New part!

Westward rubbed the back of his neck, self-conscious, while Illaeara picked herself up, “accidentally” stepped on his foot, and walked to the front of the party.

“So, I guess the cat’s out of the bag,” Danie sighed, “yes, Esthaenie is… a winged elf.”

Starflower’s eyes lit up. Two gorgeous, chocolate-hazel eyes. Westward smiled. She didn’t notice.

“Oh, lovely! That’ll really help us when we go to Varisol.” The druidess said, skipping ahead.

“Yes. Sure. Why do we need to protect the shards again?” Esthaenie stuttered.

Illaeara let out a sigh from the front of the party.

She paused, then began. “The shards are the source of power for a dark entity. This entity has many names: Setekh, Kronos, the Yaoguai…”

Illaeara trailed off, turning to look back at Westward.

“Loki.”

Westward took a step back, heart pounding. “The Vakashard gives Loki-”

“-An avatar. Someone he can possess, and shape to his will. It was destroyed and separated long ago.” Illaeara said.

“So who’s after it?” Eris said, clearly bored, tuning her gitar with the kazú stuck sideways in her mouth.

“A few people. But one in particular. Corinth Scarburral.” Starflower said, eyes darting back and forth.

The party slowed: Danie, Esthaenie, and Westward because they didn’t recognize it, and Illaeara because she did. Eris didn’t slow down at all and walked right into Starflower’s leg.

“Corinth Scarburral was found with five hundred stab wounds in his torso.” Illaeara said, seething. “Are you implying he was resurrected?”

“Yes,” Starflower said, “resurrected by a Cleric of Loki near Vilimount. That’s why he attacked Vilimount first.”

The party was silent for a moment. Danielle cleared her throat, raising a hand in the air. She realized that she didn’t need to be called on  and put it down, embarrassed.

“The one in Verineth sounds the least safe.” Danie said.

“Yes,” Starflower said, “which is why we’re going there first.”

“But wait,” Danielle said, “Vrinka-Wood is between Villimount and Verineth, and they…”

“They won’t be expecting him,” Eris said.”

Starflower gasped aloud, stiffening up.

“Oh, gods, you’re right!” The druidess said, brow crinkling. Westward put a hand on her shoulder for comfort. She evaded his touch and jogged to the very front of the party.

“Let’s hurry!” The druidess said, smiling and turning toward them. “I have a cousin who can help us--”

“Um, Star?” Danielle said, pointing behind the druidess.

“He’s really nice, very friendly to me. He likes to--”

“Star, turn around, please,” Esthaenie said, white as a sheet. Westward strained to look around them. Illaeara was wordlessly preparing a spell.

“--he likes to comb my hair, and his name is Shaiduyn--”

“For gods’ sakes!” Eris shouted, managing to drag Starflower out of the way as the troll smashed his club into the earth where she’d been standing.

“Don’t waste another healing on me, West.” Illaeara said as they hiked over the hill.

West turned to regard her, something strange in his eyes. “It wasn’t a waste.”

Silence stretched on. West cleared his throat.

“The party needs its wizard. We wouldn’t have been able to finish off the troll without you. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

Westward walked rapidly to the front of the party, leaving her at the back with Danielle. Danie turned to her, one eyebrow raised.

“I thought the cleric was too righteous for friendship.” The rogue said, smirking.

Illaeara stiffened. “It’s not friendship. He just considers me a… valuable asset. To the team.”

Her eye-lights tinged blue. She forced them back into their neutral silver glow.

“Look, all I know is that if a troll hit me like that, he’d be ticked… but not enough to dive bomb a giant.”

“He’s just talented.” Illaeara said, straightening up.

“Alright.” Danie said.

Illaeara turned. “You’re agreeing?”

“Yeah. West is a talented guy. That’s what it is.”

“You aren’t going to argue?”

“Nope.”

“I’m glad we’re in agreement, then.” Illaeara said quickly. Danielle rolled her eyes and fell into step beside Esthaenie, whispering.

Illaeara turned to the front of the party. Her lip curled beneath the unnatural darkness of her mask.

Westward smiled like an idiot at Star, ruffling a hand through his smooth, icy-blonde hair. She wasn’t even looking at him; instead she helped Eris over a tree stump. Eris swatted at her. Making an angry mewling noise. Star let out a melodic giggle and continued, West still staring in awe.

Illaeara sighed. It wasn’t Star’s fault that she was utterly and completely gorgeous. Star’s hair floated like coils of black feather-down in the wind, layering over honey-brown shoulders and her vine-covered back. West reached out to take her hand. She stepped away to stroke the bark of a sapling. West stumbled. Illaeara let out a snort.

He whirled. “Something funny?”

“Nothing at all.” Illaeara said, folding her arms.

West turned around and stepped ahead. They had almost crested the hill. Star jumped up and down in glee as they came to the head of the valley.

“Welcome,” Star said, beaming, “to Vrinka-Wood!”

The sight took Illaeara’s breath away. A sea of gently fluttering leaves washed down before her, coating houses formed naturally from trees with no cutting involved. The trees had simply grown in the shapes of houses to fit the enigmatic wood elves’ needs. And from the trees hung ornaments, stones and crystals and knitted spiderwebs, all fluttering in the wind.

The chattering of woodland creatures became louder as the party walked toward the valley. A sparrow flew to Star and chirruped at her. She smiled and chirruped back. Esthaenie gave the sparrow a strange look as it flew off.

“Good news! I’ve told them of our arrival. The royal family will be arriving soon!” Star straightened her posture and bounced on her heels. Eris rolled her eyes.

“Hey, Esthaenie... “ Danie began. Esthaenie cocked her head before realizing what Danielle meant and threw the cloak over her wings. Westward straightened up as well. Illaeara hunched at the back.

There was silence and a rustling of wind in the clearing before the procession approached. A regal stag approached, alongside a tall and graceful doe. If their crowns of golden flowers were indicative of status, they were the High Druids, the rulers of the wood elves.

A few druid courtiers came, all songbirds and minks and mice, all gray cats and snowy owls and elegant, light creatures.

Except the last. Illaeara strained to look.

He hunched at the back of the party, perhaps embarrassed about his looks in comparison to the others. He was a small, dark fox, with coal eyes and a small dark nose. There was a speck of gold fur on his chest. He turned to her and their eyes met. She smiled at him, though he couldn’t see it. They were the dark ones. They didn’t match their companions.

The courtiers shifted back with grace. The High Druid and High Druidess smiled down at the group, golden flowers woven into their long hair. The High Druid had the beginnings of a beard, a rarity in elves. The courtiers behind them were dressed in the same vines and blossoms as the rulers, as they were all equal in nature’s eyes (if Illaeara remembered her lessons correctly) and yet the rulers were clearly the ones at the front.

The fox in the back hadn’t changed yet, but when he caught sight of Starflower, he barked and trotted over. She squealed with delight.

Shadows bent around him and he shifted, dark eyes burning into dark gold.

And he was the most handsome man Illaeara had ever seen.

His burnished eyes were set into smooth skin with high cheekbones, framed by short hair cropped just as it fell. He smiled and spun Star around, laughing with her, his ebony cloak spinning around them.

“How’s my little blossom?” he said.

“Cousin Shaiduyn! I missed you.” Star said.

So this was Shaiduyn. Illaeara stepped a bit closer to the front of the party to watch the tall, dark man, dressed so differently from the others.

She barely heard West as he introduced the party, nearly forgetting to bow when he indicated her. The High Druid was Anyamis, the High Druidess was Lorine, and courtiers with names, courtiers, courtiers of the druid-king she barley bothered to remember.

Shaiduyn approached each, shaking their hands. He shook a smiling Danielle’s hand, a twitchy Esthaenie, a reproachful Eris, and then stepped directly past West to take her hand.

His grip was strong as he took her hand and shook it, a smile on his face.

“The most enigmatic member of the party. I’m Shaiduyn.”

“Illaeara. Pleased to meet you.” she said, watching as his hair fell.

He took her hand and kissed it, his faint stubble grazing her hand.

“Your hands feel like those of a princess,” Shaiduyn said, smiling, “and I would now. I’m the Druid-Prince, aren’t I?”

Illaeara felt her eye-lights go pink. She caught Westward’s eye. He was furious. Why?

Illaeara began to curtsy. “No need, Princess Illaeara.” he joked.

She found herself reaching after him, a smile on her face, as he walked away. He stopped in front of Westward with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

With her hearing, Illaeara could make out what he said.

“Well? I believe this is the moment where you bow.”

Illaeara had to stop herself from snorting aloud.