"Because it just is not fair!" Mercutio Cantiran, Lord Prince of the House of Cantiran, raged about the circular room high in the Tower of the Half Moon. "That little tart, the Ta-Neer heir" She gets to just run around doing whatever she pleases while I—" "But m'lord," the wizened old elf tried to reason with him, "Lady Ta-Neer did suffer very grave penalties for what she did." "Grave penalties?" He tossed his long, black hair over his shoulder, "Please! What small price has she paid?" "Sire, she is no longer heir. The lady lives in exile and was stripped of her abilities. You were at court the spring it happened." "Yes yes, but she got them back, did she not?" He just loved juicy gossip, and nothing had been more sensational than Jewell Ta-Neer coming back from Nature knows where, able to do exactly what the High Court said she should never be able to do again. Mercutio waved his hand, "Used them against her cousin. The ugly one. What was her name?" "Muirenn Ta-Neer?" "Yes, her." His fair face darkened. "The one who refused to dance with me that time at the masque. Horrid girl." "Yes sire." "But if you think for a second that the heir?" he frowned. "What was her name again?" "Which one, sire?" "The one we were just talking about!" he growled. "That killed her cousin at the big celebration the Ta-Neers had. Absolutely ruined the party. And there were so many pretty ladies there too." Mercutio sighed dramatically. "Ah, I believe you mean Jewell Ta-Neer, sire." "Yes yes," he nodded, turning towards the window. "Little Jewell. I remember her. Pretty sort of girl, yes" Rather liberal with her kisses." "As you say." "Well, if you think for a second that she didn't get her titles stripped on purpose just to get out of here so she can do what she wants, I have the biggest fool for a counsel." He gazed out his window over the snow-capped peaks of the surrounding mountains. His prison. "I hear she's off in the mortal realms having all sorts of fun while I'm stuck here." "But sire, you have a great honor bestowed upon you by the Queen to lead our lands—" "Nonsense," he silenced him harshly. "Who cares about great honor?" The young dandy sighed, leaning against the window frame. "I just want to have fun.?

Missive from the Castellan of the Tower of the Half Moon, Cantiran, to the Lady Lorelei Ta-Neer. Dearest Lady, Cantiran humbly requests your assistance. With the disappearance of Prince Mercutio, chaos has erupted throughout Cantiran. Without the prince to restore order, and with the approaching solstice nearly upon us, the Veil is increasingly unstable. We fear that it may completely collapse in the coming days. Many of our subjects have fled across the Veil already to the mortal realms, and disaster looms on the horizon not just for ourselves but the precarious balance we all strive to keep. The soldiers of Cantiran cannot restore order without the support of our allies and friends. Please send aide. Your humble servant, Lord Tarqiup Castellan of the Tower of the Half Moon