The Bearer of Caliburn

     The blade, a length of shimmering silver, remained upright, thrust point first into the earth. The ground surrounding it was also silver, a muted, shifting color which both drew the eye and repelled it. The sword was almost plain, no scrollwork, no engraving. Just a simple, gleaming piece of Dreamstuff and chimerical steel, which incidentally, held the fate of the Kingdom of Concordia. This was the High King’s blade, Caliburn.

     Long, neatly polished black claws slid around the blade’s hilt, and a low, throaty chuckle echoed through the air. The creature standing just off of the silver earth was nearly seven feet tall, and had curving horns. Long white hair fell in a heavy wave to the willow-thin waist, framing a face both bestial and beautiful. Fangs gleamed when the creature smiled triumphantly, and a forked tongue the color of blood stroked over the full lips when it looked at the blade it held.

     "I remember you of old, blade of the Shining Host." The creature’s speech did not hiss; it had always spoken easily, and the Dreaming did not take such considerations as linguistic ability into count when it birthed nightmares. This creature was, indeed, a nightmare. Feral beauty and predatory grace were at once appealling and repelling. You would gaze in wonder at this creature, and then shrink in fear as you realized you were prey. It held the sword over its head and laughed. The noise was like claws on unglazed porcelain: rasping and cold, grating across even the calmest nerves. The androgynous body curled and twisted as it moved in a circle, brandishing the sword, laughing still. It paused, as if struck by a sudden thought, and began to make a low sound akin to purring. It drew Caliburn close, and ran the forked tongue over the silver blade.

     "I do remember you, though you bore a different name aeons ago. And I remember your purpose, Star Blade of the Tuatha," it cooed, licking the blade between words. "How you have come to me, I do not know, but I reassure you: I will find your Shining Host, and show them what I know they have forgotten." It laughed again, and the glow of the sword dimmed as it was thrust through the creature’s belt. Grinning with rampant malice, it leapt nimbly off of the dangerous ground near the Silver Path and bounded away into the Dreaming.

     A trail of nightmare followed in its wake.