There were some things, Sharlario Moonflower mused, of which one could never tire. The many-colored flames of a driftwood campfire, the pleasure of hearing his firstborn son sing ballads that had been ancient when his ancestors walked upon Faerie, the lure of places not yet seen-such things as these Sharlario counted as blessings from the gods. But though the night was warm and bright with all these blessings, the Moon elf was hard-pressed to keep his mind upon the song that spilled from his son's silver lyre.
Nearly three centuries had passed since Sharlario had been torn from Faerie and cast upon this distant shore. This was a long time, even as elves reckon such things, and yet the years had passed far too swiftly. Sharlario sighed and tossed another twisted gray stick of driftwood onto the fire. His son, Cornaith, glanced up at the sound. The expression on Sharlario's face stole the song from the young elf s throat. His fingers instinctively muted the strings of his lyre. 'You seem weary, father,' Cornaith said. 'Shall I stop, that you may seek revery?'
The Moon elf managed a smile. 'Weary enough, lad, but I doubt that revery would bring me restful dreams this night. Time grows short-there is too much left undone.'
'Yet we have accomplished much this trip,' the young elf said earnestly. 'We have been gone from the mountains not quite two years, yet we have established diplomatic ties with no fewer than ten Green elven settlements. This is remarkable, even by your standards. Surely we have allies enough to meet any challenge that lies ahead.'
'You have never fought a dragon,' Sharlario said simply. 'I would pray that you never need do so, but that would be akin to praying that winter might not come. Time follows its own course, and the years of the dragon's banishment are nearly spent. The creature will return, of that I have little doubt.'
'And we will turn it back, as you did before,' his son said confidently.
Sharlario did not answer. He seldom spoke of that long-ago battle, other than to assure the other elves that the red dragon had been ousted and would not soon return. Few of them credited his story of the avariel, so there was little reason to speak in depth and detail of his service to the winged elves. Nor would he, for any reason. The price for that victory had been enormous, and the debt was coming due.
'What credence do you give the tales told of the Ilythiiri?' Cornaith asked as he idly plucked a tune on his lyre. 'For my part, I cannot believe that the southern elves are quite as powerful or as ambitious as we've heard tell. Nor can I believe the stories of their supposed atrocities.'
'Believe,' proclaimed a female voice from the shadows beyond the campfire.
Both elves jolted at the sound. Sharlario's hand went instinctively to the dagger at his belt. As he rose cautiously to his feet, he noted the rapt expression in his son's eyes, and understood it well.
There was nothing that Cornaith loved so well as music, and there was more melody in that single spoken word than in many an air or ballad. Like all elves, Sharlario had a keen love for beauty, and he himself was instinctively drawn to the unseen speaker. Even so, he called to mind a spell that would turn aside magical attack, and he kept his hand at the hilt of his dagger.
'If you come in peace, you are welcome at our fire,' he said.
The shadows stirred, and an elven female stepped into the circle of firelight. Despite his centuries-long career as a diplomat, Sharlario felt his jaw go slack with astonishment.
Their visitor was without doubt the most beautiful creature he had ever beheld. Her face was elven, with its sharp angles and delicately molded features, but her skin was the color of a starless night. She stood taller than any elf he knew-well over six feet-and her long limbs were bare beneath the short, filmy black tunic that, other than a hooded black cloak, was her sole garment. But for the large, silvery eyes that regarded him solemnly, she was midnight in elven form. Sharlario had the oddest feeling that he beheld shadow made substance.
'I thank you for your welcome, Sharlario Moonflower,' the female said in her low, musical voice. Before the Moon elf recovered from the shock of hearing himself addressed by name, the stranger shrugged back her cloak. Hair the color of starlight spilled over her naked black shoulders in gleaming waves. A silvery aura clung to her hair, a wondrous, magical light that could not be explained solely as reflected firelight.
Cornaith, who had risen with his father to greet their visitor, sank to one knee. His face was suffused with awe, and he gazed at the ebony goddess-for that she certainly was-as if she was the answer to that question which every soul felt, but no words could frame.
'My lady,' he said in deeply reverent tones. 'What great thing have we done to be so blessed? How may we serve you? May we know your name?'
The goddess turned her gaze to the younger elf, and her somber expression softened. 'Your song was lovely, Cornaith Moonflower. It drew me here and gladdened my exile. I will answer all your questions, but first, seat yourself.' An impish grin flashed onto her face. 'That rock you are kneeling on cannot be comfortable.'
When Cornaith hesitated, the goddess sank to the ground and arranged her long limbs in the sort of cross- legged posture that a child might take. She patted the ground beside her in cozy invitation, then quirked a brow at the still-watchful Sharlario.
'I am known as Eilistraee, the Dark Maiden. I require from you neither reverence nor vigilance,' she said softly. 'I come as a friend, and in need of friends. Put aside both your weapons and your wonder, and let us talk. There are things that you must know if you intend to confront the Ilythiiri.'
The sadness in her voice smote Sharlario's heart, and he did as she bid. 'You spoke of exile, lady,' he commented. 'Forgive me, but I have never heard of such a thing. From whence are you exiled, and, if I might ask, why?'
'Most recently, from the southlands,' the goddess said. 'Many of the elves there worship Vhaeraun. You may not have heard of him-he fell from the Seldarine when Faerie was still young, and few of the People know his name. His followers are like him: proud enough to believe themselves destined for power, and ruthless enough to seize it any way they can. As they grow in number, Vhaeraun grows in might. With each tribe the Ilythiiri enslave, with each city they destroy, Vhaeraun's influence spreads like a bloodstain upon the land. Finally, he became strong enough to achieve that which he most desired.'
The goddess was silent for a long moment, staring into the dying campfire. 'Vhaeraun hates me. He bids his worshipers harry and destroy all who follow me. He would see me destroyed, if such were in his power. It is not- quite. Yet I must leave.'
'If it is followers you require, be assured that I do not fear this Vhaeraun,' Cornaith began.
'You should.' Eilistraee cast a quelling look at the earnest young elf. 'Though he is but a young god, Vhaeraun is vain and malicious, quick to attack those who do not give him homage. And that, you must not do.'
'I had no thought to,' the Moon elf said emphatically. 'Until this night, I wished nothing more than to follow my mother in her dedication to Sehanine Moonbow.'
Eilistraee shook her head sadly, turning away the worship in the young elf's eyes. 'I am honored that you think of me, Cornaith Moonflower, but do not forsake your devotion to Sehanine. No, listen,' she said, cutting off his protestations. 'The gods experience time in ways you cannot understand. There are some of us who hear echoes of things that have not yet happened in mortal experience. I have foreseen that most of those who follow me will, like me, be exiles, wanderers who will never find their way to the elven homeland.'
'Elves, barred from Arvandor?' Sharlario demanded. 'Surely not!'
The goddess's silver eyes grew misty, as if they turned away from time and place to gaze upon visions no mortal could see. 'No, not Arvandor. There will be another homeland. There must be another homeland,' she said, her voice becoming more intense. 'The storm is coming, Sharlario Moonflower, when the children of one father will become bitter enemies. Thus it was, and thus it will be, again and again. The actions of the gods ripple down through time to touch their People. Soon, mortal elves will know the pain and turmoil that tore the Seldarine asunder.'
'This Vhaeraun must be powerful indeed, to inspire his followers to such conflict,' Sharlario said in a troubled voice.
Eilistraee's silver eyes snapped back into focus. 'Not Vhaeraun,' she whispered, her beautiful face deeply troubled. 'Other dark gods will come, and soon.'
Neither Moonflower elf could think of words to respond to this pronouncement. For a long time the trio sat, their silence colored only by the occasional crackle of the fading embers, the soft chirruping of night creatures, and the murmur of the nearby sea.
'There is one thing more that you must know and fear,' the goddess said at last. 'High Magic, which brought
