The Romancer Shadowstep

Episode Ten: Indiana Jones, Romancer style

"Master Shadowstep! I think we found it!" Vermillion's excited teenage boy voice rang out. He could be very awkward when he wasn't trying to be a disciplined rogue. Especially right now.

Shadowstep left off kissing Priestess Feathershine with a loud, irritated groan. The two of them weren't exactly hiding. Just beyond the column of rock. It's just that when they divided into two search parties, Shadowstep's group—which of course involved Feathershine—found the ancient Troll ruins first. While they waited for Vermillion and Windsong to find them, Shadowstep did an excellent job of convincing his girlfriend not to contact the annoying young people via Mind Vision. The desolate beach along the coast of western Azshara was romantic with the roaring ocean, the sand imbetween their toes… and one intense passionate look into his lover's eyes that Feathershine knew only the Master Rogue could pull off.

"Oh, um…" Feathershine floundered.

Shadowstep nearly snarled at Vermillion, he was so angry to be interrupted.

Vermillion recalled the fiasco at Astranaar and cowered instantly. "You said to keep her free at bedtime, not all the time—"

Feathershine took half a moment to gauge what Vermillion was talking about, then flashed an angry look at her boyfriend. "Shadowstep!"

"Vermillion!" Shadowstep quickly reassigned blame.

Feathershine walked over to Windsong's side, folded her arms across her chest and raised one aqua eyebrow.

"Why don't we all start over?" Windsong cleared her throat in a diplomatic fashion. "Surely, it's only natural that we might walk in on one another during this trip, since we have two adult relationships going." Windsong had an old habit of showing off where she'd learned something from her mentor Feathershine.

Feathershine gasped at her young friend. "You can hardly compare a mere infatuation to what Shadowstep and I have." Feathershine crossed back over to Shadowstep and wrapped her arm around his possessively.

This time both Windsong's eyebrows raised. That she looked a lot like Feathershine when she did it was not by coincidence, but practice.

"I love him!" Windsong defended herself. "Didn't you fall in love with a certain young rogue when you were about my age?"

Feathershine's mouth opened in shock. She stepped in front of Shadowstep and balled fists at her sides. "I told you that in confidence! Now he's going to think that I—"

"You were in love with me back then?" Feathershine was afraid to answer Shadowstep's question, but she turned around to see a giddy smile on his face.

"Well, we only knew each other for a few days… you can't really call it that—"

"I've fallen in love with Vermillion because he has a devlish charm, and though he can get absorbed in his rogue-work at times, he is also very sweet, and such a gentleman." Windsong fawned on her new boyfriend. "You're just so adorable!" she smiled. Vermillion tussled his crazy green hair and blushed.

Feathershine screamed. "Those are the very things I told you I liked about Shadowstep!" She threw her hands up over her head. "He's a rouge, and Jebidiath is a rogue… you're just copying me!"

"I am not!"

"Are too!"

Shadowstep began to chuckle at the ladies' arguing. Of course, he was very clairvoyant and saw the whole thing from the start. Then, he glanced at Vermillion and frowned that the young man was enjoying the cat-fight too much.

"Alright, let's not come to blows on this issue priestesses." He stepped between them. He waited for Feathershine and Windsong to cool off before mentioning, "You know, for people who just learned that Night Elves are related to Trolls, I'm shocked to see that no one is freaking out about what we're going to uncover."

"Yea, instead, we're all just getting freaky." Vermillion joked.

Shadowstep frowned darkly at the young man. "Are you trying to make fun of me, you jolly green whelp—"

Feathershine put a finger to Shadowstep's lips. It was sufficiently distracting to end their little argument once and for all.

"Is that… what I think it is?"

The four Night Elves walked closer. The entrance to an ancient shrine jutted out of the tall rock cliff behind them. The long porch structure was supported on both sides by three rows of windswept columns. They walked imbetween them, to where double wooden doors prevented entry. The purple and gold banner of Darnassus hung over the simple doors. A stylized owl stared back at them with shining yellow eyes.

"Why is this one place so new… with doors that should have rotted away thousands of years ago, but the rubble around it so worn?" Windsong observed.

Shadowstep smiled. "A brilliant Darnassian spymaster long before my time came up with this cover. The banner is meant to scare away anyone with enough sense to avoid incurring the wrath of Darnassus. Beyond the door is a ruse of a sort… I'm not going to tell you any more about how we've been keeping this secret for generations, for your own safety."

The others shared disquieted looks.

"But if you happen to accidentally see a few things you aren't meant to…" Shadowstep carefully removed the banner from the door. It wasn't locked.

"Well that's so easy! Anyone could just—"

Shadowstep kicked the door in, hard. As soon as the wooden slats flew aside, something came at them from the shadows. The Master Rogue drew his sword faster than anyone else could react and parried the missile.

"Wait for it," he said and drew his other golden Grand Marshal blade. He held it at the ready.

A second arrow came at them, straight for Feathershine's head. Shadowstep rocked on the balls of his feet then slashed his other arm up to get that arrow as well.

Feathershine fumed. "Did you have any intention of warning us first?"

Shadowstep rolled his shoulders and sheathed his swords. He said nothing to his girlfriend but gave her a sly look that caused the priestess to blush.

I love it when Vermillion shows off too. Both of them are so handsome aren't they?

Feathershine's scowled at Windsong's voice in her head.

We are NOT going to compare them, and certainly not in my mind, thank you very much.

The men were bewildered at the silent argument between the women that became evident when Feathershine marched ahead in a huff.

Statues of old gods were everywhere. One looked like a windserpent, this was certainly a primitive version of the old god Hakkar, another appeared to be a kodo, which considering the very Tauren affinity for the pack beasts gave everyone a disbelieving pause. Several spider god statues were stacked in a corner and covered in ironic heavy gray cobwebs. A statue of a hunched Troll dressed in priestly regalia lay broken in the far corner.

"Shadowstep, this is silly. Not a thing here proves that Night Elves are related to Trolls—"

Shadowstep wasn't listening. He pressed up against the wall to their right pressing stones with his hand. His long violet ear twitched as he felt the cold stone and listened… but for what?

Everyone hopped back a step when something deep inside the wall made a resounding hollow clicking noise.

The ground beneath them shook, the stone statues clattered. One fell of its pedestal, but did not break. Feathershine was thinking how odd it was for something so old and delicate to survive such a tumble when Shadowstep abruptly warned them,

"When you hit the water, take a breath and dive. Don't come back up!"

Then the floor fell away underneath them.

Windsong and Feathershine shrieked but Vermillion was laughing. For the first time in a long time, Feathershine thought she heard Shadowstep laughing too. It truly didn't surprise her that what should have been a tender moment with the rogue turned out to be an infuriating situation. It took them that long to fall. Feathershine actually had time to think this.

They crashed into smelly water. Vermillion took a deep breath and dived low, but Feathershine and Windsong were gasping for air and thrashing about in shock. Then they really did panic when something grabbed their ankles and forced them under.

The women looked down to see Shadowstep helping them below. Next, they looked up to see a barrage of arrows, lit by strange green druidic power, pierce the surface of the water and plummet toward them. That was when both priestesses had enough sense to start swimming for their lives.

Shadowstep was a very good swimmer. All Night Elves do well in the water, but Shadowstep took exceptionally confident strokes. Feathershine's heart raced to see him do it. Every lean muscle in his body was forced into the effort. Then, the Master Rogue disappeared into the dark depths. Before Feathershine could think to go after him though, a warm current of water pushed she and the rest far to the other side of the pool. It propelled them, head first into a natural break in the rock.

Feathershine washed ashore, gasping for breath. The water drenched through her blue mooncloth robe and her underwear even. Firm hands seized her by the arm and pulled her up.

"Mind the edge." Shadowstep's voice was very intimate near her ear. Except for that one place where they landed, a crumbling stone foundation built up a bank on either side of them. Vermillion leaned down to help Windsong up as well.

"Jebidiath Shadowstep, there had better be a very good reason why you put all of us in harm's way—"

"Deliah, look." The Master Rogue's voice was very gentle.

They turned to see the ruins of the most beautiful temple ever made by… Trolls? Certain elements were certainly Trollish. Writhing snake gods jutted up out of the sand on either side of two enormous marble pillars. But the pillars themselves reminded one very much of Darnassus. The sides were smooth, as if hewn from one perfect stone. The stone itself was a mesmerizing electric blue. These supported a black shingled elven roof decorated with refined carvings of forest animals. Something very familiar glowed within the structure.

Windsong was the first to walk inside. "It's a moonwell!"

Shadowstep moved Windsong's hand from where it pointed to something at the bottom of the cool glowing water. Countless miniature statues of animals, each one a different species, lined the bottom. Every bestial face looked up, eyes ablaze with the white magic of a moonwell, only… it became very clear then that this wasn't a moonwell.

"It's some bastardization—" Feathershine frowned.

"No." Shadowstep said. "This… this is the real thing."

He leaned over the side and got a handful of the water. "Take a sip, Deliah."

Feathershine's eyes bulged. "I will not!"

Shadowstep shrugged and drank it himself. "There's nothing wrong with it."

Windsong and Vermillion tried it too. "It tastes like… it's so hard to describe." The young rogue frowned.

"Purer than the purest water. More rich and enchanting than the most sacred moonwell. The true power of nature is harnessed here, channeled through these animal idols." Shadowstep turned to Feathershine, eyes kind. "Your faith need not be challenged, love. Elune is the same as this. Doesn't this temple make you feel enlightened, comforted… just like in Darnassus?"

Feathershine looked at the pool warily. Then, she leaned down and took a sip of the liquid as well.

"Dear goddess!" she exclaimed. "This tastes like… like Light. Like the Light itself! I know the power, it flows through me when I cast a strong spell, it's in my hand now, and on my lips… how did they harness it?"

She looked up at Shadowstep. He appeared different now… he sparkled. Vermillion and Windsong sparkled too. And then… she noticed something else.

"We… don't really have tusks, do we?" Feathershine asked.

Shadowstep reached for her, as if he were in a dark place and navigating life for the first time. "No. But the water is the Light, as you said. We are seeing our true selves, unchanged by time, or war, natural disasters that made some of us come out tall and sleek like Night Elves or crouched and savage like Trolls." Shadowstep found Feathershine's shoulder and drew her into a hug. "You understand the Light don't you? Certainly better than even I do."

"How do we know we aren't just hallucinating? Trolls are always abusing herbs and other magic to see and feel strange things." Windsong asked.

Shadowstep nodded and took Feathershine by the hand. They went deeper into the temple. The place was glorious. In the largest room, finer versions of the statues they'd seen upstairs sat on stone pedestals of various sizes. Some old gods were clearly less important than others. Two at the highest eschelon caught Feathershine's eye. A fierce windserpent wrapped his tail around the tall column that was its perch. Even the many tiny scales had been carved with care. The tail curled elegantly where it almost graced the ground. It had to be Hakkar.

A great bear god was humbled on all fours. The stone carving captured a spirit as strong and noble as that of the Great Bear spirit in Moonglade.

"I like the raptor." Vermillion pointed to a vicious snarling stone statue that looked a lot like a Devilsaur. Even frothing saliva had been carved into its jowls.

"Look." Shadowstep stopped at the center of the pantheon of old gods and knelt down. He used his boot and a shirt sleeve to rub away a thick layer of dust. Everyone stared at what he'd revealed for a long time before they understood.

Life-sized statues of devout worshippers, stood looking up at the old gods through a glass ceiling beneath the Night Elves' feet. The faces were elven, the tusks trollish, the long ears… they were what they had always been, what they now were. Some faces of the men had faded paint, the women had markings of leaf and feral patterns over their eyes. All smiled up at Shadowstep and the others in awe. It made the Night Elves want to look up at the amazing deities around them as well. They did.

"It feels like… home." Priestess Feathershine wondered. "Why does this make so much sense? They adore these creatures, whether beautiful or fierce or noble, the same way our druids do. All the truths about our races come together in this one place."

Shadowstep walked to the other end of the round room and dusted off a small black altar.

"I've been here before." He admitted. Everyone looked at him curiously so he explained, "When I first learned of it almost seventy years ago, I had to see for myself. I never thought it would be so useful now, or that I'd even be able to share it with anyone. Many of a Master Rogue's secrets are like this, amazing to behold, yet terrifying to share. Can you imagine what would happen if anyone found this place by accident, and misinterpreted everything? I helped to guide your understanding, but anyone else might be revolted at first glance. This is a dangerous place and needs to be protected. Can I trust you with this little… piece of myself that I've shared today?"

Of course they would. Feathershine felt she was just getting to know Jebidiath Shadowstep.

"We could examine all the statues in this room, and I've counted--there are at least three hundred of them—for one called Zar'teaus. Then we'd know everything we need about his make up, his strengths and weaknesses. However, we don't have time for that… in fact, it's a waste of our time. This altar is inscribed with every single name. Of course the last time I was here, I didn't memorize all of them. But, if Zar'teaus is really an Old God with a history, and not some strange monster bent on destroying your children's lives, this would be the place to find out."

Feathershine walked over to the altar on wobbly legs. Shadowstep looked like a Night Elf again. The effects of the ancient moonwell water were fading, she realized. The names on the round altar were arranged in the very same order as the god statues. The ones at the rim were in the largest letters.

Windsong, ever the avid student, found the name before everyone else and thrust a finger out. "He's that one over there… the gigantic Devilsaur."

"What is a Devilsaur weak against, Windsong?" Vermillion asked.

"And that in itself, is the crux of our dysfunction." Shadowstep said, without realizing it.

Feathershine raised a curious eyebrow at him.

"What I mean is… they aren't weak against anything really. A Devilsaur is just a cruel and starving monster, plain and simple. You can't see one coming. When they arrive, there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. Like a Fel Reaver."

"A what?" Feathershine boggled.

"It's this gigantic Burning Legion war machine… they patrol Hellfire Peninsula in Outland. Wait, that was supposed to be another Master Rogue secret." Shadowstep sighed. "Oh well."

They wandered around in awe for hours before Shadowstep warned them they had to go. When the tide went out in the evening, they could walk back through the tunnel where the water once was to the underground basin and out of a second tunnel to the beach. Outside, the tunnel exit was so steep no one could climb back up that way once they descended. Reluctant, all four Night Elves turned their backs on the first great temple of a race that they didn't even have a name for. Yet, it touched all of them deeply, explained all the mysteries of Azeroth. They would certainly keep something so sacred to themselves.

That evening, they made camp among the massive auburn pines at Bear's Head. Both Feathershine and Shadowstep were friendly with the tribe of Furblogs.

When dinner was over Feathershine wordlessly slipped into Shadowstep's tent without being asked. Her boyfriend followed.

"I take it you want to speak with me about today?"

Feathershine took a long time to respond. "I can't believe that… we've known each other for nearly all our lives and I didn't even know this about you. You are a deeply spiritual person."

"No I'm not."

"You are. That place means a great deal to you. Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us. I know you, you intended to keep that to yourself. Just like… you always schemed to keep me to yourself."

Shadowstep rested his folded elbows on his knees. "You put it well, Deliah. Perhaps you'd make a good rogue afterall."

"No. You're a good rogue, the very best rogue in all of Azeroth for guarding something so precious. I… adore you."

Feathershine pulled Shadowstep's arms apart and made him lie down. She lay on top of him and wrapped her arms about his neck. "I'm sorry Jebidiath. But one day, when I'm ready to say it, you'll know that I truly love you. And then there will be nothing else left to do about it but get married."

Shadowstep looked saddened by this. "Deliah, I have loved you for my entire life. It never waned… I don't understand how you've grown to hate me so much."

"But I don't—"

"We know who Zar'teaus is now. That helps with the 'why', I suppose… I suppose there really wasn't very much information in the temple besides his statue. Tomorrow, we'll head back towards Darnassus and speak to my contact in the Exodar. From him, we should be able to learn what demon that badge belonged to. At least your children's murderers should be obvious then."

Shadowstep gently moved away from Feathershine. "But… what happens after that?" she asked him.

"What matters after that? We'll have been out for forty days. This whole thing will be over, and you can go back to rejecting me."

"But I said seventy."

Shadowstep was too drained, both physically and emotionally to design a lie to cover that. "Goodnight, Deliah." His low, melancholy whisper barely reached Feathershine's ears.

When Svetlana was done listening at the edge of camp, she waltzed back into the darkness to inform her Master.