Light and Dark

Valadain smiles sadly. "Lady, feel no threat from me. My first reaction was to seek the misbegotten's life. Was it not also Jaric's - and yours? But things are never so easy. We were wrong."

"A lesson I have learned hardly is that there is never Light without Dark, never Dark without Light, both within such as myself, or Illeum, or in the Gods."

"Be at peace, Mother, fear no Dread Priest coming to tear your kin. Bring them forth, and let them - like me, like you - be judged, by the world, by their choices, not their bloodlines.''

“That comforts me. For a long time I have known of my fate; in dreams, in nightmares and worse in reality itself. The children are innocent…it is the world around them that will shape their fate.”

"I will with pride and honour face them as their father's killer. Before that day, do you teach them why they should be glad I did. Would you want them to grow up in his shadow?"

“No…they will know exactly what Malkar was – and what he did. I will let them make their own judgments.”

"Finally, fear not for your Queen. The valour of the fair Illyanth touched my heart - she faced a red-handed deicide, mounted on a Glaenynn and armed with the weapon of a God, and she held her ground! A worthy and honourable Queen. She is not my foe, and I shall greet her in all courtesy.''

“In that I compliment you, there is a grudging respect within her – perhaps not so grudging…”

He sighs. "I have enough foes, Lady. I rid the world of a festering cancer, and am feared and despised for it. I was betrayed by my Lord and Master, and slew him. My companions dread my every move. Fear me not."

“History is rarely interested in the reasons…every worshipper sees your face in their nightmares. They know only what you did…”

"Pity me."

There is no pity in Willowstar, just tears. These are not grief…they are tears of joy for a life (or lives) that have been spared. “May the grace of the elves be with you always.”