Once, King.

We destroyed the first army of Karthas, and the second gathered to destroy us.

"But our enemies' kingdom waned, from rebellions, taxes, and corruption. The second army reverted to mercenaries, who fought the government and themselves to establish separate states. The great kingdom of men broke and scattered, forming the many states thou know today.

"The realm of the Elves survived, in one."

This story is new to me. Men were once powerful, and capable of such destruction? The present states were puny, and constantly pitted against each other in wars, and we Elves played all sides, trading weapons to one or the other in return for fattened pocketbooks. To think that we may have once feared such people? Impossible.

One part of his story sparks my interest.

"My liege. You spoke of a Star Blade. Were such things truly in existence?"

"Yes, there was one, a mighty sword, and symbol of Elven Royalty and Might. I shall tell thou of how it entered into being, and was transformed into Legend."

"Two thousand years before even my birth, my ancestor took it upon himself to establish the kingdom of the Elves. At that time, Elves were a short-lived minority, fighting against a vast wasteland of monsters and beings of Power. My ancestor saw the need for an advantage against such things, and so he contacted the night hags.

"He parlayed with them, asking for power and granting small sacrifices. He gained for the Elves long lives, with longer still for the Royals. He gained them greater skill with weapons. He sacrificed some of the original passion of the Elves, and gave away the soul of his first born son. After more such trades, the hags promised him a great weapon, a blade forged from the Stars themselves, if he would agree to unleash a new race of monster upon the world when his line ended.

"He agreed.

"And so, he gained the Star Blade, black as night, with stars sprinkled lightly over it. It had a wicked edge which could cut anything, and granted its wielder powers of extraordinary leadership.

"Using the Star Blade, my ancestor built this land for the Elves. And when he died, the sword passed on to me."

I can not find the words to express my feelings. I know the beginnings of the Elven race itself, something none but the King before me knew before. I know the devil's bargain struck with the hags for power, formerly the King's dark secret. The mere knowledge stirs me.

"My liege, does the sword still remain?"

"Nay, it is long gone."

"My liege, how did the Star Blade pass from this world?"

"For three thousand years I bore it with grim reluctance. I lived longer than any other Elf, as I was last of the Royal Line. My wives grew old and died before me, and I took new ones each time. Until I met my final wife.

"She was beautiful, with skin the color of the moon, eyes the color of the most radiant field, and hair the color of a great fire. She was a sun to my earth. I could not resist her, and took her as my wife.

"For twenty years we lived happily, but one night a rebel came upon her sleeping. Hating King and Country, he slit her throat, spilling her crimson blood around her crimson hair. I had heard a noise from my place of meditation, and so ran to investigate.

"I saw my wife laying on the ground, a delicate bird crushed by an overwhelming wind, and flew into a rage, slaying her murderer with the Star Blade. And then I wept.

"I knew not for how long I mourned, but my aides later told me I had lived in seclusion for a week."