of their magic, but they cannot do this for much longer,” Lara said.
“What will happen then?”
“Hetar, in its arrogance, will enslave as many of the Outlanders as they can. They will confiscate their lands, their herds, their flocks. They cannot be convinced that the clan families are not barbarians. They do not understand the Outlands’ simpler way of life. It is complete anathema to them,” Lara explained.
“I do not believe I like what I hear of Hetar,” Magnus said.
“My lord Dominus, you know as well as I do that the people can be led like sheep in whatever direction you want to lead them. The people can be convinced even when their own eyes say it is not so. The people of Hetar are good folk, but their leaders, I fear, have become corrupt, and imbued with a strong sense of their own importance. Many people on both sides will be killed when this conflict breaks out.”
“You say you have a destiny,” Magnus said.
“Yes, I do,” Lara replied.
“What is it?” he asked her quietly.
Around them a soft wind whistled as the horse galloped on through the morning air. The sun was warm on their shoulders. Some of the answer had come even as he asked the question. For weeks she had considered it, but until this moment she had not been certain. Now she was utterly and completely sure. And the scope of it amazed her.
“I cannot speak on this while on the back of a flying horse,” Lara said.
“Then ask Dasras to descend, and we shall walk together for a while, and you will tell me what is in your thoughts,” he said to her.
Having heard him, Dasras was already descending to the green land below. Lara refrained from remonstrating her horse for doing so without her order. Slowly, slowly they dropped down until the stallion’s hooves were touching the ground, his stride slowing, finally coming to a halt. The couple quickly slid from his back and began to walk, while behind them Dasras began chomping upon the lush grass.
“I want you to hear me out, Magnus,” Lara began, and he murmured his assent. “War is insanity,” she said. “I know that sometimes it appears there is no other way, and perhaps sometimes there isn’t. But this time I believe you and I can stop a terrible conflagration before it even starts. Here in Terah you have an overabundance of land. Your population is small. The solution is so simple. What if the Outland clan families were transported here with all their goods and chattels? Then when Hetar invaded, there would be no one to fight. Hetar is desperate to expand – the only place for them to go is into the Outlands. But they will have to kill to gain control of the region. And that kind of blood lust leads to other depravities. The survivors among the clan families will be enslaved, but many will die without their freedom, penned within the confines of the City. And it could all be avoided so simply, my lord Dominus.”
“Take in these people, and all their goods? How many are we speaking of, Lara? And what of the Terahns?”
“The Outland clan families number between ten and twelve thousand,” Lara said. “But your own people need not even know that they are here.”
“How is that possible?” he wanted to know.
“Magnus, look into the distance. Do you see that range of mountains? Only when you get to the other side of those mountains do you find a Terahn or a Terahn village. This vast plain over which we have traveled this morning is much like the Outlands, although far more lush. We could settle the clan families here. Other than owing you their allegiance, which would involve a yearly tribute, they would continue to govern themselves as they always have. And they would live their lives as they always have. It is most unlikely there would be any concourse between the Terahns and the Outlanders.”
“What of those among them who mine?” he wanted to know.
“They will make their own peace, and their own arrangements with your mountain gnomes. The Outlanders are not violent or unreasonable by nature,” Lara said. “I know that the Tormod and the Piaras could come to an equitable agreement with the gnomes. And I would negotiate for them if you would permit it.”
“If I agreed to this,” he said slowly, carefully choosing his words, “how could we prevent Hetar from crossing our Sea of Sagitta, and invading Terah?”
“I will enlist the aid of the Shadow Princes, Magnus. We will transport the Outland clan families and their goods by means of magic. Nothing, not even their village structures, will remain to show they were there. They will simply be gone. Gaius Prospero will not care, as his only interest is in the profits he will reap in the Outlands, and the acclaim he will receive from the people for having kept his promises to make their lives better. But one day Hetar will come, whether you do this great mercy or not.”
“I must think on it,” Magnus said.
“Would you have me for your wife, Magnus?” Lara asked him.
“Aye,” he responded.
“Then know this. There is a price to pay if you would make me your Domina. The first I have just told you. Help me to fulfill my destiny, and save the clan families of the Outlands,” Lara said. “Help me to prevent a ruinous and foolish war.”
“And the second?” he queried.
“I will give you the sons and daughters you desire, my lord Dominus, but you must wait for those children until I am certain Hetar can keep the peace,” Lara said.
“I must think on it,” he repeated softly. “I can refuse you, and keep you as my lover if I choose.”
“Then I should be forced to disappear from Terah,” she warned him. “I will not wait long for my answer, Magnus. Kaliq has said he and his brothers cannot protect the Outlands much longer. The effort will weaken them if they are forced to continue.”
He caught her by the arm, his fingers digging into her tender flesh. “Faerie witch, do not toy with me,” he growled. “Will you be my wife?”
“Will you pay my price?” she boldly demanded to know.
“If I said aye, what would you say?” he insisted.
“If you say aye, then I say aye,” Lara told him, her green eyes meeting his turquoise ones. “Do you say aye, Magnus?”
“Do you?” He pulled her into his arms, his lips dangerously close to hers.
Lara laughed, but she remained silent.
“Aye, my faerie witch,” he murmured against her lips.
“Aye,” she agreed just before his mouth took hers in a fierce kiss that left her drained, and barely able to stand upon her own two legs.
“If you two are finished negotiating,” Dasras drawled at them, “I believe we had best be on our way again, Mistress, my lord Dominus. I must assume as you have not said otherwise that you wish to reach the temple compound by midafternoon as planned.”
Laughing at his reprimand they mounted the big stallion again, and he galloped across the meadow, his graceful wings flapping as they arose into the sky once more. Lara leaned back again Magnus. It felt to her as if a large weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Behind her the Dominus dropped a kiss upon her golden head, a happiness such as he had never known surging through him.
By midafternoon they saw the delicate Temple of the Daughters of the Great Creator ahead of them. Dasras dropped down from the sky, his wings disappearing. It was better, the intelligent beast realized, to arrive at the temple afoot. Although Lara said nothing, she reached out and patted the animal’s neck in a gesture of approval. Dasras cantered easily down the road leading to the temple, slowing his stride as they drew near to its gates.
A bell began to ring announcing the arrival of the visitors, and the gates were opened to welcome them into the temple’s courtyard. Dasras came to a halt, and the Dominus slid off of him, turning to lift Lara down. One of the women recognizing the Dominus ran quickly into one of the temple’s buildings. A moment later a tall older woman emerged.
“My lord Dominus,” she greeted him, holding out her hands to him. “Your outrider brought me the news of the great blessing the faerie woman has brought us. How happy I am that at long last you can hear my welcome with your own ears.” She smiled at him.
“Kemina,” he said, taking her hands to press them to his head, his lips and his heart. “Do you never grow old, High Priestess?”
