Crown of Destiny Read online

  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.

  WATCHING WITH KALIQ 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.

  “The bath attendants are awaiting you, mistress,” Cadi told her.

  Lara stood up. She was entirely naked, but neither she nor Cadi were embarrassed by her unclothed state. “I have not slept so well since I was last in Shunnar,” she remarked with a smile. “It is the deep silence I think.” Then Lara walked to her private bathing room, greeting the familiar bath attendants. “It is good to be home,” she said.

  And to her own surprise she realized that Shunnar was indeed home to her.

  The head bath woman came smiling forward. “It is about time you came home, my lady Lara,” she scolded gently. “It is past time, for that matter.” She pinned Lara’s hair atop her head. Then leading her to a shell-like indentation in the marble floor, she picked up her soapy sponge and began to scrub. When Lara was thoroughly soaped she took up her strigil, which was a thin scraper, and scraped the soap and dirt away. “Did they not bathe you properly in Terah?” the head bath woman asked.

  “There are no baths in Terah or Hetar like here in Shunnar,” Lara said.

  “How they can call themselves civilized I don’t know,” was the pithy reply as the head bath woman turned a gold faucet and sprayed her charge with warm water. Then she soaped Lara once more and plied her scraper again. This time however she seemed satisfied with her results and hummed beneath her breath as the rinse water sluiced down the beautiful woman’s body. Then she led Lara to a warm scented bathing pool to relax.

  Lara leaned back against the marble sides of the pool and closed her eyes. From long habit she lifted a hand from the water so that another bath woman might manicure her nails. When the first hand was done she lifted the second to be attended to, sighing with contentment. About her the warm scented water lapped at her breasts and shoulders. Rose petals floated on the slightly oily surface.

  A serving woman came with a basin and unbound and gently washed and rinsed her hair as she luxuriated within the pool. When she finally stepped out of the water, she was patted dry with a slightly moistened cloth, then wrapped in a warm towel and led to a chair, where the nails on her feet were carefully pared as her hair was dried with a silken cloth and brushed. Then she was taken to a padded table where her body was massaged with sweet oils. Lara sighed contentedly as the strong fingers worked the flesh of her shoulders, her legs, her breasts and her belly. Lastly the massage woman attended to her mound, her nether lips and her sheath.

  “You will be tight for each of your lovers this evening, my lady,” she said, her fingers covered with a special cream as she pushed into Lara’s sheath, massaging it. “You will give each who mounts you great pleasure. Prince Kaliq asked
me to especially attend to you for this very reason.”

  Lara smiled to herself. Aye, tonight she would regain her trust, her equilibrium, her balance by joining with the Shadow Princes at the end of their banquet as she once had as a very young girl. The experience had left her strong. She wondered what the same intimacy would do tonight. Lara found she was eagerly looking forward to it. That Kaliq wanted her to relive this moment made her love him even more. He understood her as no other did. And he would sublimate his own jealousy to help her regain what she had lost by remaining too long in Terah. He was a truly incredible man.

  She thanked the massage woman and, rising from the table, returned to her bedchamber where Cadi was waiting to help her dress. The gown she held out was just what Lara had wanted. White, gossamer sheer, with an iridescent sheen it seemed to float over her head, the delicate silk caressing her as it fell to her ankles. It was sleeveless, the bodice fitted to display her beautiful round breasts, its neckline draped gracefully to expose her collarbone. The skirt was neither fitted nor full, falling in an elegant line. She wore no jewelry but her gold chain with its crystal star, and a narrow circlet of gold with a single emerald in its center restrained her gilt-colored hair.

  Lara waved away the gold bejeweled sandals Cadi held out to her. “Nay, I do not need them,” she said. “We are ready.”

  “Thank you for inviting me,” Cadi said. The pretty faerie was naked but for a dainty chain of gold that was fastened about her waist, and settled upon her full hips. She had painted the nipples of her breasts with Umbra dye, and tonight she allowed her small, delicate iridescent wings to display themselves. The wings had been a gift from Queen Ilona, for not all faeries were allowed to possess wings.

  The two women walked across the garden to the main corridor, which was a colonnaded walkway. Lara could not resist looking over the baluster into the green valley below, where the herds of horses belonging to the Shadow Princes ran free. They were as magnificent as ever, and she immediately picked out Dasras surrounded by a group of admiring young mares. Cadi saw him too, and when their eyes met the two giggled.

  Kaliq came to greet his beautiful life mate and her companion. “How lovely you both look,” he said, taking Lara’s hand in his, his bright blue eyes devouring her. “My brothers will be honored by your company this evening.” He smiled at Cadi. “I am pleased you have consented to join us.” His brothers would enjoy sharing pleasures with the lovely faerie, but he would not lay a hand upon her for she was Lara’s companion.

  “Thank you, my lord,” Cadi replied, and then as they entered the great banquet hall she was surrounded by several Shadow Princes eager to have her for a supper companion. She would not lack for lovers this evening.

  The banquet hall of Kaliq’s palace was filled tonight with his handsome brothers. Some of the Shadow Princes had beautiful companions sharing their broad dining couches with them and Lara recognized many of them. There was her sword master, Lothair. He nodded to her, and from the twinkle in his blue eyes she knew he would take pleasures with her later. She saw Princes Eskil, Nasim, Coilen and Baram among others. She acknowledged them with a polite tip of her head as Kaliq led her to the dais where they would preside over their guests.

  As soon as they were seated, all the Shadow Princes arose, saying with a single, strong voice, “Welcome home, Lara! May you dwell among us forever!”

  Lara stood as they returned to their seats. “I thank you, my lords,” she replied. And then with a wave of her hand caused a shower of fragrant rose petals and small pearls to fall upon the banqueting chamber. The female companions of the princes squealed with excitement, reaching for the jewels, and not a one touched the floor. Lara sat down and picked up her goblet, sipping delicately from it.

  “That was nicely done,” Kaliq said, dropping a kiss on her shoulder.

  She turned and kissed his mouth, a sweet, slow kiss. “I am happier tonight than I have been in years, my lord. I did not realize how miserable I had been until I woke up a little while ago, and realized I was here, not in the castle of the Dominus. That this was my home. At this moment I never want to see Hetar or Terah again, but I know that is unrealistic, Kaliq. Still, for now I am content to remain here in Shunnar undisturbed.”

  The Shadow Prince caressed her face tenderly. “Aye, this is your home, my love, but we both know that your destiny is not to remain forever. Understand this, however, that I will be with you now wherever you go, Lara, my beautiful life mate. We will not be separated again.”

  She caught the hand touching her face, and kissed it. “Would you prefer I withheld myself tonight, my lord?” Lara asked him, her faerie green eyes searching his handsome face for the truth. She loved him, and would do what pleased him this one time. She smiled a soft smile at him.

  “Aye, I would prefer it, but you cannot. You need the magic my brothers can give you through their passion. But most important you must not sublimate your faerie nature, especially now for soon you will need it,” Kaliq said.

  She wondered what he meant, but before she might question him the servants appeared bearing cold raw oysters, which both the men and the women consumed in great quantity. They were followed by poached fish, and shellfish brought each day from the seaside of the Coastal Kings via magical transport. Next, platters of roasted meats and poultry were brought along with large round plates containing heaps of slender green stalks of asparagus, bowls of red, green and purple lettuces, fresh bread and several different cheeses.

  Everyone ate with excellent appetites. There was much laughter and witty conversation. When the main meal had been cleared away, the servants brought baskets containing green and purple grapes, slices of sweet gold, green and orange melons, plump apricots, dishes of red and black berries along with platters of honey cakes. The cups were now filled with a dark, sweet, potent wine.

  As the couples fed each other the delectable sweets, lithe dancing girls in diaphanous silks ran into the banquet hall. The musicians seated in a corner of the hall began to play upon their drums, pipes, reeds and cymbals. There was an open space before the dais where Kaliq and Lara sat. It was surrounded by the other dining couches and small low tables. The dancers performed before them in that space for all to see. When they were gone the passion would begin. Looking about her, Lara could see that most of the guests were now naked or in a state of near undress

  Cadi reclined upon a couch in the arms of a Shadow Prince who was now caressing her large breasts. Other Shadow Princes sat on the floor about the couch. One was already stroking Cadi’s slender leg, his fingers inching closer and closer to her plump mons. Another was sucking upon her fingers, and the faerie’s eyes were closed as she began to allow herself to experience pleasures with her lovers.

  Lara smiled up at Kaliq. “I think Cadi will please those who seek to please her,” she said. Then she gave a small shrug, and her garment disappeared. Reaching out, she touched his chest with a single finger, and the Shadow Prince’s clothing was gone. “You first, and you last,” she told him softly as Prince Lothair joined them, leaning forward to kiss her lips.

  “You are the most beautiful faerie woman I have ever known,” he said to her. “I envy my brother Kaliq, but then he loves you. I merely lust after you each time I see you.” He smiled a most engaging smile at her.

  Lara laughed. “As candid as ever, Lothair,” she replied. “Be patient, and we shall take pleasures together, but I am in no great hurry, my lord. The evening is just beginning. We have much time ahead of us, do we not?” She smiled back at him.

  “Ahh, cruel faerie, you are of a mind to tease me then,” he said.

  “Is not pleasure denied all the more sweeter for the wait?” Lara asked.

  Lothair laughed. “You have learned well,” he said. “Very well, then I shall go and taste a bit of that lovely morsel you brought for us this evening.” He arose and joined those Shadow Princes surrounding Cadi.

  Lara and Kaliq watched, amused, as the younger princes gave way to the sword master.
He slid himself in next to Cadi upon the couch, gathered her into his embrace and kissed her a long, deep kiss. Cadi’s arms came up to slip around Lothair’s neck. She instinctively recognized a great lover, and had secretly had her eye upon him ever since they had entered the banquet hall.

  “Why the little faerie vixen,” Kaliq chuckled, picking up on Cadi’s thoughts.

  “Do not!” Lara scolded him. “Let them enjoy each other, and allow Lothair to think it is he who conquers her.”

  He ran a finger down her slender arm. “Do I conquer you, my love?” he asked.

  “From the first moment you kissed me, Kaliq,” Lara answered him honestly. “Mayhap even before. How I hated it when you sent me from Shunnar. But in hindsight I understand. There is so much more than just you and me.”

  “Aye, there is, but now is not the time to discuss it,” Kaliq told her.

  “When?” she queried him.

  “In the days to come when you are rested, and your strength has returned,” he promised her. “Now, however, I want to kiss you.” And his dark head dipped to find her eager mouth. The touch of her petal-soft lips on his caused his head to spin with delight. They had been lovers on and off for well over a century, and yet he had never grown bored with his faerie woman. Each time was like the first time he had kissed her as they stood in the wide marble corridor of his palace, and she had told him of herself, and of Og, the giant who accompanied her. He had fallen in love with her at that moment. And he had never stopped loving her. Now he must divert his jealousy in order that she receive the diverse passions she needed from his brothers. His kiss deepened.

  She felt him blocking his thoughts from her. At any other time it would have disturbed Lara, but she suspected she knew why he did it. He was one of the most powerful beings in the Cosmos, and yet he was capable of feeling invidiousness. Unlike mortals, however, the great Shadow Prince could put such emotions aside, and not act on his feelings. Make love to me, Kaliq, she said in the silent language.