firmly. As everyone at the table regained their
composure the prattle began. StarStreak asking how on earth had he seeded a dead creature,
Andrea furiously asking what the boy would be like if his mother was dead, and ScarletWing
trying to get answers out of anyone at the table. Dew sat there calmly, sharing a long look with
his grandfather as they sat there in silence.
The councel would not like it one bit. Along with the fact that DewStar had fled TalonSpike
during the evacuation before the great gryphon attack during the reformation of Tencendor, and
dissapeared. The only sign of his existance messages he had sent his parents using his
grandmother's well kept knowledge of the StarDance, the same means in which he transported
himself to another planet all together. Which the councel didn't know about and that the
TrueSong enchanter line had kept secret for thousands of years.
"We are in big trouble." DewStar said somberly.
"No Dew, you are in big trouble." RavenCry replied.
TOP
Not even the sound of the stars waltzing across the cosmos in their celestial song could lull
him to sleep this night. The councel would be meeting tomorrow, the monthly gathering of all
the TrueSong family members and their intermarried kin. Thankfully most of them had moved since
last he had participated in councel. Preferring the plains and their beautiful Minaret Peaks,
reopened after centuries of neglect during the reformation. But there would be many influential
enchanters there, and all of the high elders, none of them wishing to move from their mountain
home. Not that he could blame them.
Sighing and slipping out of bed he stretched his still aching wing muscles, tired after his all
night and day flight from Spiredore, the other side of Tencendor. Thankfully the winds had been
favorable and the night clear, still reeling from the power he had risen to jet across the
vacume of space. But now he was paying for his foolishness. Grimacing at the thought he slipped
a light shirt over his torso, loosly tieing the strips under his wings closed, deciding to visit
the heated pools at the base of the mountain to soak his troubles away.
There would be allies in the hall. That he was sure of. But his friends were few and far between
due to his absence. StarGrace, yes. His family assuredly. But he was still alone amongst his
deception and lies. He hoped the news StarGrace had shared with him as they had walked up to
the Talon's chambers, where the head elder now resided in his office, the Talon living in the
Minaret Peaks with the majority of his people, would distract the main body of the crowd from
his issues. Almost muttering to himself he padded barefoot through the parlor and out the main
archway into the passage.
Brandishing a globe of soft white light in one hand, enchanted out of the air and the star's
music, he made his way to the main central shaft of TalonSpike. Now called StarFinger, he
reminded himself. Stepping off the edge of the balcony at the start of the shaft and flapping
his aching wings with a grimace he glided gently down, spiraling wide, almost brushing the
stairs winding down the side of the shaft walls with his wingtips. A single glowing white ball
of light, gliding down into the ancient depths of the mighty mountain.
After a long moment of drifting down the seemingly endless shaft he reached the bottom, landing
gently and refolding his wings, he moved into the access passage to the earth heated pools that
warmed the entire mountain with their steam. The air was thick and warm, inviting him to slip in
and stay forever in it's warm embrace. Closing his eyes and breathing in dreamily he quickly
disguarded all his garments and stepped down into the wide steaming pool. He was all alone, his
light joined by the constantly glowing enchantments surrounding this room, sliding gracefully
across the waters surface, wings steering him to the very center of its mirror stillness,
closing his eyes and forgetting everything but the sensation of gliding, effortlessly weightless
in warmth.
The sound of trickling water and his own deep breaths soon lulled him into a semi sleep,
drifting there for what seemed like hours, he heard a gentle splash and opened an eye just in
time to see another birdman join him in the pool. Red wings and black hair ghosted under the
waters surface for a moment before the man broke through to the surface, gasping gently for air
and brushing the hair from his eyes.
"Spikefeather." DewStar said with a smile to his cousin, both a wing and strike leader in the
Icarii StrikeForce. Spikefeather smiled back at his younger cousin, the young man often making
him laugh in practice sessions while he had been training by pulling strange faces at him.
Splashing him playfully Spikefeather drifted across to him.
"Cousin. It has been a very long time. And I've heard the strangest rumours about you." DewStar
smiled at his cousin's playfullness, a side he very seldom showed only in the most intimate of
surroundings.
"And when have you not heard interesting and strange rumours about me? I'd be slightly worried
if you had not. Loosing my touch." Sharing a laugh the two men drifted around each other for a
moment, reassassing once more after a long time apart, remembering the old times of shared
trouble making and fun. Times of advice and companionship. "You have changed Spikefeather."
"As have you DewStar." Spikefeather could see the tension in his eyes, and the age. A man in
his early twenties but with the spirit of someone much older. And the youthful disposition of
a child.
DewStar saw a soldier, alone by choice and dutiful to his chosen station in life. But there was
something more there. A wisdom he had not encountered before in anyone. It was young and not
fully developed but it was blossoming in him, but his eyes looked slightly haunted, a meer
glimmer but it was there.
"Something has happened to you. Spikefeather, tell me." The warrior looked away from his
childhood friend, unable to tell of his journeys into the underworld with the ferryman, learning
all of his knowledge that he can in so small a time.
"I cannot. I swore. You mustn't pry so DewStar. I see you haven't lost that habit."
Chuckling softly he replied,
"No, I haven't. But I have learned some new tricks to coax words from an unwilling tounge,
enough to survive on." Grinning and moving behind his friend Dew grasped the warriors shoulders
firmly and started to gently dig with his fingers. Gritting his teeth and chuckling Spikefeather
endured his cousin's probings as he worked out all the aquired knots in his muscles from hours
at archery practice and drilling. After a moment he sighed, sinking into the water in bliss,
amazed at his cousin's ability with his hands.
"Ahh, alright. You have earned your words my friend. I have been down in the underworld,
travelling the waterways with the ferryman." DewStar raised an interested and amazed eyebrow,
still kneeding his cousins well shaped muscles. "I am his apprentice, learning the secrets of
the waterways and the people who lived in them." Closing his mouth now, not leaking anything
else, Spikefeather leaned into his cousin's wonderfull hands, enjoying all that he would give
him.
"Well, you certainly did pay well for my attention. Thankyou."
"Ahh but now you must repay me with some answers to my questions Dew. The rumours say you are
expecting a son and he will have the eyes of a lizard and a gryphon's beak. Mateing with demon
spawn now are we? Men not good enough for you anymore?" Wincing at a well placed jab in his
back Spikefeather laughed. "I guess they elaborated abit in the telling?"
"I should say so!" DewStar exclaimed, kneeding his cousin's shoulders with alittle more vigour
than was nescissary. "My son would never be anything less than perfect. And for your information
the mother is a mortal."
Chuckling and nodding Spikefeather replied,
"Aye, and a pretty one she must be too to have won her way into your breeches Dew. You never
used to take up any offers from ladies." wincing slightly at Dew's over zealous hands "I still
need those shoulders." Dew realising how hard he was pressing softened his touch, moving to
Spikefeather's flight muscles, discovering tension in the most interesting of places.
"Enough of me, what of you? No ladies catching your ever watchful eye? No warmth in your nest?"
Spikefeather sighed softly,
"No Dew. I am still blissfully alone. No woman would bed with me and my schedule. Late to bed,
early to rise, when I am not in the underworld with the Ferryman. There is no room in my life
for another. And it is best left that way perhaps."
"That is a sorry tale Spike," they both chuckled softly at the reamergance of Spikefeather's
childhood name, "but if that's all that the stars spin your way, so be it."
"Aye, the stars will be done." DewStar unable to resist anymore glided around and embraced his
friend firmly, as he was embraced in return.
"You will be rewarded for your service Spikefeather."
It was the day of councel.
*~*~*~*
The great hall of StarFinger was filling slowly, bird men and women gliding gracefully down to
the tiered benches of it's beautifully carved ampitheatre. Gazing up in accustomed wonder at
the sculptures of bird men and women lining it's upper rim she marveled at their lifelike skin
tones, wondering at their expressions of joy, eyes open, mouths filled with silent song. Their
outstretched wings and arms forming arches, that the Icarii nation now glided through, all
grace and posture while their eyes scanned for a suitable cushion to occupy. Feathers slowly
drifted down from above, the result of much gliding and the occasional disturbance over cushion
rights.
Shaking her head gently at Icarii vanity, but still quite pleased with her own cushion, she
looked down to the small circle of translucent gold, violet veined marble where her son would
soon be standing. Avoiding the bloodstain on the floor that only her eyes could see, remnants
of a violent colourful past, she scanned the crowd for familiar faces. She could see RavenCry,
positioned only afew tiers above the speaking circle, his status as an elder quite prominant.
Her husband sitting one tier lower than his father on the turquoise cushions with the other
enchanters glanced up to her. She waved, smiling softly for a moment, then moving her eyes over
the rest of the crowd. There were others she knew the sight of, but could not name. She found
it quite hard to distinguish between bird people sometimes. Her eyes dazzled by their looks and
often brushing over the top of their egos, not regestering individual features. This often
didn't help in her already awkward socialising skills. She preferred being alone, rather than
the company of such vain creatures for extended periods of time. But they were part of living
in this mountain, and she had no intention of leaving.
All would be well. She had no doubt in her mind.
Now DewStar paced the floor, dressed in his highest costume, tight black breeches and a long
flowing sleeveless silken tunic in his prefered colour of turquoise, as befitted an enchanter
of his stature. He wore only a silver armband around his upper arm, twisted and shaped into a
flowing silver river, small stars picked out in diamond chips, and on his left hand ring finger
a copy of his Enchanter's ring. The original rested many many stars away on the finger of his
lover. Ahh how he missed his Penn.
Three loud cracking noises from outside the chamber door snapped him from his brooding, the
sound of wood on stone indicating the commencement of the councel. Taking a deep breath and
settling into his steady composure, his stance relaxed and a twinkle in his eye, he opened the
door and steped confidantly out into the centre of the circle.
EagleCrest ProudSoar, highest elder of StarFinger at the present time bowed his head slightly
towards him.
"So DewStar, you have returned." EagleCrest's voice was clear and firm, but with no hint of
reprimand, "Where have you been?"
"Yes I have returned." His gaze leaving EagleCrest's after a slight bow of his head, roaming to
take in the whole gathering as he turned and paced to the side casually, "Returned to a free
land, a proud land. Our land." Playing the heartstrings of the crowd, diverting away from the
question momentarily. The crowd murmered in response, agreeing, and conversations twittered
around the benches softly. DewStar smiled and continued. "I fled from a land at war. Our home
was on the brink of invasion and being young and frightened I dared not risk the skyes for fear
of attack. So I fled on foot." His expression became woeful, "Imagine it! The mighty Icarii
nation reduced to treading the ground in fear, and an enchanter!" The enchanters on the lower
turquoise benches shifted uncomfortably, aware of their apparent uselessness during the
reformation in forms of defence or attack. Glancing to StarStreak briefly he recieved an
encoraging wink from his father, smiling back briefly and returning to pacing the floor
casually. His eyes came across SpikeFeather as he paced, and he frowned slightly. SpikeFeather
was pale and sitting stiffly in his seat. Something was wrong but Dew could not stop to find
out. He needed to go on or all would be lost.
"Yes yes DewStar, we know all this. But where did you go and how did you get there?" EagleCrest
said sternly, his patience wearing thin and a long list of speakers over his head.
Bowing to EagleCrest, internally cursing himself for dallying but showing no sign of worry he
continued. "My people, I was blessed by a dream. The StarGod's came to me and whisked me away.
They had a task for me to do and knowledge for me to learn to help their people in their time
of strife." Curiosity swept through the crowd and there was the ocassional chuckle. DewStar
continued unphased. "I awoke in a strange land full of strange people. It was a harsh land full
of strife and chaos, but power was there. I witnessed magics unknown even to the StarMan
himself. Wounds were healed, gateways opened, creatures created. But the StarDance rang true
and protected me amongst all this danger. There I found knowledge of magic's that we had lost
in the mists of time." Humming lightly under his breath he guestured fluidly with his hands. A
small ball of flame growing between his palms. Concentraiting and humming with greater
intensity he stopped building the flame and levitated it above his outstretched hand. The crowd
was in awe, the row of enchanters pondering, knowing the song for fire but not using it for
such a manner previously. Glancing quickly to StarGrace who sat close to his father he winked
briefly, grinning. Not finished with his light show he threw the ball at one of the upper
levels. The crowd cried out, ducking as the fire glided effortlessly above them, slowing and
turning only to head back from whence it came, building in intensity. DewStar grinned, his song
altering. Crouching to the stone floor he sang of planets forming, atmospheres gathering and
condensing. Remembering the songs he had witnessed personally, singing the true song of
creation. Drawing the air from about him he created a dense atmosphere of air between him and
the flaming ball. Waiting till the last moment he quickly solidified the air creating a light
blue dome about his crouched form, the ball striking it with a loud rushing noise and
shattering, splitting onto the floor around him in a perfect circle of dieing flames. Smileing
gently he released the dome with a brief gust of air as it settled back into the room,
brushing his tunic casually and glancing to his father, raising an eyebrow. His father clapped
lightly and the other enchanter's clapped also, power such as this not weilded with such
casualness since the Starman himself. But he had been a god.
DewStar bowed fluidly to them in thanks and turned back to EagleCrest, the people at large
talking and chuckling amongst themselves with excitement and astonishment. EagleCrest nodded,
quite pleased at this new development. Raising a hand for silence DewStar went back to pacing,
brushing a scortchmark on the marble lightly with his soft leather booted toe. "There is more
my people. The power does not just lie with me. There is another of the blood, concieved of
both bloods awaiting birth. He already sings his own creation as did the StarMan but this song
is different. More complex. He will be strong and he will be TrueSong. I appeal to this councel
to allow him admittance into the enchanter's ranks when he has grown. Let his power become our
asset. Let us not allow ourselves to be conquered again."
Most of the enchanters nodded in agreement, not wanting to be debased once more. EagleCrest
was less certain.
"DewStar, we have not seen this son of yours. I will not allow him admittance until he proves
himself to this councel. If he is as strong as you say then he will undoubtably prove himself
with as much ease as you yourself have." DewStar smiled in triumph, no questions about how he
had come back from across the stars or on the knowledge he has aquired and always had. Knowing
the blasphamy he had comitted left him slightly sore but the gods would forgive him.
"I thankyou and your wisdom on this matter." DewStar bowed one final time, sweeping the
congregation into the motion as before and rising the steps to take his seat next to his father
with the other enchanters. His secret was safe, for now. He glanced to SpikeFeather once more
from across the hall, noticing his recovery and wondering what troubled his cousin so. He had
not been so brooding before his depature, but there had been many years and a war since then.
What had scarred him so..
DewStar quickly approached the two birdwomen crouched on the stone floor, ignoring the Icarii
population for the moment as they seethed in mixed conversations, babbling to anyone and
everyone desperate for their thoughts to be heard. He bent to the women, placing a gentle hand
on FallingStar's forhead, whispering in StarGrace's ear lightly. She nodded her understanding,
nervous despite her cool exterior. He mouthed the words "You'll be fine" reassuringly to her,
turning his gaze to FallingStar. He looked at her for a moment, his eyes weighing and assessing,
wondering at her sudden colapse but confidant at finding answers.
Standing he turned to his fellow enchanters.
"Friends, for this we must work together. I am sure you are all as eager to find answers
as I am. If you please.." He motioned to where the women were crouched, anxious to start lest
any evidence be lost due to tardyness. "A circle would be most appropriate me thinks."
Many of the enchanters, almost thirty in number, moved quickly into a circle surrounding the two
women, but some remained standing, either afraid or unimpressed by DewStar's sudden rise in
power. He turned to those remaining, raising an eyebrow. One or two eventually joined the circle
but some remained in their places. His father was one of them, remaining apart lest he display
the same talents as his son, thus ruining his artfull lieing. Noding slightly DewStar turned his
attention back to the circle.
"I have aquired some... shall we say, experiance in matters of the mind during my travels.
Many of you already know the songs required to do this work, but they are slightly altered.
Follow my lead and all will be well. I have no doubts in your capabilities." Stepping behind
StarGrace, placing his hands lightly on her shoulders he began to sing.
The being was strong, immensly strong. The only reason his enchantments succeded for the amount
of time they did was because the Being wished for them to succeed. DewStar felt it assessing
them, feeling their strenghts and weaknesses. He felt... Awkward. Embarrased in his fumblings at
power. A feeling he certainly did not like.
Feeling StarGrace begin her examinations he could sence the Being smirking. It sat still during
her examinations, not due to DewStar's enchantments but of it's own free will. DewStar saw
StarGrace briefly glance at a leash he could see trailing out into the stars from around the
Being's neck. She moved towards it but Dew felt something terrebly wrong. The Being was
stirring. It turned slightly under his enchantments, firstly pressing lightly at them, then
attacking with more vigour. Quickly DewStar dived for StarGrace, knocking her away and out of
FallingStar before releasing is own ties to her. His song stopped suddenly, causing the other
enchanters to fumble, making many a sour note. But then there was the backlash. The being broke
through the power that they had bound it with, causing a ripple of StarSong to surge back
through them. As one they fell to the floor, some knocked senseless, others quite shaken.
DewStar recieved the brunt of the backlash, but with experiance of often having his enchantments
broken by mages stronger than himself he managed to stay reasonably sound.
Her expression was one of pure rage. DewStar was greatly feared by what he saw in her eyes.
"Stars save us.." he whispered..
Dew couldn't do a thing.
Except flee with the rest of his people.
He reached out for his father and felt him, he'd slipped out through the dressingroom with his mother and was already on the path to safety.
He couldn't sense his sister but he had no fear for her safety, her years in the strikeforce enough protection for her.
The "door" was just a slight shimmering of the air before him, but the prickles tracing up and down his arms told him it was something more, stepping through...
DewStar pulled Spikefeather to the boat and rested him on the bottom of its broad deck, perching himself on the bench at the front.
"Where are we headed?"..
There was silence for a moment and DewStar was about to repeat the question lest the ferryman's hearing was failing with age, when the ferryman replied softly, his voice frail and full of grief..
"Spiredore"
His breath wouldn't come and he couldn't move. His heart was frozen in terror and burning with guilt.
Inside the door the room was coated in blood, a detached hand on the floor grasping the talon's torque of office.
He screamed.
The constant presence of the unresponsive Spikefeather left a pallor over the little group and Dew was constantly looking down at Spike's still form in dispare. Wondering what was happening in there. Was he in pain? Was he still there?
A slow smile, more like a grimace, spread across his cavernous features..
"If you don't stop rocking the boat with all your fidgetting you can join him!" the ferryman said loudly, making a shooing motion with his arm.
Where do we go now? He thought. The world was his oyster within the walls of Spiredore. He could go anywhere on this planet and even perhaps, this star system. But what use was a trip to the Three Brother's Lakes when two alien beings were roaming the land intent on murder of each other with no thought of the people they trod on to get there.
"Sigholt" Spikefeather breathed huskilly into his ear, DewStar almost sighing as a wave of electricity ran down his spine in response.
"Oh stop that you evil... hold on. What did you say?"
"Sigholt," he repeated grinning. "You wanted a safe enchanted place to call home. Sigholt seems to be such a place."
"That old dump?" DewStar blinked quizically. Laughing softly, ruffling DewStar's hair Spikefeather explained.
"Sigholt was one of the great keeps of Tencendor."
"Oh I know that, but it's been dead since the Wars of the Axe." DewStar replied with exhaspiration.
"Oh silly bird. We reclaimed it. You really have been away for awhile. The House of the Stars now calls it home and the lake of life runs warm and clear once more. It would be perfect for us."
Smiling softly Spikefeather resumed his ministrations as DewStar thought some more. The enchanter not questioning how Spikefeather had read his thoughts, planning and thinking.
"The Lake of Life sounds quite inviting at the moment." DewStar said frantically as he raced up the stairs, Spikefeather right behind him. "Hear that Spiredore? We would like to goto Sigholt and the Lake of Life. Can you arrange that? We would be very greatfull.." the last few words slightly shrill as the enchanter glanced back and saw the statues following them quickly, taking the steps three at a time.
Looking out at the view from their impossibly high perch, noting that they could see the rubble of their old home from here. Swinging a fist wide at a bird who wished to perch, one of the statues lost it's footing in the ice and fell, shattering to pieces on the rocks far below. The other seeing this was content to let the birds perch, their droppings better than a death scattered into pieces amongst the icey crags.
There was so much life about this place. It was safe. It was enchanted, the sensations of power tracing along his skin with the caress of the tenderest lover, causing him to tremble. Ahh how his heart ached. He felt so alone. So out of his depth.
This was not the land he had grown up in. It had changed and the power had shifted from the enchanter's shoulders to some higher moral plain. It erked him that he had not known about Sigholt or the lake guard. He hadn't even known about the replanting of the forests, turning the barren plains into a world full of fey creatures and soft tree song. He didn't belong here anymore..
The keep of Sigholt was a protected place. It's grounds were surrounded by a wall of thick enchanted mist, any wandering foe getting lost in them would be turned around and spat out the other side, never able to approach the keep or the lake. Spikefeather had guided him through the last few feet of mist, fortunately, or he would have ended up wandering the Wildog Plains in confusion.
The bridge was another security measure. She seemed to be a lifeform unto herself, challanging all that walked her back, asking "Are you True?", before either accepting the answer and welcoming them to her heart or refusing entry, placing the untrue person in her moat.
DewStar was looking forward to meeting the bridge. Despite his bleak thoughts of late he still had a curiosity that often landed him in trouble. Shaking his head with a smile. "Optimism" he said to noone in particular, reaching the bridge and pausing for a moment. She was beautiful. Her grey stones laced with ruby veins sparkling in the sunlight, the Keep seeming to breath as the warm waters rushed around it's base forming a ruby speckled moat.
"Are you True?" a musical woman's voice said. Shocked DewStar replied,
"What?" the actual concept of a bridge talking to him still too much for his mind to handle.
"Are you True?" the bridge repeated a second time. Regaining his composure the enchanter replied,
"Yes, I am true."
"Then walk my back DewStar TrueSong and we shall see if you speak the truth." She did not sound hostile. That was always a good sign, DewStar thought as he gingerly steped forward, the stone seeming solid enough, walking almost halfway across her back before she replied, "Yes DewStar, you are true. Welcome to my heart. You are welcome to come and go as you please." DewStar laughed happily, patting the stone fondly,
"Thankyou bridge." before entering into the Keep called Sigholt.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A cold bead of sweat running down his brow and a shiver in his soul. He knew that sound.
Slipping out of bed quietly she padded across the room, pulling her robe about her shoulders and stepping out into the hallway. Why she went to her son's room to this day she still dosn't know, but as she opened the door she knew what scene would be before her.
"Love, I think you just met my mother.." before closing his eyes and dozing once more.
Penn groaned softly, flinching away from the light and pulling the covers over his head, a muffled, "Uhg... what time is it? Where am I?" coming from under the thick blankets Dew prefered to sleep with.
"Goodmorning love.. it's afew hours after dawn, would you like a cup of tea?" DewStar smiled softly, looking to Penn just to watch him, so glad to have him here.
"Tea would be lovely dear," Penn replied, pulling the blankets away from his face and blinking owlishly trying to focus his eyes, finally realising why he couldn't see properly. "Glasses.." he muttered feeling about for them.
"On the table next to you love..." DewStar said, pouring another cup of herbal tea, stepping over to his love and sitting on the side of the bed by him as Penn donned his glasses, blinking for a moment and taking the tea with a smile. DewStar leaned forward and kissed him tenderly on the lips, "Welcome to Sigholt husband.". After a moment and a sip of his tea Penn finally was able to think reasonably straight, his journey having left a hole in his memory, frowning, wondering what was missing and hoping he could get it back. Sighing and reaching out to rest a hand on his love's thigh as he sat by him,
"Dew, where am I?"
"You are in Sigholt, one of the enchanted keeps or Tencendor and home to the House of the Stars, royal family of my homeland. You are many stars away from where we first met love."
Penn blinked, trying to absorb the information but failing miserably, sighing in frustration,
"How did I get here? I can remember a hand on my chest and falling over the rail, plummeting fifty feet to my death. But I'm alive. Very much alive." He blinked once more, eyes distant trying to remember.
DewStar paled slightly, placing a hand over Penn's resting on his leg, his mind reeling.. How had it gone wrong? It had just been a joke, oh Penn, what have I done to you... How did the song go wrong? The repercussions of his mistake shaking him to the core.
"Oh love..." DewStar started to say but Penn cut him off..
"It does not matter how I came to be here, more that I am with you. I made a promise to you, no matter what, and I meant it. I will be with you if I have to travel across the stars to do so. Now.... please... just tell me where I am."
"Love, are their any of my kind here?" DewStar shook his head slowly, the answer in his face rather than his words.
"Penn... this place is filled with curios and bizzare things... when they find out what you are they will just shrug and turn to watch the flock of people fly past with jewel coloured plumage... And you are under the protection of the most powerful enchanter un the land..." leaning forward to place a gentle kiss on his husband's lips before adding.. "And besides... you are not fated to be here forever... we can leave whenever we want..."
Penn sighed and clambered out of bed, heading for his clothes, looking back as he fastened his trousers, holding his shirt in his hands,
"Love, I am not some curio to be put in a cabinet, or to be cut up and studied... I don't care about the other beautiful men and women here... To me you are the most wonderous, beautiful thing that exists... and I love you, despite your power, despite it all... I love the man who fell in love with Ferdinand in his rose bushes so far from here... so many lifetimes ago.." blinking for a moment he added.. "Please tell me that rose bushes grow here.."
DewStar smiled, chuckling softly,
"They love the soil of the hills by the lake.." pointing to the window "look for yourself.."
Penn pulled his shirt on, struggling with the cryptic knot of his tie before walking over to the window, "I think I should meet your family now... clothed this time.." looking out the window he gasped at the riot of colour, "I must go there... you must take me there.."
DewStar stood, smiling at the reaction, stepping over to Penn and wrapping his arms around him, kissing his neck softly before replying.. "All in good time love... all in good time.."
"Dew, there are no Peace roses.." he said, a childlike seriousness in his eyes.. Dew just smiled, his attention focussed on the sound of the world, the enchanters of the land plying their trade, the constant presence of the StarDance itself. Soft humming distracted him for a moment, looking for the source. It was Penn. Humming softly under his breath as he gathered rose petals.
He had never explained this to his husband, meerly rolling over softly mumbling, trusting Penn to let him sleep without question.
He also took these oppertunities to visit places he could not see in his physical form. He frequently travelled the river of death to keep the Gatekeeper company, never straying far enough to step through her gate. He also had a chance to frolic with the sentinals on occasion if they chose to ride with him for a time. They seemed so happy and free together, so when they asked of Tencendor he only told the best of tidings. They had served their purpose, there was no need to weigh them down with grave news.
Stepping through into the sunlight and gentle warm breeze he didn't notice the birdman stepping up behind him, nor did he notice the sword in his hand.
The day suddenly turned cold as the blackness enveloped him, falling to unconsiousness.
The birdman was not himself.
Because it was SpikeFeather he didn't use his enchantments to escape, though with this headache he would be hard pressed to boil water.
"Why?" the enchanter asked, his voice coarse due to his bonds, ropes tightly binding him to his chair.
SpikeFeather jumped slightly before smiling, quickly coming over to where his captive was tied.
"Oh good you're awake." Spike said, his voice light and happy, gently reaching out to stroke DewStar's long black hair before moving to sit on his lap. Grunting softly the enchanter shifted to a more comfortable position to take on the extra weight. SpikeFeather hesitated for a moment before leaning in to kiss the enchanter's lips. DewStar began to protest but a firm hand pulling at his hair and already tender scalp made him decide otherwise. His mind slowly started to tick over as he sat ridgedly, SpikeFeather amusing himself with kisses and gentle nips which he had to admit felt pretty good but the enchanter was a married man. He had given vows and planned to keep them.
"Spike, please stop.." DewStar sighed. SpikeFeather frowned and looked up, staring into the enchanter's eyes.
"Don't you like it? Strange... ahh no matter. We can learn more about each other's pleasures after we are married." The words rang in DewStar's mind as cold fear shot down his spine. Acting casually as usuall he replied.
"Spike, I'm already married." SpikeFeather slowly began to laugh.
"Married? To that creature? Oh Dew do be serious. An enchanter of your stature needs a good husband. Not some strange alien from another world. People are laughing at you my dearest, you have fallen quite afew notches in the places of power thanks to your bizzare bonding. But we can fix that for you... you and me. Well make everything right again." the birdman tenderly kissed DewStar's unwilling lips again and wrapped his strong arms around the enchanter's bonded frame. DewStar couldn't do anything except softly cry inside. His best friend had lost it, surely. He was talking nonsence surely. Surely.
Was he?
"If he's off with that husband of his practicing dance moves I'll skin him!"
An inspection of Dew's shared appartment revealed nothing. The covers on the bed were untouched and the room seemed unoccupied for the whole day. Glancing out the window he could see a familiar purple clad form making his way slowly around the edge of the lake.. alone. Frowning once more he left the room, making his way out into the small courtyard to meet his son-in-law at the gate, a slightly bleak expression on his face. Letting the man have a small conversation with the bridge before cutting in tersely.
"Have you seen my son?"
"He was meant to accompany me to an important meeting called by the StarSon. He did not turn up and nobody has seen him for hours." His voice was cool and calm, his manner relaxed and confident but it was all a ruse. An Icarii trait, capable of extreme displeasure but only graces and airs the visible result. "If you have not seen him then I am at a loss as to his whereabouts." Still thinking of his renegade son he did not think to answer Penn's question, moving as to go in search once more.
Icarii such as him having a hard time trying to read people, the Icarii race being very loud and noticeable. If you are quiet in an Icarii world there is a good chance that you will be forgotten.
"Yes, they do laugh. They do see you and Dew together, looking back and forth and wondering why. They are jealous and I have been hounded constantly to dissolve your unofficial marriage so someone more fitting can wed my son…" he looks out, away at an unseen object at a distant horizon, his face serene and sincere.. "But I will not do that… Dew is my son and now you are my son, and stars help me I will love you both.." blinking slightly he raises a hand to brush the speck of dust from his eye..
"And as for the rescue effort there is one last place I would like us to try before we alert the guards.. SpikeFeather.." turns to move away once more, looking slightly over his shoulder waiting for Penn to reach him before he moves back inside the keep.
Sighing softly he braced himself and opened the door, stepping into the sounds of movement and a faint hue of lamplight.
*She stood at the bottom of the stairs unmoving. Her light blue eyes looking across the dark tavern, knowing it was him. She was almost tempted to back up, go up to her room shut the door and wait until everyone else had left. But, it seemed there would be no turning back now. Running a hand thrugh her hair, she removed her staring gaze and walked over to the bar as silently as she could.*
Soon though, his eyes were drawn away as a hand patted a familiar jacket pocket looking for another smoke.
*When that happened she knew immediately who it was. There were only so many people who could work with shadows in such a way. Tarl was one of them. It was interesting that when he disappeared Myra appeared. Then things became more complicated as they always did. A new man was revealed to be one made of Fallon. Another familiar name that had popped up as the excitement continued to build. Tempt left very quickly and Myra was now stumbling towards the bar calling for light.*
*She was curious as to why the girl was callig for light. Surely shadows were more of thing she embraced. Everyone had a dark side, even her. Her dark side had been with her since the day she was born, it had only been until this latest transformation that she fully embraced the darkness she had within her. Now, maybe as a gift or a new thing to get used to she was blessed with this light. It was something she had before, but now more pronounced. The light within her was something pure and from a higher place. Being one of enlightenment tended to do that, even so this light tended to attract either very dark beings or very light one's. It was a flame some could not explain why they were attracted to it. She knew he looked tired and not willing for conversation, but right now in all this frenzy she needed a friend or at least an old one.*
*Taking the first steps are alaways hard and even as she passed by a frantic Myra, she wished she knew how to help the girl. Her magic was not one of spells though. In fact she knew very little magic, what she did know was energies and presneces. If a certain aura was near by she could sense it. The skill had tapered off since her sight, but it was still there. She smiled and nodded towards Alexia, Raven, and Shanth. Then approached the table with a soft and welcoming smile on her lips.*
"Evening friend. Do you mind company?"
*Her eyes wandering down to Dewstar wondering if the bird had slipped away once again without her noticing.*
Hearing her request he lightly shrugs and motions to a seat at the table with a smoke trailing hand, taking another drag with a grimace and a thick cough..
His heart was broken and it was only a matter of time before the rest of his body gave up as well, asissted by an almost constant stream of smoke, tar, carbon monoxide and poisons.
"Thank you sir for your hospitality."
*She leaned her head forward and spoke softly. The pitch of her voice just right to hit Dewstar's ears as she wished not to speak too loud as there was still a large commotion going on. Her hands folded on top of each other as they rested on the table. No signs of jewlery on either hand or her neck. The only thing was her silver hooped earrings, these glinted in the faint light.*
*She did not like the smell of the smoke, in fact it made her nose scrunch up at it's foul scent. Although, she tried her best not to be too rude about his smoking. People had to lead their lives as they saw fit. If this is how he wanted to do it, then so be it. She could always convince him to stop, but she was sure that would do no good. Sighing lightly she could feel he was in pain. Something was not right with this Dewstar and it made her elven ears twitch slightly as she looked at him. She could offer to help heal him, it may give her away if he allowed it but she would rather keep her good friend alive then have to see another one die.*
"Do you need any help, sir? I have knowledge in healing."
"I am beyond healing. I just want to die."
Disguarding the pad on the table before her he returns his hands to their position across his body, scratching idly at a stubbled cheek nervous for another smoke.
"Why good friend? Why? And do not tell me it is because of pain or heartbreak for I've..."
*She came close to releasing her secret, but kept from saying the words. The commotion around the tavern made her uneasy. There were too many ears that could hear her statement and then they would know who she was. For now she was certain that keeping her name dead would be benefitial to all.*
He didn't want it to pass. He didn't want any more of it. He had lost his song and his love. There was nothing left for him and he didn't want anything to fill the gaps.
All he longed for was some creature of the night to take his existance away from him so he could wait beyond the veil for everything to be right again..
Taking a deep drag he idly wondered where he could find a hungry vampire this night..
"Please friend. You've saved me once, probably more then once. Won't you even tell me? Won't you let me help you?"
*The connection allows Dew the ability to hear the words her mind speaks without her even having to move her mouth. She hopes he will hear it and understand.*
Holding his touched hand close to his chest he shakilly stands, slowly shaking his head. He didn't want this.
Taking a breath he reaches out for the little notebook and turns the pages to another well thumbed page towards the front, "I'm going out for a smoke" scribbled on it.
*Sighing she looked down to the notepad once again and read the scribbles. He said he was only going out with a smoke and she would allow him that. A moment or two to gather himself before she tried again. She had to try. Dew was a good friend to her and at a time like this she could not just let him go. Picking up the notepad she began to flicker through it reading some of the things that she could easily read. A lot of the text was in a different language and although very proficient at languages, this one was entirely new. She figured it must be the native tongue of Icarii. Sighing lightly, she glanced towards the door every now and again waiting for Dew to return. If he did not come back soon she would have to take the next step and go outside to see what he was up to. Looking back down to the notepad, she caught something and began to read it while she waited. She hoped Dew wouldn't mind her browsing through his notepad.*
A strange peace had come over his mind. He knew exactly what to do.
Pulling a knife from the top of his boot he tested the blade. Rough, but a small nick achieved from meerly handling the blade made the knife fit for it's task. Rolling up his shirtsleeves the enchanter proceeded to slash his wrists, shiverring as the warm essence ran down his cool skin.
Using his innate skill the creature ghosted towards the enchanter, it's voice hissing deeply,
"Such a pretty pretty.. Pretty little bird.."
Infused with a blood-lust the creature arched it's back and howled into the night, racing off into the darkness to find more beings to ravage.
