The Romancer Shadowstep
Episode Ten: Feathershine explains a whole lot of things
Priestess Feathershine felt like she was falling for Jebidiath Shadowstep all over again. She watched the way that he rode confidently on his striped nightsaber. She cleared her throat when Shadowstep glanced in her direction, self conscious.
"Everything alright, Deliah?" he sounded concerned.
Feathershine started to say that she wished he'd made love to her the night before, that she felt the time they spent at odds had been wasted, but she was embarrassed to even think of offering herself so freely. Of course, she and Shadowstep slept together every night of their journey so far, but that was only to keep up her end of the bargain. Did she truly miss the attention now that Shadowstep was starting to give her the space she wanted at the outset?
"When we pass through Astranaar again… perhaps you should buy me something."
Shadowstep frowned at the offer. He missed Feathershine's roundabout invitation completely.
"Deliah, if it's all the same to you, I'd rather not. You don't truly care for me… and I don't want to make you feel obligated."
Feathershine screwed up her face with disdain. "What? Where's the manipulative Master Rogue I know so well…" she snapped her mouth shut. "Um… dearest, what I mean is… what's gotten into you? We're at odds somehow, and I don't remember getting on your bad side."
The soft footfalls of their Nightsabers and the cheerful music of Ashenvale songbirds filled in the silence that came next.
"Jebidiath? Are you listening to me?"
Shadowstep turned to face her, slowly. "Sorry about that Deliah. I was just thinking… I am trying to pinpoint the exact moment that you started hating me. It must have been the time I stole your clothing while you bathed in the Moonwell at the Oracle Glade years ago. Was that it?"
Feathershine raised both eyebrows. "What in Elune's name are you going on about—"
"Master Shadowstep!" Vermillion's panicked tone interrupted them.
Shadowstep sighed. "It's that whelp again." He grumbled to his girlfriend. Shadowstep called a few yards ahead to where Vermillion and Windsong were riding on the road. "What's the matter?"
Vermillion stopped his saber and Windsong did too. Shadowstep griped something about how 'now they were going to have to stop moving altogether because the whelp was paranoid.' Vermillion had been complaining about feeling watched all morning.
When Shadowstep and Feathershine got close the young rogue confided, "There was a naked woman in the road, and she was watching us!"
Shadowstep rolled his eyes. "That is because you were staring at her, amateur."
"Jebidiath, why does it sound like you are counseling the boy on merely getting caught?" Feathershine accused.
Vermillion looked from one adult to another, troubled. He rubbed the reddened side of his face where Windsong clearly slapped him. Windsong looked displeased.
"From the way Windsong is sulking, I suppose there really was someone." Shadowstep slyly observed. He dismounted and stealthed.
"What did she look like, Vermillion?" Feathershine asked.
"She wasn't very tall, but she was really…" he cleared his throat.
"The word you want is busty, Vermillion." Feathershine sighed.
"I know that, but I don't want her to slap me again." The young man chanced a smile at his girlfriend, but Windsong wouldn't budge.
Will you let him off the hook a bit, dear? I can't read anything substantial from his mind if he's so nervous. Feathershine told Windsong mentally.
I'll accept your relationship advice when you accept mine. Feathershine blanched at the young woman's cold response.
"There's no one about." Shadowstep came back then and decloaked. Priestess Feathershine flinched at just how close he had been standing behind her. Shadowstep excused himself, which surprised Feathershine even more, then mounted back up.
"Blue skin… and… wings?" Feathershine concluded the results of her Mind Vision spell aloud. "Vermillion, the image in your mind is of the Spirit Guide which greets souls at graveyards."
Vermillion inched his mount away from Windsong and whispered to the two grown people. "It wasn't that… it wasn't even a Night Elf woman. I've seen one naked before—"
"Where?" Shadowstep rudely interjected. He had a hard time believing the awkward young rogue could ever manage to do better than Priestess Windsong. To the Master Rogue, that Vermillion even dated the bright and competent priestess was sheer luck.
Vermillion blushed. "Well, I was in Astranaar a few months ago, and there was this crazy shadowpriestess. She and her husband were streaking—"
Feathershine's eyes bulged. "We don't need to hear about that!" she snapped. Shadowstep started laughing. Feathershine flashed angry eyes at the Master Rogue. "And if you make one comment about my daughter's mental state, I am going to rescind my offer to let you buy me a present in Astranaar."
That was when Shadowstep realized what Feathershine had been implying earlier. His mood darkened instantly.
"The woman I just saw had wings and horns!"
Feathershine and Shadowstep shared a look.
Perhaps it's just the demon pet of a Horde warlock? Feathershine asked Shadowstep in his mind.
Shadowstep shook his head. "No, Deliah." He answered aloud, the only way that he could since he was no priest. "I've only ever seen people with red ones."
"Huh?" Vermillion gawked at the half conversation.
True. I've never seen a blue succubus before… except for in Silithus! Jebidiath, a Twilight Cultist really is following us, like you said!
Shadowstep's frown darkened. He didn't truly believe his own theory, when the Mission Implausible was so carefully planned over the last few years. A few weeks ago, it was mostly a lie to comfort Feathershine after she fretted about her mistake in Silithus. Shadowstep would have never hired Vermillion of all people if he believed a member of the Twilight's Hammer cult was really following them. "But that's… just not possible, Deliah. There is no way—"
You said so yourself! Feathershine cut him off. Having your thoughts stifled in your head before you could even express them was worse than someone speaking over you. Shadowstep grimaced at how he could not even hear himself think now. You said that it wasn't Zar'teaus following us, and that it was a Twilight Cultist. Now we know for sure! What are we going to do?
"There's nothing to be done! She's just watching us… if her master wanted us dead, we'd be dead by now. It's probably best to just act natural."
Both Vermillion and Windsong had doe eyes opened so wide that Shadowstep instantly realized his mistake.
"I suppose… I suppose I should have kept that part of the conversation to myself." He didn't bother apologizing though.
Priestess! What's going on! Windsong pleaded with Feathershine.
Nothing at all… I'm sure that whatever it is, Shadowstep already has a plan to manage it.
Shadowstep! What are we going to do? Priestess Feathershine panicked in the Master Rogue's head next.
This time, Shadowstep rode ahead of the young people and calmly motioned for Feathershine to follow.
"Deliah, just act natural. I don't want you to panic about what I'm going to say next."
Priestess Feathershine firmly grabbed the reigns of her nightsaber. She braced herself for the worst.
"I thought Vermillion and I could handle whatever it was… I was wrong. This is beyond my skill alone, I know for a fact because… " Shadowstep was ready to say more but he hesitated.
"Dammit, Shadowstep! I'm a Priestess of Elune, not one of your lackeys. I can take whatever it is, so spit it out."
Shadowstep slowed his striped nightsaber to a walk once they were a good distance from the others. Feathershine followed his lead.
"We need to hire an assassin." Shadowstep shook his head, disappointed in how he'd misjudged the situation. "This is no longer just a reconnaissance mission, our security is at risk. We also need an expert on dealing with Twilight Cultists… you may hate me for this, but I know only one person capable of handling both ends of this problem efficiently and without asking us too many questions, for your sake… I think you know the man I'm referring to."
Priestess Feathershine patted her mount idly as she thought about it. "Opalbane will be angry if we put her husband in danger again. And Alessandre will be furious with me when he finds out that I stole away to Silithus and put his wife in danger. I don't see how we can get him to come without upsetting everyone."
Shadowstep smirked. "Only a priestess would care so much about people's feelings that she would be intimidated into inaction when the stakes are high."
"We can't ask Alessandre to help us! Besides, he's halfway across the world, attending a wedding."
Shadowstep grinned wickedly. "That is exactly why he will help us. He does not want to upset his wife. He is not going to ruin her special moment as the maid of honor in Willypearl's wedding. Furthermore, he wants to protect Opalbane, so he will be here with bells on." his smile widened. "Furthermore, he will not tell Opalbane or High Priestess Tyrande or anyone else because we know all of his dangerous secrets."
Feathershine lowered her eyes. "And to believe I… actually objected to your manipulating him. I see now why you wanted to keep some leverage on Alessandre after his trial. Now, because I let you have your way…" she admitted regretfully, "Alessandre will do whatever we ask of him, at a moment's notice."
"No questions asked," Shadowstep reminded Feathershine. "You will be safe from blame and so will I."
"What would he blame you for?" Feathershine asked.
Shadowstep cleared his throat. "After that long hot summer several years ago, when you went bathing… I took your clothes because I wanted to see you naked."
Feathershine became flustered immediately. "Why do I get the feeling there is something you aren't telling me! Why did you change the subject? Are you lying to me about something, Jebidiath Shadowstep?"
"Just answer my question, and maybe I'll tell you."
Priestess Feathershine fumed. "You haven't even asked me a question yet." Then she got quiet. This was clearly the point of him requesting her compliance now. The question was not a savory one, but if he manipulated her into promising an answer beforehand, Shadowstep would be sure to get it no matter how outlandish his request was.
"You're manipulating me in the same way that we are about to manipulate Alessandre." Feathershine observed. "If I could still read your mind these days, I would know what you are hiding by now."
"You are learning fast, Deliah." Shadowstep narrowed predatory eyes at her. "And it is hard to read a man's mind when it's as dirty as my own… I thought you would catch on that I'm only conjuring up distracting images to throw you off. It's worked well for decades, might I add." Feathershine sighed and agreed to give him whatever information he wanted in exchange for his secret.
"Why… and don't dare skirt the question again, do you hate me so much?"
Priestess Feathershine floundered. "Of all the ridiculous—"
"Was it because I made you walk naked back to Darnassus from the Oracle Glade after you broke up with me?"
"No."
"It must be because I lied to you that time, when I first became Master Rogue and said I had a fever… don't you remember Deliah? None of the other priestesses were brave enough to stand my temper but I let you near me. Then I said I had the chills so you would crawl into the bed with me. And we ended up… that's how started sleeping together again. Was that it?"
"No." Feathershine sounded even more angry now.
"Well… maybe it was after all those times I kept tricking you into my bed, when you finally gave up resisting my advances? I think that was the Winter's Veil before I pretended to fall off of Teldrassil. Do you recall that?"
"That was the same winter Onyxbane and Opalbane had a huge fight with me about trying to take their mother's place. They were barely teenagers but they wouldn't speak to me during that entire season." Feathershine finally exploded, "And do you know what you were doing while I cried and begged Elune to help them understand that I meant well?"
Shadowstep began shaking his head. "I don't remember Onyxbane and Opalbane ever hating you—"
"Because you never pay any attention to me! It was the worst Winter's Veil of my entire life, and you spent it moaning and groaning about your broken ankle when I knew that you didn't have one. The only way I could get you to stop being so annoying was to sleep with you, like all those other times."
Shadowstep looked truly offended. "Is that… what we've been doing all this time? We've been sleeping together because you pity me?"
Priestess Feathershine stopped her mount. She flushed violet, she was so angry.
"You're still not listening to me! I LIKE YOU!" She threw her hands up into the air. "I have always liked you, I find you charming and irresistible, I like how you hold me, how you speak to me, how you touch me…" she began to cry with her frustration. "You ruined me for other men long ago, only you are too focused on your work and living even your personal life like the Master Rogue. You can't see the good thing you have right in front of your face." She had to stop and take a breath, "I would walk a thousand miles, naked, just for you to look at me the way you did back in Azshara, like you own the world, like you own me... you made me feel like a lovesick school girl again. No one has ever made me feel that free, and priestesses have so many obligations, especially these days. Shadowstep, you allow me to let my hair down and be ridiculous or mean. I never get to do that in Darnassus. But, because you won't listen to me, because you are so self-centered and focused on how sneaky you can be, or how well you can out-think someone else, you've managed to talk yourself out of a relationship, time and again. I keep waiting for you to come around, for the magic to happen once more like it did on our first Springtime, but it never does."
Priestess Feathershine began to cry. "I'm starting to think that you are incapable of really loving me, because you can't see beyond the end of your nose. Jebidiath, I don't pity you, I could never pity you. To me you are amazing, brilliant. I wish that I could be as open about my true desires as you are. By Elune! You are even starting to make me doubt my own convictions about using people because now Alessandre is going to help us out of this mess, thanks to your clairvoyance."
Priestess Feathershine got off her mount and began walking away into the forest. Shadowstep ran after her.
"Deliah! Wait." He got his arms around her and held her while she fell apart. She grabbed fistfuls of his shirt and he rocked her gently.
"Why is it that everything I've ever done," she sobbed, "to get you back, to be a good priestess, or save my children… has turned to ashes? But everything you do, even if it is mean-spirited, makes people respect you, and you get to be the hero?"
"Are you… jealous of me?"
Feathershine buried her face deeper into his shirt. "Yes."
It was a perfect time to tell her that all the failures of her life were by design and not by accident, not her fault. Shadowstep couldn't believe that all his efforts to get Feathershine back over the years actually pushed her away. He was glad that Feathershine had become too upset now to ask her question in exchange. In fact, he aimed at getting her so frazzled with his conjuring up bad memories to protect against that.
"But… why? You can have me. I would have welcomed you. I'd do anything for you, Deliah."
Priestess Feathershine sat down in the grass and Shadowstep got comfortable beside her. Feathershine lay her head on his shoulder. "I already know that you would lie and cheat and steal for me," she sniffled, "But I want you to stop doing those sinister things for me."
Shadowstep almost laughed. "That's like asking me to stop being the Master Rogue, Deliah."
Priestess Feathershine didn't confirm the request, because Shadowstep had already made it obvious.
He got quiet, then finally said. "No, that's asking too much. I worked hard for all my success and it's not fair."
"Two weeks after I returned from Feralas and I broke off the engagement, we began sleeping together again. That was after you first became the Master Rogue. Back then, you were just silly and sweet. I saw right through your mischief, I knew that you weren't really sick or had the chills. I crawled into bed with you to keep you warm because I wanted to be with you again." Feathershine sat up and looked Jebidiath in the eye. Her face was wet with tears. "We kept sleeping together afterward, but whatever it was that we started up again… a relationship, a friendship… just fell apart. You were more concerned about your work than with me. And at some point… I couldn't read your mind anymore. You started keeping things from me, though now I know how you're doing it. But why did you ever feel the need to shut me out? I am not asking you to change who you are, Jebidiath. I am asking you to change whom you've become."
Shadowstep forced his gaze to settle somewhere else. He did not want to see how he was hurting the woman he loved, by doing his job.
Priestess Feathershine pushed out of his arms and stood. "And even now, though you've essentially rejected me yet again, I still want to sleep with you. I keep hoping that one day, I'll wake up in your arms and everything will be just like it once was." She sighed while waiting forever for Shadowstep's answer. The whistle of a bird high up in a tree seemed to deliver her from the melancholy moment. "Fine then. I'm used to your silence. Come, love, take my hand and we'll finish the journey to the Exodar. But before that, we need to send a letter to Alessandre, right? Ah, I am getting old. I almost forgot about that part."
Shadowstep was so angry about his strategic defeat over the last few years that he missed the most important thing about what his girlfriend said: that she loved him.