cherries she knew were his favorites. She sat down amid the pillows. They were in his garden, for the night was warm.
“I want you to find husbands, good husbands, for Uma, Alcippe and Felda,” he said immediately. “A well-to-do man for Uma, for her family is of that station, and she would accept no less. A learned man for Alcippe, for she would be bored with any other. And for little Felda, perhaps a rich farmer’s eldest son, but one with a good heart, for I can see Felda is a sweet girl. And see that the dower is very generous. Linens, down pillows and comforters, silver plate, a wardrobe to suit each bride, and a silk bag with fifty gold pieces each. And any jewels I have given them are theirs to keep. Is that generous enough, Sirvat?”
His sister nodded her head vigorously.
“Lara tells me that you speak, and it is the men’s ears that are stopped up to the sound of our women’s voices,” the Dominus said.
Sirvat nodded, and smiled.
“We are riding out tomorrow to the Temple of the Great Creator. Lara says if she can find the words to the original curse she may be able to undo it so we may hear you.”
Sirvat nodded again.
“Do you like her, Sister?” he asked.
Sirvat nodded, and pointed to him questioningly, smiling slyly.
“Aye,” was all he would say.
Sirvat threw back her head, and her mouth opened wide, but her laughter was silent to him. Still, he could see she was laughing. What did her laughter sound like? What did her voice sound like? Suddenly he very much wanted to know.
“I long to hear your voice, Sister,” he told her.
Sirvat pointed to him, and then back to herself again.
“You sound like me?” he replied.
Sirvat made a gesture with her thumb and finger.
He understood. “A little?” he said, and she nodded, smiling.
“Are you ready for a husband, Sister?” he asked her.
Sirvat shook her head vigorously in the negative.
Magnus Hauk chuckled. “If I know you as well as I believe I do,” he said, “that means you would choose your own husband, eh, Sister?”
Sirvat nodded in agreement.
“Who is he?” he teased her. “Who has stolen your heart, Sirvat?”
The young woman smiled a mysterious smile at him, and then blushing turned her head away from his gaze.
“If Lara can lift the curse, will you tell me?” he asked her gently.
Sirvat nodded her assent, and passed him the bowl of candied cherries. The Dominus took a handful of the sticky fruit, and began to eat them one by one. Sirvat arose, and blew her brother a kiss as she prepared to leave him in his moonlit garden.
“A moment,” Magnus Hauk said. “Send Uma, Alcippe and Felda to me, Sister.”
Sirvat bowed to her brother, and hurried away. If only Lara could lift the curse. Then she would tell her brother that it was Corrado she loved and wanted for a husband. She had known him all of her life. They were distant kin. And she knew he wanted her by the looks he sent her when he thought no one else was watching him. But Sirvat also knew that Corrado was a modest man, and he would not aspire to the Dominus’s younger sister for a mate. Still, he had not yet taken a wife.
Entering the women’s quarters she found her brother’s three Pleasure Women in their own garden enjoying the soft night air. She could scarcely wait to tell them of the Dominus’s plans for them. “I have news,” she said to them. “Where is Lara?”
“In her chamber,” Felda said.
“Fetch her, for she must hear this, too,” Sirvat said.
Felda arose and ran off, returning a few minutes later with Lara.
“What is it?” Lara asked.
“Sit down with the others,” Sirvat said. She might be only sixteen, but she was in charge of her brother’s house, and had been for almost two years now. “I have news that concerns you all. Uma, Alcippe and Felda, the Dominus has decided to find husbands for you, and he will also dower you quite generously.”
“No!” It was Uma who spoke. “I wish no man but the Dominus.”
“Be silent!” Sirvat said severely. “You will do what you are told, Uma. For you it will be a man of high caste, for you came from a high caste. For Alcippe a man of intellect and wit, for she has both. And for little Felda, a land owner’s heir, for she is worthy of a fine young man who will appreciate her sweetness and good nature. Your dower portions will include silver plate and gold coins, among other things. You may keep any jewelry the Dominus gifted you with, and you will each have a horse of good breeding. It is a very generous benevolence my brother shows you.”
“I am more than content,” Alcippe said.
“And I certainly am,” practical Felda agreed.
“I am not!” Uma snapped. “And what of Lara? What plans has the Dominus for her? Who is her husband to be?”
“Lara remains here,” Sirvat said sweetly. “It would seem my brother favors her above all other women. He does not feel he needs three woman to attend him any longer, Uma. But I will not argue with you. I am but the messenger. My brother will now speak with the three of you in his gardens. Go!”
Uma rushed from the chamber, followed at a more sedate pace by Alcippe and Felda, who chattered with each other as they went.
“Why did you need me here?” Lara asked Sirvat.
“I hoped by telling them the news with you in attendance they would not hold you responsible for the Dominus’s decision. Did you know of it?” Sirvat asked curious.
“I did not know what he would do,” Lara answered carefully. “I did suggest to him that these women might be better off with husbands.”
Sirvat laughed. “You are very devious,” she said.
“Nay,” Lara told her, “but if your brother wishes to share pleasures with me, he cannot share them with others. Surely the men of Terah do not keep several women for pleasure in their households.”
“There are no laws against it,” Sirvat said. “Some do, but most cannot afford more than one wife. The few who can prefer to keep several Pleasure Women for their own private amusement. We have more women than men in Terah. Those who cannot find husbands have little choice. Some sell themselves publicly for pleasures. Other join the Daughters of the Great Creator, a religious community of women. Sometimes I think it must be a great relief to be in a family of only women.”
“Will you marry one day?” Lara asked Sirvat.
The younger woman smiled. “If I may have my heart’s desire, yes,” she said.
“Who is he?” Lara was curious.
“You know him,” Sirvat said with a small smile. “It is Captain Corrado.”
Lara smiled. “You have chosen well. He is a good man, and was most kind to me. Does your brother know?”
“Nay, but when he is able to hear me tell him in my own voice, I will,” Sirvat said. “Sometimes I write things to him that I cannot communicate otherwise, but not this.”
“It is not a certainty that I can lift the sorcerer’s curse from the men of Terah,” Lara said.
“You will find a way. I know you will,” Sirvat insisted.
Alcippe and Felda returned.
“The Dominus has been most thoughtful of us,” Alcippe said. “And our dowers are much more than generous. They will assure us all fine husbands.”
“Where is Uma?” Sirvat wanted to know.
“Trying to seduce the Dominus into changing his mind. Perhaps, Lara, you should go to him,” Felda said
