A Distant Tomorrow

Lara nodded. “Aye. Magnus should know.”

“Will you be able to reverse Usi’s spell, Lara?”

“I hope so,” Lara said. “I must seek my chamber now, and consider on it.” She left the day room as Sirvat reached for her writing box to communicate with her brother.

Closing the door of her bedchamber Lara sat down on the bed, and reached for her crystal. Ethne? Are you yet with me?

I am here.

You know all, Ethne. What am I to do?

You have wisely chosen to enter the tower in the daylight, Ethne said.

It will be a place of darkness nonetheless, and the evil that took place there will have permeated the very walls, Lara replied. Today when I first saw the tower it disappeared, and then reappeared. Or were my eyes fooling me? Even from a distance I could feel the menace. The Sorcerer may be dead, but I fear his shade is yet strong, and his magic while diminished is still potent.

Your instincts do not fail you, daughter of the queen. Usi’s body is ashes, but his spirit yet has power. It is that power you must totally destroy in order to lift his influence from Terah forever. When you have reached the tower room, Ethne advised, smash out the bricks that fill the window, and allow the light in to protect you, my child.

How? Lara asked her.

With your magic, of course, Ethne responded with a small chuckle. You have but to command the barrier between the light and dark to evaporate, and for you it will. You do not use your magic enough, Lara, Ethne scolded. It is your greatest gift.

I wish I could speak with my mother, Lara said.

Your mother’s magic does not extend to Terah, but there is one who can aid you. The Shadow Princes are the greatest powers in all of this world, though they hide it to preserve their way of life. They are strong enough to counsel you in your dreams if you ask them.

I must call on Kaliq then, Lara resolved.

A wise decision, Ethne agreed. Mix a small bit of sleeping draught with some wine before you sleep. Otherwise you may be too anxious to slumber deeply.

If I can remove the sorcerer’s curse on Terah, what will happen then? Lara wondered. I do not wish to destroy their way of life.

You will know that when you reach the proper time, the crystal spirit murmured.

Riddles again, Lara laughed. I suppose I should be used to it by now.

The flame in the crystal flickered, and then faded to just a pinpoint of light. Lara released the crystal, which settled between her breasts above her heart, as it always did.

Sirvat was knocking upon the chamber door. “My brother is here.”

“I will come,” Lara replied, and arose immediately from the bed.

In the day room the Dominus waited. “Sirvat has told me of your discovery,” he said. “We will go in the morning.”

“Nay, Magnus, you must not go. I will go, for I am protected from the evil that the tower will surely still contain. No mortal must be tainted by it,” Lara told him.

“I am the Dominus. I do not fear the shades of the past,” he replied.

“Then you are a fool, for I do. And you should. I will enter the tower quickly, closing the door behind me to keep the evil penned up all these years within it. Please trust me, Magnus. This is not about your position or your bravery,” Lara said.

“Tell my brother I beg him to heed your advice!” Sirvat said.

“Your sister agrees with me. She fears for your safety, Magnus,” Lara added.

“I fear for yours,” he told her.

“You need not, for I am protected,” Lara assured him. “And tonight in the dream world I will ask the Shadow Prince Kaliq to aid me in this endeavor.”

“I do not want another man in my bed,” the Dominus said.

“But I will not be in your bed, Magnus,” Lara replied, “and so you do not have to worry. I must sleep alone with no distractions.”

“You think me a distraction?” he said, a small grin touching his lips.

“Yes,” she told him. “You are a very great distraction to my concentration.” Their eyes met, and she blushed even while she smiled at him.

“Now that I have my women wed and gone, I must consider finding a husband for Sirvat. You will want no other woman of rank in the castle when we marry,” he said.

“Sirvat has chosen the man she desires, and I am not marrying you,” Lara responded.

“Yes, you are,” he said calmly. Then, “How is it that my sister has chosen a man she wishes to wed, and yet I know not who he is?”

“Must you tell him?” Sirvat cried, distressed. “What if he disapproves?”

“Sirvat fears you will not approve her choice, but I know you will,” Lara told the Dominus. “It is Corrado.”

Magnus Hauk turned to his sister. “I approve your choice, little sister. He is a good man, and our blood kin. When this matter is settled I will approach him. There is no other in his life, for his duties have kept him from all but casual women.”

Delighted, Sirvat threw her arms about her brother and kissed him on both cheeks.

“I believe she is thanking you, Magnus,” Lara said dryly.

He laughed. “I believe she is,” he agreed. “Go to bed now, Sirvat. I would speak with Lara privily.”

Sirvat released her hold on her brother and ran from the room.

“Come and sit with me,” he said, and took her two hands in his as they sat. “I do not like the idea of you being with another man. This Shadow Prince, was he your lover?”

“Yes,” she answered him honestly. “Once Kaliq and I were lovers. It is he who taught me to give and receive pleasures, for the Forest Lords surely did not. Since you are the recipient of his teaching, my lord Dominus, you should be grateful to him,” she teased him gently. “I owe much to Kaliq, Magnus, but you need not fear him. He is my mentor, nothing more, and he knows that. I need his counsel. I do not believe I can do what needs to be done without it. But if you prefer that the men of Terah continue on as you have been these five centuries past, Magnus, I will cease my efforts on your behalf.”

“And when this is over you will become my wife,” he said stubbornly.

“I have no desire to marry again,” she said. “And my children reside in the Outlands, Magnus.”

“We will bring them here,” he said.

“They are Fiacre, and my son may one day lead his people. I cannot take them from what is their destiny,” Lara said.

“Then I will give you other children,” he insisted.

“That choice is not yours to make, Magnus. You well know that faerie women only give children to those they love,” Lara said.

“You speak of your destiny, yet you are here in Terah. What if this is your destiny, Lara? I will not push you into marriage, but eventually you will marry me. I am your destiny. Terah is your destiny. Once we can hear the voices of our women again, who knows what we may accomplish? When this is finished, I want you to consider my words.”

“I will,” she said. “I promise you I will.” She leaned over and kissed him softly. “Good night, Magnus.” Then rising from the pillows, she left him. But she was already considering his words. What if it had all been leading to Terah? What if her destiny was to come here, and lift the curse from the men of Terah? Was it not a good destiny to do such a thing, and have the gratitude of a people for the rest of your life? Where could she go from here? Back to Hetar? To what? She had not lied when she said her children belonged to the Fiacre. They did. They had never been hers. They had been Vartan’s. Entering her chamber she mixed the sleeping potion she had brewed earlier into a cup of wine, and drank it. Then she lay down in her lonely bed to sleep. And to dream.