Terah must learn to protect itself in future. Call the headmen from the fjord villages to our castle, and tell them what we know. Then tell them we must raise a military force, and sustain it at their expense for the day when Hetar, or the lords of the dark land, will come upon us for wickedness’ sake,” Lara pleaded.
“I must think on it,” he told her.
Lara bowed her head with acceptance of his words. Once again she was surprised by the nature of men. Her counsel was good, but he would not take it immediately. He would consider it, and then he would argue the point with her once or twice. Then if she were clever, and could manage to keep from shrieking at him for being so stubborn, he would take her advice, and make it his own. What was the matter with men that they could not accept a woman’s word in serious matters such as this? Her hand went to the crystal star between her breasts.
“It is good to be home,” the Dominus said.
“Aye, it is,” Lara agreed. They had ridden Dasras together over the plain, and then the mountains, leaving when the great torch of the Gathering had been extinguished that last morning. She had bid Dillon farewell, hugging her son to her chest, forcing back the tears that threatened to overwhelm her. Noss had brought Anoush to say goodbye, but Anoush was at that age when she was shy of strangers. She hid her small heart-shaped face in Noss’s sturdy shoulder. “Take care of them,” Lara said quietly, her hand caressing Anoush’s hair.
“I will,” Noss promised. “Lara, if I should need you…” her voice ceased, but her eyes begged.
“Call my name,” Lara told her. “I will hear you, Noss.”
The Dominus had, along with his wife, bid farewell to each of the clan lords. Roan of the Aghy, however, had made him jealous as Kaliq did, by flirting with Lara as he always did, a final time. Magnus Hauk glowered darkly at the horse lord who pretended not even to notice.
“Take care of your stallion,” Roan said as they mounted Dasras.
“Which one?” Lara teased back, and Dasras chortled.
Roan just grinned at her, and then with a wave turned to join his own people.
As Dasras galloped off, and then soared into the skies above the new Outlands Magnus Hauk seethed angrily.
“I am surprised Vartan did not slay him,” the Dominus said. “Or has he only begun flirting with you of late?”
“He has always done so,” Lara said calmly. “When Vartan died I think he hoped to convince me to be his wife. Roan is amusing, Magnus, and nothing more.”
“Doesn’t he have a wife of his own? A man that age should have a wife,” the Dominus said irritably. So Roan had wanted Lara for his own? Bastard!
“He has several wives,” Lara informed her spouse. “Like a stallion no one mare can satisfy him,” she said with a chuckle.
“And he wanted you, as well?” Magnus Hauk was outraged.
“Stallions always long for the prettiest mares, is that not so, Dasras?”
“Indeed, Mistress, it is,” the big horse replied.
The Dominus was struck silent, and remained so for some time. Finally they reached the castle on the fjord known as the Dominus’s Fjord. Dasras’s hooves touched down in his stableyard, and Jason, his personal groom, ran forth.
“Welcome home, my lord Dominus, my lady Domina. Welcome home, Dasras!” Jason greeted them, taking the stallion’s bridle.
Magnus Hauk leaped from the horse’s back, and lifted his wife down. “Thank you, Jason. See Dasras is well taken care of, if you will.”
“He would tell me if I didn’t take care of him properly,” Jason said with a grin.
“Harumpp!” the stallion responded as the boy led him off.
Lara was eager for a bath and said so as they walked to their apartments. “Bathing is not an option at the Gathering,” she observed with a smile. “I have become used to this more civilized way of living.”
“I have been thinking about what you said,” he told her.
“About what?” Lara pretended it hadn’t been on her mind at all.
“A military force for Terah. We cannot wait until Hetar pays us a visit now, can we? Better to be ready. And I am curious about this dark land you saw to the north. Do you think it is inhabited?”
“Probably, but it is best we not investigate it, Magnus. We do not wish to attract attention. If Usi gained his powers from whoever is there we are better off avoiding the dark land for now. In time I will investigate that place.”
“If you wish to remain unknown you are better served not riding that great golden stallion with his flapping white wings into the region,” the Dominus said.
“Ahh, husband, there is still much you have to learn about me,” Lara told him.
“What?” he demanded to know.
“In time, Magnus,” she promised him.
“Why not now?” he asked her. They stood at the entrance to their apartments.
“You are not ready,” she answered simply. She stepped into the entry chamber, and greeted the serving woman who came forth smiling her welcome. “Ahh, Mila, your Domina wishes a bath.” Turning she kissed her husband lightly on his lips. “Do you want a bath, Magnus?” she purred at him, and her hand caressed his face.
All other thoughts fled him as she had anticipated. They had not been together as man and wife in several weeks now, and he was hungry for her. “Will you give me a child, my faerie wife?” he asked her, his arm wrapped about her waist.
“Have I not promised you that I will in time?” she answered him.
“That is not an answer,” he told her quietly.
“It is all the answer I can give you, Magnus. There are for now matters of greater importance to Terah than a child,” Lara said.
“An heir of my body and blood is paramount to Terah. You are a good mother, Lara. I saw you with your children, Dillon in particular, but even the shy little Anoush who knows not who you are. Your love for that wee girly surmounts your own need for your daughter, my faerie love. Your sacrifice is magnificent,” he told her.
“Because of my destiny I have deserted my daughter even as my own mother deserted me, Magnus. My sacrifice is a selfish one for all the nobility of my destiny,” Lara said bitterly. “I was happy with Vartan, with our children. And then with his murder, my destiny called once again. I will always wonder if I had not stayed with him, let him make me his wife, if he might not be alive today. He was a great leader of his people, and they needed him. I am happier with you, my love, than I have ever been. But when my destiny calls again and I must leave you behind, I do not want to leave another child as well. There are perilous times coming, Magnus. I sense it.”
“Vartan’s destiny was to be your mate for a time, to father Dillon who is a unique boy, and Anoush, and finally to die as he did,” the Dominus replied. “But I am your soul mate, your life mate, Lara, my faerie wife. If there are perilous times coming we will face them together, surmount them together. This I promise you. Now go and have your bath. I will join you shortly.” Then he turned and left her while he hurried off to find Corrado.
Reaching the apartments where his sister resided with her husband he was greeted most effusively by Sirvat, who was beginning to show her belly.
“You are home!” Sirvat flung her arms about his neck, and kissed her brother.
Magnus Hauk laughed. “Aye, and it was a grand adventure. These clan family folk are good people, little sister. I like them, except perhaps for the lord of the Aghy who enjoys flirting with Lara, and has several wives nonetheless.”
Sirvat laughed. “Is he handsome?” she asked. “You would be jealous of an ugly man, Brother.” Sirvat had been finally told of the clan families, and was fascinated.
The Dominus nodded. “Red hair, muscles and flashing black eyes,” he said.
“Ohh, sounds fascinating,” Sirvat cooed.
“Where is your husband?” he asked her.
“With his father and brother preparing for a voyage. As soon as he heard you were back he hurried to Ing’s chandlery to begin provisioning his vessel. He wants to do one voyage before the Icy season sets in again,” Sirvat said.
