Crown of Destiny (6 page)

Lara nodded, then she called, "Kaliq, we are going now."

He was immediately at her side, his arm about her supple waist, drawing her close. "Do not linger long, my love," he said, brushing her lips softly with his own.

Reaching up, Lara caressed his strong jaw. "I won't," she promised.

Smiling into her faerie green eyes, the Shadow Prince released her.

With a wave of her hand Lara opened the Golden tunnel that magic folk often used to transport themselves from one place to another. Then she and Cadi hurried through into the swirl. It closed behind them as they moved along, shutting entirely as they exited into the small windowless room that Lara had always used for her magic. Lara looked about her then turned to Cadi. "Pack this room up and send it to Shunnar. Then join me in my apartments," she instructed her serving woman.

As she departed the little chamber, she heard Cadi already murmuring the spells that would render the space empty as it had not been in over one hundred and twenty years. She realized that she felt no sadness in this at all and smiled a small smile. Encountering a guardsman on her way to her apartments, she asked him, "Is Prince Amren still in the castle?"

"He is, my lady."

"Tell him his grandmother would see him in her apartments," Lara told the man.

To his credit the man-at-arms bowed politely. "At once, my lady," he replied.

Lara gave him a smile and moved quickly by him, finally reaching her apartments. They were empty, for only Cadi served Lara now. The faerie woman looked about her. Everything was in order, neat and clean, but the sensation of love, of life, was no longer there. She shook her head. Aye. 'Twas past time she left Terah. The memories here had long ago faded, leaving in their place a melancholy. Why hadn't she noticed it until now?

Then she sensed an approach and turned quickly, even as the door to her apartments opened, and her grandson Prince Amren entered. "Come in, my lord," she invited him pleasantly. "Sit down. We must speak on matters that concern you." Going to a painted sideboard Lara poured a goblet of dark red wine for her grandson and another for herself. Handing it to him, she sat down opposite Amren.

"What matters?"
he asked her, taking the goblet with a nod of thanks.

"The Dominus Cadarn plans to dismiss you, and replace you with his brother, Prince Cadoc," Lara said bluntly.

"How can you know this?" Amren demanded, surprised.

Lara raised a delicate dark eyebrow. "Really, my lord, how can you even ask such a question of me?" she replied. "Do you think because you have been raised to fear me and ignore what I am that my powers are lessened to any degree? When something concerns me, I make it my business to know what I must."

"You must be mistaken, Grandmother," he said, but he did not sound very sure. "I have served Terah well since my youth."

"Aye, Amren, you have. Both your father and your grandfather would be most proud of your devotion to your duty to Terah." He was still a handsome man, Lara thought. How old was he now? Seventy? Aye, seventy.

Her words pleased him well, she could see, but then he asked her, "And are you proud of me, Grandmother?"

Lara laughed. "I suppose I am in my own way, Amren," she told him.

"What do you want then of me?" he asked her candidly.

Lara laughed again. "How Hetarian you have become," she said, "but of course you are right. A favor for a favor, eh, Amren?"

And now he chuckled. "'Tis the Hetarian way," he agreed, "and the truth is I have spent most of my life in Hetar. My wife is Hetarian, and our children."

"Will you remain in Hetar when the Dominus dismisses you?" she wanted to know. "You have a home in The City, and one in the province of the Outlands. I doubt your wife would enjoy living in Terah."

"I had not considered being cashiered from my position," Amren said slowly. "You know how important one's position is in Hetar. An ex-ambassador has not the status of an ambassador, but Clarinda would indeed be unhappy here in Terah. And we should not have the enjoyment of our grandchildren."

"The Dominus does not want to hear anything I have to say," Lara told her grandson, "but I shall put the thought into his head to create a new position for you. You shall be Terah's Trade Commissioner. There will certainly be opportunity for you to extract some goodly bribes in such a position, Amren."

His face grew red, and she saw him preparing to vehemently protest her words.

Lara smiled a wicked smile. "Do not bother to deny it, grandson," she told him. "Have I not said that I learn what I choose to learn? Know what I wish to know? I am more than well versed in Hetar's foibles and vices for I was born there, and lived my early years in The City. Did you know that your great-grandfather Swiftsword gained the regalia he needed to compete in the tournament that earned him his place in the Crusader Knights by selling me into slavery?

"Gaius Prospero, who later ruled as Hetar's emperor, bought me. He planned a private auction with the owners of the Pleasure Houses for he expected to earn a great profit from me. But alas, I was considered too beautiful, and the Guilds feared I would cause more trouble than I was worth. So instead I was sent with a caravan of Taubyl Traders to be sold outside The City. It was from there I began to follow my destiny, and learned who and what I am, Amren. Oh yes, I know Hetar well. Very well."

"I did not know any of this," Amren said slowly. He was surprised by her revelations. "You did tell me of Swiftsword before I first went to Hetar. And his memory is still honored. He died in some battle, didn't he?"

"Aye, it was a great battle," Lara said. "I fought in it myself."

Amren's mouth fell open in shock. "But you are a woman," he gasped.

Lara smiled a brief smile.
Andraste! To my hand!
She called to her sword in the silent language. The sword leapt from its place over her tall stone hearth, and into her grasp. It was a beautiful weapon. Its broad blade a smooth polished steel. The gold hilt of the broadsword had a woman's head at its tip. The head possessed ruby eyes.

"I am Andraste, and I sing of victory," the sword said. "Greetings, grandson of the Great Magnus Hauk."

"It speaks!" Amren said. "What trickery is this?"

"Surely you knew my sword spoke, grandson," Lara said, amused.

"It was but a child's tale," he said slowly.

"Most children's tales such as this one come from fact, my lord," Lara told him. "Certainly you believe I am magic. Can you deny the evidence of your own eyes?"

Amren shook his head. "Nay, I cannot. Is it all truth, Grandmother?"

"I do not know all you have heard, but probably it is," Lara said. "But let me tell you about the Battle of The City before I reveal to you what I want. The Twilight Lord Kol, who ruled the Dark Lands in those days, brought together a great army made up mostly of Wolfyn, but other dark entities, as well. They sought to conquer Hetar and had already ravaged the Midlands. Now they stood before The City. Their battering rams could not even dent the great gates nor could their fire machines pierce the protection that the Shadow Princes had put about The City. Hetar's soldiers stood upon The City's walls and laughed the Wolfyn to scorn. And then, when we were ready, we opened the gates ourselves. As our army had marched forth to face the enemy's, a platform moved to fill the gate. It was from there that the Emperor Gaius Prospero and Hetar's dignitaries watched the ensuing battle. I personally killed the Wolfyn high commander of Kol's armies, Hrolleif. And when the other Wolfyn saw it they howled their grief, but then the battle resumed. The ground before The City was awash with blood. And when our mutual enemies had all been slain the skies opened up and a heavy rain poured down, cleansing the earth. When it had ceased, all evidence of the battle was gone, for both blood and bodies had disappeared. As many, if not more, Terahns were killed that day, and so Hetar was considered to owe us a great debt. Remember that, Amren. Terah helped to save Hetar once long ago. I will wager such a thing is not taught to the youth of Hetar, but then neither is that same history taught in Terah any longer.

"And once again over a hundred years ago, soon after your grandfather, Magnus Hauk, was killed in an accident, the magic world saved Hetar once more from its own folly when one of Kol's daughters attempted to subvert a mortal man to her own purposes, and bring both Hetar and Terah into the Darkness. Your father was but a child then, and I ruled as a shadow queen until he was old enough to take the reins of power himself. Both kingdoms have been involved with one another for decades.

"But now what is it I want from you, my lord? In return for what I have told you this day, I would have you be my eyes and ears to the court of the Lord High Ruler. The new position I will see you gain in order to keep your status in Hetar will still allow you entree to that court. I would know all the gossip you hear even if you believe it to be inconsequential. I will make that decision, Amren."

"Will not the fact that the Lord High Ruler of Hetar is my blood kin allow me entry to the court no matter my position," Amren asked. Then he answered his own question. "Of course not. How foolish of me to think it. You ask little for what you give, Grandmother. Why is that?"

Lara laughed once more. "I am magic, Amren."

"I do not understand magic," he said candidly.

"Nay, I suppose you do not," she sighed. "Can you not believe the evidence of your own eyes, grandson?" Lara asked him. "My sword speaks for there is a powerful battle spirit within it. Verica, to me," she called aloud, and her staff flew to her outstretched hand. She turned it so her grandson might see the ancient bearded face carved within it. "Verica, please greet my grandson, Prince Amren of Terah."

"I know who he is," Verica said. "He is the only one among Dominus Taj's children to speak at any length with you, and then only because he needs your knowledge." Verica's sharp eyes glared at Amren. "Is that not so, Terahn prince?"

Amren nodded, a little less startled now than when Andraste had spoken in her deep, forbidding voice. Then he looked to Lara. "The sword speaks, the staff speaks, but this magic was in them. It is not yours."

"You must see to believe then." Lara chuckled. "Aral change!" And suddenly a small bright bird was flying about the chamber. "Do you believe now?"

Amren ignored the bird. "Where are you?" he demanded of her. He swatted lightly at the quick avian who dived at his head.

"Aral change!" He heard her voice again, and suddenly a large golden cat sat before him. Amren jumped back, genuinely terrified, his eyes wide as the cat raised a massive paw and placed it on his shoulder. He could not move and considered himself already dead. He struggled to speak but could push no words forth from his tight throat. Then in his fear he saw that the cat had green eyes. Faerie green eyes! He gasped with a mixture of both surprise and shock.

"Lara change," he heard his grandmother's voice again, and she was suddenly before him, her hand still resting upon his shoulder. "Now do you believe, Amren?"

"You can shape-shift," he said, his voice returning. "I had heard of it."

"Come!" Lara said, taking his hand while with her other she opened a Golden tunnel for them and led him into it.

"Where are we going?" he asked her nervously. "What is this place?"

"It's a passageway to wherever we magic beings choose to go," she said as they exited the tunnel onto the oasis. "This is Zeroun. Within a day's ride are the palaces of the Shadow Princes, Amren. Have you ever been to the desert kingdom."

"Nay, just to The City, the Midlands and the New Outlands," he said slowly. "How can I be certain this isn't all a hoax you have designed?" Amren queried.

"Shall I return you home to The City, grandson? Are you ready to return?"

"You can't. I have yet to see the Dominus." Then a sly look came into his eye.

"But if I do not see him he cannot dismiss me, can he?"

"Of course he can," Lara said. "He will simply send word to you with your replacement, Amren. But if I return you to The City now, you will have time to prepare your wife, Clarinda, for the changes to come. Tell her only what you need tell her. Trust no one but the Shadow Princes who are there to aid you, and me. But do not attempt to betray me, Amren. I can, and I will turn your life into a horrific disorder if you do."

He nodded. "I understand, Grandmother. I will keep faith with you for you have always been more than fair with me despite my..." He hesitated.

"Your ignorance?" Lara suggested.

Amren chuckled. "Aye, my ignorance."

"Then you shall go now," Lara said.

"Wait! How will I contact you?" he asked her.

"Commit these words to memory, Amren.
Grandmother, Grandmother, heed my plea. Cease all else and come to me.
Say these words, and I will come to you."

"I will remember them," he said.

"Very well then. Farewell, my lord Amren," Lara said. Then she magicked him away with these words.
Amren, return to The City from whence you came. I'll call when you must come again.

Terah's ambassador suddenly found himself standing in his privy chamber within his own house in The City's Golden District. He was astounded, and to be certain he was not dreaming he pinched himself hard. "Ouch!" he exclaimed. He was not dreaming! What an amazing thing had just happened to him. He had actually seen magic. He could no longer deny that it existed, but he would never admit such a thing aloud. He would be considered a fool, and his stature diminished if he did. But magic was real. Who knew what rewards it could bring him from his grandmother if he cooperated with her. And she asked little. Report on the gossip within the court and The City itself. And Ambassador Amren of Terah always heard the gossip first.

LARA RETURNED TO THE CASTLE OF THE DOMINUS. Cadi was waiting for her.

"What do you want to take, mistress?" she asked.

Lara looked about her. "Just my personal possessions," she said.

"The portrait of Magnus Hauk?" Cadi inquired.

Lara shook her head. "Nay. I have his face painted within a small oval. I shall give the large portrait in my day room to Dominus Cadarn. Find me some guardsmen to carry it to him."

The serving woman sought out two strong young men-at-arms, bringing them to her mistress. "You will carry a large portrait of the Dominus Magnus Hauk to Dominus Cadarn," she told them.

Lara pointed at the big painting upon the wall. She motioned her hand up, and the picture in its ornate, carved gold wood frame rose off the wall. She beckoned the image forward with a single finger until it hung in the air directly in front of her. Then, turning her hand over, she signaled the painting down. "There," she said to the two openmouthed guards. "You may take it now to the Dominus with my compliments."

"Well, don't stand there slack-jawed," Cadi said. "Do as you are bid."

Almost bemused, the two men-at-arms picked up the portrait between them and removed it from Lara's apartments.

"You might have just placed it on the wall you wanted instead of letting those two clods struggle through the castle with it," Cadi said.

"You saw how those two young men reacted when I removed the picture from the wall. They have grown up believing there is no magic. Imagine if I had simply magicked the portrait onto another wall. It's unlikely anyone would have noticed it. I wanted those two to see my magic. Now I will seek out my great-grandson and set the painting on a wall of his choice so he may be forced to acknowledge magic," Lara told her servant.

Cadi laughed. "This generation of mortal Terahns has really rankled you, mistress, haven't they?"

Lara smiled ruefully. "Their refusal to believe in magic is very irritating," she admitted. "After Taj came of age and began to rule himself, I seemed to lose interest for a while in everything. I spent time with my mother, with Kaliq, at Zeroun, even back in The City for a brief time when Zagiri needed me. I became complacent, and when I did, Magnus's family managed to bring Terah back into its past. They did not shun me for they were too afraid of me. They simply included me as little as possible, and my travels made it all the more easy for them." She sighed. "I let the magic die here, and they are the worse for it. I cannot change what is past, but before I leave I shall give my great-grandson a good dose of magic so that even if he chooses to ignore magic in the future, he knows that it exists whether he acknowledges it or not." She looked about her apartments. "Nay, there is nothing to take but that which I have instructed you. Magick it all to Shunnar, Cadi. Then follow it. I shall come after I have spoken with the Dominus."

"Very good, mistress, but one thing before I go," Cadi said. She gestured with her hand and suddenly Lara was clothed all in gold and silver. "Mortals believe that first impressions are important, but I believe the last impression is equally important. The Dominus has not rendered you the respect that you deserve, my lady. Today he will." Lara walked across the chamber to the long glass mirror she possessed. She viewed her servant's handiwork. The gown was a mixture of both silver and gold, hammered as fine as the best watered silk. The bodice was sleeveless and bejeweled with multicolored small stones in red, blue, green, yellow, lavender, pink and some that were clear. Its V neckline allowed for Lara's gold chain with the crystal housing her guardian spirit, Ethne, to be well and fully displayed. Below her breasts a skirt of tiny, narrow pleats hung gracefully. A cape of pure gold was fastened to each of her shoulders by delicate gold epaulets studded with emeralds. It would trail behind her when she walked. Her long golden hair hung loose, held by a gold circlet with a large emerald directly in its center. Upon her feet were silver slippers.

Lara smiled, well pleased by what she saw. Her own image seemed to give her new strength. It had been many years since she had allowed herself to be the faerie woman she really was. She nodded her thanks to Cadi then said, "The mirror." With a final look about these rooms in which she had spent so many years, Lara walked through the doors into the corridor. It was unlikely she would ever return here.

She closed her eyes briefly so she might see where the Dominus was. She smiled. He was in his Throne Room at this moment, surrounded by his small court, his wife, the Domina Paulina by his side. Lara decided as she walked toward the Throne Room to make a simple entry. "Announce me," she said to the dignified, elderly majordomo at the door. "The Domina Lara."

The majordomo walked silently forward. He pounded the silver-knobbed staff of his office upon the floor of the chamber. "The Domina Lara, widow of Dominus Magnus Hauk, daughter of a queen, enters this chamber now," the majordomo said in stentorian tones. Then he murmured in a voice only she could hear, "I am the grandson of Ampyx, great lady. I remember what others choose not to recall." With a small courtly bow he stepped aside so Lara might enter the great chamber.

His words almost brought her to tears. "Faerie blessings on you, grandson of Ampyx," she murmured as she passed him by. Ampyx had been Taj's personal secretary. The crowded throne room parted to let Lara pass through. Her cape shimmered as it moved behind her. She saw the stares and heard the whispers as she moved by these Terahn mortals. Finally reaching the foot of the throne, she bowed low to her great-grandson. "Greetings, Dominus Cadarn, son of Amhar, grandson of Taj, great-grandson of Magnus Hauk," Lara said in her beautiful voice.

"Greetings, Great-grandmother," he replied. He was uncomfortable addressing her in this manner, for she was so young and so beautiful that she appeared to be no more than in her late twenties. His great-grandmother should be ancient and bent. Nay! She should be long dead.

"I have come to congratulate you, my lord Cadarn," she responded.

"Congratulate me?" Cadarn Hauk looked genuinely puzzled. "What have I done to deserve your praise, my lady?"

"Why your decision to send your younger brother, Cadoc, to Hetar as its new ambassador is brilliant, as is your determination to elevate your uncle, the lord prince Amren, to the new position of Lord High Trade Commissioner for Terah. Your cleverness has brought great status to Terah within Hetar, my lord. And so I hope you will accept my congratulations. I feel comfortable now at long last in my own decision to leave Terah." She smiled up at him.

He was astounded. Looking out over his court, he saw that they were all frozen in place. "What have you done?" he asked her nervously.

"Given us an opportunity to speak privately. No one will hear us, and when we are through none of them will even realize this small interlude happened," Lara told Cadarn Hauk quietly.

The Dominus sat down heavily upon his throne. "I told no one of my decision to send Cadoc to Hetar," he said. "How could you know?"

"You have never believed in me, my powers or my world, Cadarn. But that does not mean we, it, do not exist. We do. You are right to replace Amren. He has lived in Hetar for most of his life and is more Hetarian than Terahn. He has reached an age where he would garner some wealth, for wealth is all-important in Hetar. Nonetheless he has served you faithfully and honestly. That is why you will give him this new position. He maintains his status in Hetar, brings more stature to Terah and can do no harm as a trade emissary."

"And he can collect his bribes," Cadarn said with a small smile. Then the smile was gone. "I do not like being told what to do, my lady. I do not like a mere female making my decisions for me. But you are damnably clever. You have gained your own way while making it all appear as if I have done this. Very well, I agree."

"Thank you," Lara said softly.

"You say you are leaving Terah? Why? And where will you go?" the Dominus Cadarn asked her. "I know that you and I have no close relationship, but you are my blood. For the sake of Magnus Hauk I need to know you are safe and cared for, my lady." Turquoise-blue eyes, so like her late husband's, looked directly at her.

"I am going to Shunnar, the palace of the Shadow Prince Kaliq. I should have departed Terah years ago, but I could not seem to make myself go despite all the changes that I despised happening about me. Kaliq is my life mate, and I have always had a home at Shunnar. I will be more than safe in my own magical world, Cadarn. But I am touched that you would consider my welfare."

"I have heard you speak of this Shadow Prince before, my lady, but Shadow Princes are but legend. They do not exist now, indeed if they ever did," Cadarn said.

Lara shook her head in amazement. "Cadarn, look about you. Your court stands frozen. I have stopped time. You stand in the presence of magic, and yet you do not believe. Do your eyes not see, my most mortal descendant? How do you explain to yourself the great-grandmother who looks like a young woman? How do you justify any of this? Do you think you dream, Dominus of Terah?"

He had the grace to look briefly confused, but then he said, "I do not have to account for any of this, my lady. Perhaps I do dream. And if you truly mean to go, it will make it easier, for then there shall be no one whispering about your unseemly appearance, or the superstitious murmuring about something that is not like magic. No one here really knows you. The wife of Magnus Hauk is more legend than truth."

Lara shook her head. "You are a fool, Cadarn. Your great-grandfather was unique in that his mind was more open than any Terahn before him, and since him. While Magnus Hauk ruled, Terah existed in a golden age. But those who could not, would not, tolerate change have destroyed all he and I worked for, Cadarn. There is nothing left of our world, and I weep. Once Terah was a shining light. Now you have allowed Hetar to bring world-weariness and corruption into it. You believe in nothing. I pity you."

"Lady," he said, "I think you are ill. Return to your apartments, and I will send the physician to care for you."

Lara laughed. "Nay." She turned toward the court, and with a small motion of her hand, restored all as it had been. "Lords and ladies of Terah," she said to them, and curious, they looked at her. The men admired her beauty. The women her rich garb. "Your Dominus does not believe the witness of his own eyes. He claims there is no magic in your world, that there are no Shadow Princes. He is wrong. Now behold the truth!
Prince Kaliq, heed my call, and come to me from out yon wall!
"

The great Shadow Prince stepped forth from the chamber's wall and walked to where Lara stood. "Is it time, my love?" he asked her.

It is time. Let me depart first, and then you will make your exit. These fools will not believe in magic, and so I would leave them with something their own eyes cannot deny, my lord.

The men and women in the chamber were buzzing with astonishment. They stared at the tall dark-haired man with the bright blue eyes who was so richly, yet simply garbed. They had all seen him step from the wall. How had that happened? Was it some Hetarian conjurer's trick?

Lara turned again to look at her great-grandson. "I will leave you now, my lord Dominus," she told him. "I will not desert Terah, but you may not see me again, Cadarn Hauk. Explain away the magic you have viewed today.
But it does exist.
" She looked to Cadarn's wife. "Faerie blessings upon you, Domina Paulina," Lara said in a gentle and kind voice. "Now farewell!" There was a clap of thunder. A thick puff of lavender smoke rose about her. When it cleared, Lara was gone from the castle's Throne Room.

The Terahns gasped aloud collectively, looking about for her.

"Farewell, Dominus," Kaliq said. Then with a dramatic swirl of his cloak, he, too, was gone.

Cadarn Hauk called out to the servants in the chamber, "Open the windows at once! We have been poisoned by some bad air, and seen that which does not exist." He turned to his wife. "Are you all right, Paulina?" he inquired solicitously.

The Domina nodded silently. Her husband might deny what they had just seen, but she could not. Being a proper Terahn wife, she kept her thoughts to herself.

W
ATCHING WITH
K
ALIQ
from the ether, Lara heard the Domina's thoughts and smiled to herself. Then they reappeared in Shunnar together.

"Welcome home, my love," he said to her as he gathered her into his arms and kissed her tenderly. "My brothers have planned a banquet tonight to welcome you."

"Will it be like the first banquet I attended here," she teased him mischievously.

"If it would please you, aye," he said.

"I am world-weary, Kaliq. I need to regain that level of trust I once had," Lara told him. "Mortals are most tiresome, and yet I still have hope for them."

"You are younger than I, my love, but it is good you can still have faith," he said. "I promise not to be jealous tonight as long as you end the evening in my arms."

"I swear it!" Lara told him. "Now I must go and rest, Kaliq." She left him, walking across the enclosed garden that separated his apartments from hers. The day was warm, and the fragrance of flowers perfumed the air. Cadi was awaiting her.

"You look tired," the serving woman said.

"I am. I shall rest in the heat of the afternoon, then bathe. The Shadow Princes have planned a banquet tonight to welcome me back. We shall all take pleasures after the meal. Come and join in with us. They are incredible lovers."

"I will," Cadi said. "I have never had a Shadow Prince for a lover. If their reputations are truth then it should be a most enjoyable time, mistress. I have put some iced berry frine by your bedside. What will you wear this evening?"

"Just a simple white silk gown," Lara said. She poured some frine into the cup next to the decanter and sipped at it. Shedding away her elegant garments and setting the cup aside, she lay down upon her bed, and immediately fell asleep. Awakening several hours later, Lara saw through the open colonnade that evening was falling. Stretching lazily, she called to Cadi, and her faerie serving woman was immediately by her side.