Politics
As the gnomes left the hall, a slender eladrin approached the Lord of Lightning. She was dressed all in silver and had a silver sword at her hip. "Excuse me, but I urgently need to talk with you about your plans for Cendriane."
"So the Maiden of the Moon has sought me out," said the Lord of Lightning with an amused smile. "I quite expected this, you know."
"You did?" asked the Maiden of the Moon with a start. "Very well then, let me ask you a question. Does your plan of tolerance for all who dwell in Cendriane extend to lycanthropes? Answer carefully Lord of Lightning. You would not want to have me as an enemy."
The Lord of Lightning's smile broadened. "What a delightfully predictable question." The Maiden of the Moon glared at him. "The answer to your question is yes, if they keep the peace. However, how many do you honestly expect to be peaceful? And if they are peaceful, do they not deserve a chance at peace?"
She continued to glare at him. "That was the most prevaricating answer that I have heard to a question in a long time. I shall warn you this once; do not interfere in my hunt or offer shelter to my prey. If you do (here her eyes hardened), I will view you as an enemy." She spun around a stalked off.
The Lord of Lightning watched her go with amusement, barely containing his laughter.
The night wore on, and the Lord of Lightning watched the gathering with a critical eye. 'The game of politics,' he thought with a sigh. 'How tiresome, yet deadly it is.' Shaking his head, he noticed that the Prince of Frost was approaching. "How kind of you to join me. I am delighted to see you," said the Lord of Lightning with mock amusement.
The Prince of Frost's eyes got narrower. "I did not come over here to mouth inane pleasantries, but rather to discuss serious business. I need to know what court you plan to align with. Choose wisely."
"An interesting question, one which probably someone from every court will have asked me by the end of the night. The answer is, I do not intend to align with any," he said with a smirk at the Prince of Frost's shock.
"But...but...that is just not done!" screeched the Prince of Frost. "Every eladrin and most of the fey are aligned with a court. You cannot not ally yourself!"
"I do not care a bit for useless customs," retorted the Lord of Lightning. "As I intend to make Cendriane a place for all, I have no desire to tie myself to a court! I do not care if it 'is just not done.' I refuse to hinder my plans in such a way."
The Prince of Frost smiled coldly. "I do not think that your course will make you many friends. The Winter Court will not support you."
"Fine, fine," said the Lord of Lightning with a wave of his hand. "Just remember that if any of the Winter Fey join me, they are under my protection and I will protect them against any threat." With that the Lord of Lightning turned and walked away from the Prince of Frost, leaving him with a stunned look on his face.
Tiandra and Lord Oran appeared at the Prince of Frost's side. "What could the Lord of Lightning possibly have said to shock you so much?" she queried. "I thought that nothing could do that to you."
The Prince of Frost slowly turned to them and said, "He refuses to align with a court."
Tiandra frowned and replied," Well I suppose it makes sense that he doesn't want to join your court, but..."
"No that's not what I said. He refuses to join any court, not just mine!"
Tiandra stared at him in horror. "But that's impossible; it's not done! What possible reason could he have for this mad course of action?"
"He claimed that joining a court would hinder his plans for Cendriane and he didn't care that it was not done. He didn't even care when I told him that the Winter Court will not support him and said that if any join him, he will protect them. He doesn't even consider us a threat!"
Lord Oran broke in. "This Lord of Lightning is a bold creature. In the space of a few hours he has offended not only the Prince of Frost, but also the Maiden of the Moon." Tiandra and the Prince of Frost looked at him curiously. "I was talking with her earlier, and she was furious with him. Apparently he told her that lycanthropes will be welcome in Cendriane, if they keep the peace."
Tiandra's face grew white. "Is he trying to offend every court, or is he oblivious to the reaction he is obtaining?"
"Unfortunately, I believe he knows what he is doing," said the Prince of Frost with a sigh. "When I was talking with him he seemed to be amused at my reaction to his statement."
"I believe that we will need to keep a close eye on this Lord of Lightning's activities," said Tiandra pensively. "If not, who knows what havoc he might cause?'