Deirdre Rioghan

Deirdre Siochana Rioghan, commonly known as Lady Duskdance, is the queen of the Free Sky rovers, the mate of Suncrest, and the mother of Sundance, Starsong and Shadowcrest. She is the leader of the Aelur who abide on the Wild Rover, though it is her mate's sister Killdeer who owns the vessel.

Parentage
Duskdance was the daughter of Deepnight, prince of the Free Sky rovers, and Roselaugh, princess of Fire Valley. By the custom of the Aelur, since Deepnight was Lady Stormcloud's only child, he was her interim heir, though Aelur clans could only be properly ruled by a queen. So when her parents married, Roselaugh returned to Free Sky with him, and when Duskdance was born, it was clear she would rule after them.

Family
Duskdance has cousins, though they must be more distant than first cousins on the Free Sky side of her family, as Deepnight was an only child. Nightsinger is a cousin of hers. By extension, his sister Heartbud is another cousin. In later years, she also refers to Elspeth Kolesar as "little sister" after meeting her, considering her a sister-in-law. After Nightsinger marries Killdeer, they become cousins as well.

Marriage
She marries Kenneth Xiao, a standard human, who becomes bard of Free Sky, calling himself Suncrest. This marriage is not approved by some of the older women of Free Sky, especially when Suncrest's Aelur-like bodily alterations are removed to prove he was standard human all along. Eventually Suncrest is accepted, and they have three children (two born, one adopted)

Children
Sundance An-jing Xiao - Princess of Free Sky. Born daughter. Favours the colour red.

Starsong Carol Searlit Xiao - Princess of Free Sky. Adopted twin to Sundance. Favours the colour green.

Shadowcrest Stefan Xiao - Prince of Free Sky. Born son. Is a terrible mischief, but his sisters love him all the same.

Friends and Allies
She has become friends with First Responder Imogene Silver ever since Ms. Silver assisted in removing Carol Fuhrman from Moria.

Other Names and Roles
Lady Duskdance has been known by other names or roles since her travels into the greater galaxy.

Deirdre Rioghan: This appears to be her 'real' name (along with Siochana). It is unknown whether she would use 'Xiao' as a surname, though her children do.

Luran queen: A primitive-looking anthrofelinoid woman wrapped in furs, to the eyes of the Morians who came to stare at her people over Christmastime. She pretended to take no notice of their audience, though she understood very well what was being said around them.

Lady Darkness: A role she played during ''Sun and Moon and Stars of Light. ''It was also the parallel role to her own in the fairy tale half of the story. Wife of Lord Sun, mother of the Peaceful One, the Star, and Shadow.