The Romancer Onyxbane

Episode Twelve:

Week Four of our Journey:

So, did you get all that? I hope someone understands what just happened to me and why, because I'm still reeling. I just went back and read my record of yesterday, and I still can't believe it.

First, Willy turns out to be engaged, then I manage to cheat on her before I even get to sleep with her. Then, Wisthera comes along, and I take her to bed. And… Willypearl is mad at me for sleeping with another woman, while she's been cheating on this Elec guy for the past few days. Meanwhile, Wisthera finds out about my attempt to sleep with Willypearl, and eventhough I tell her I still want to go back to Willy, Wisthera doesn't mind at all. In fact, Wisthera doesn't mind the meaningless sex we had and encourages me to run after all these different women. And then, she kept saying things like I own her, and if I come back to her I won't even have to beg.

What the…

Okay, I'm calming down now. Wisthera can get pretty speechy sometimes, and I guess that's part of being a rogue and tricking everyone into doing what you'd like. She can talk fast and make a lot of sense. But, eventhough my head keeps saying that she's lying again, I have this gut feeling that what she said about Night Elf men and women being made for each other isn't too far from the truth. I never really thought of myself as arrogant, but it would explain all the trouble I've been getting into. I guess it takes a pretty self-involved guy to think that someone like Willy would just be okay with a man cheating on her with his ex, after she was so nice to both of them… I think. It's not like I've never been in a relationship before. I know that there are some things you just don't do if you want to keep a good woman. I guess I thought that Willy would agree that Wisthera was manipulating me and that it's not really my fault.

But, who am I kidding? I guess that's what I'd rather believe, that when I saw how hurt and upset Wisthera was, I fell for her, not that I panicked and tried to take control of the situation by making love to her so that she would forget the pain. And, I guess a really arrogant guy would think that he could make a woman feel so good that she'd forget a large insect tried to take her foot off with his dagger-like stinger. Ok, I guess at the end of the day, I'm still a Kaldorei, which means I think a whole lot of myself and very little of anyone else. And, ever since Westfall, I thought I'd overcome that trait of my race. I also thought that I'd put Wisthera behind me. And poor Willy. I don't know if she'll ever speak to me again. I don't think there is a way to fix this. Wisthera is far too volatile for me, and Willypearl is clearly too good for me.

You know, it occurred to me yesterday that Priestess Feathershine was right about me. Well, she disapproved of both Wisthera and Willypearl, and she's known me my entire life.

And here's something funny. She hasn't aged a day since she took Opal and I in. I think it's because she was born before the World Tree was damaged. She still looks like the young woman that used to sing me songs and make me hot kimchee when I cried. So, she looks about my age, though she's much older than I am. After I grew up a bit, I remember that I used to dream about her. Based on what I've been telling you about myself, you're probably taking this the wrong way. I didn't have those kinds of dreams you know. What I mean is, at night, I used to close my eyes and see her in the twilight forest. And then, I'd see myself, running to her, chasing her. She'd always be laughing and running to me too, hugging me. She'd call me her 'dear one', but it was because she cared for me. She would embrace me with these rosebud colored arms, and her jade green hair would fall over both of us, while I smiled and laughed.

At that time, I was still living with the priestesses, and they told me I was really dreaming about Elune, expressing a desire to thank her for saving Opal and I from the Legion (and yes, that was how clean my mind was back then, I went around telling the priestesses about my dreams quite innocently). It was some years later, when I was off training to be a warrior on my own that I realized it was Feathershine I wanted.

Those priestesses were kind to me, but they weren't my mothers. I have a mother. She was pale like Opal, and smelled like warm bread, but then the demons came and she died. I had a father too, dark like midnight, and a fierce looking man. I never wanted to get into trouble with him. He died as well. That is all I remember about them. Maybe Opal feels differently, but I knew that those priestesses were not my parents. They were pretty, loving women, and Feathershine was the loveliest of them all.

Maybe if I write a bit more, I can sort all this out. Don't laugh, but I think Priestess Feathershine likes me. Didn't you notice it? Sometimes, she says and does things that are a bit possessive, doesn't she? The way she always shooed Wisthera away from me like she had a broom, and the way that she disapproved of Willy, who is probably the sweetest woman in all the world. Wouldn't a mother type person encourage something between me and Willy? She really didn't want us to go off together to Silithus. Wisthera is right that Willy was pretty eager for us to be alone, I'll give her that. But, I think Feathershine must have seen it too, or else she would not have sent that healer with us.

Yep, it's pretty clear now. She's jealous of Wisthera, and that's why she's been torturing her. She couldn't oppose Willy and I going ahead of the group, because it was mostly about finding my sister, but she did send someone along who was supposed to discourage anything intimate between us. And then, Wisthera also said Feathershine had been listening in when Willy came to my cabin that night on the ship. Priestess Feathershine must be reluctant to say anything, since I'm so much younger than her, but I think there's something there. Shouldn't I find out what it is?

If Priestess Feathershine is interested in me, that would be amazing. Kaldorei priestesses can marry, unlike human ones, so those of you in Stormwind shouldn't think that there is anything unsavory going on here. For your information, I've seen men in Darnassus look her over, and I've even heard rumors that Shadowstep, the head of the rogue order in the Cenarion Enclave has a thing for her. When I was younger, I heard the novice priestesses gossiping all the time about Feathershine. There was always a story about some guy who came along, wanting to see Feathershine privately, and then Shadowstep would suddenly find him suspicious, or turn out to have urgent business with him first. Afterwards, the visitor would insist he had no time to return to the Temple of Elune.

Strange, huh? And, even stranger that I listened to women talking when I should have been out playing with the other little boys. Well, after the first two years at the Temple of Elune, all the other kids were adopted, and it was just me, my mad sister, and all those women. So, I'm actually flattered that Feathershine might take an interest in me. Beyond that, she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and I'd really be a meathead if I let that opportunity get by me. I know I've described Willy as "hot" and my attraction to Wisthera as an addiction, but to me, Feathershine is just plain beautiful. She has a majestic grace that few women have, a strong, compassionate heart that can resolve situations on the battlefield, as well as with the ones she loves at home. All those novices hang off her every word because they respect her, not because she threatens them. I respect her as well. Priestess Feathershine is wonderful really. Her beauty is like the full moon. A man is lucky that the moon shines on him and lights up his world. And I'm sure that if a Kaldorei ever got the chance to give back…Maybe, after all we've been through together, after she's helped me to find welcome in this world after losing nearly everything, I can return to her a glimmer of that kindness and love her back. Maybe if things go really well… wow I am a lucky guy. If after all this confusion, I end up with someone like Priestess Feathershine, it will have been worth it. In fact, I find I like the idea more now than when Willy first suggested it.

Later the same day:

We found the Twilight Cultist camp that Opal is in. I actually saw her from very far away, but Wisthera insisted on being certain and stealthed in a bit closer to make sure. It's definitely her alright. This is the best news I've had in a long time. My sister is alive and well, besides walking, talking, and living in her shadow form. The others want to wait until we get news from Priestess Feathershine, but I saw a bunch of those guy cultists looking at my sister in a way that makes my skin crawl. I don't care what these ladies think. I'm sharpening the Reaper tonight, and tomorrow, we are getting Opal out!