“We will enclose her in a glass box,” Lara said.
“In a dreamless sleep,” Kaliq added, nodding.
“It is close to dawn in The City,” Lara pointed out. “Let us do this thing now before she awakens. Kolgrim cannot see her again.”
“Weave your spell, Faerie Woman,” the Shadow Prince told her.
Bring the Dark Lord’s bride to me,
Nyura will my captive be.
A dreamless sleep is now your fate,
You will not be Kolgrim’s mate.
Sleep surrounded by the light,
Hetar be safe from Kolgrim’s might.
This spell cannot, will not be broken.
Faerie Lara has now spoken!
As her words echoed about the cave and then died away, a beautifully carved glass container decorated with gold, a dark green velvet mattress within, appeared upon the stone ledge. The box pulsed gently with light. Within it Nyura in her simple white robe lay sleeping.
“The light will not extend beyond the box and cannot be seen from the outside even at night,” Lara explained to Kaliq. “To be safe I will ask you to set a spell that will close the opening to the cave so it cannot be found accidentally, my lord.”
Kaliq walked across the floor to peer into the glass box. “She is lovely,” he noted.
“How tragic that she was born to advance the cause of evil.”
“But we have stopped the evil once again,” Lara said triumphantly.
“Nay, my love,” Kaliq said quietly. “Kolgrim will not let this pass. If the Book of Rule says this girl is his mate, and will produce his son, he will move the heavens above to find her. We have but slowed his progress.”
“Why do you insist on believing Cronan’s prediction,” Lara demanded angrily.
“It is not Cronan’s alone. It was written in the stars aeons ago, Lara, my love,” Kaliq said, and wrapping them in his cloak, he returned them to Shunnar. “Remember the tale that Master Bashkar told you when you studied with him. He told you how Hetar began as a world of fog and clouds. How we Shadow Princes came from those mists, how the Forest Lords descended from the tree spirits, the Midland folk from the earth spirits as did the Outland Clan families, and the Coastal Kings from the sea. The Terahns descend from a combination of earth and hill spirits. And when the mists cleared the world was revealed to be beautiful beyond any other. But its beauty eventually attracted evil spirits. They came to claim the part of Hetar that is now called the Dark Lands, but they have always wanted it all.
“It was then that the battle between light and dark began. The light has always had the advantage for it had most of this world before the evil discovered it. But as the mortals grew more intelligent, less simple and pure of heart, evil began to exert its influence. Wealth is not a bad thing if it is shared with the less fortunate. Greed, however, is evil in its purest form. Some mortals are more fortunate than others. But those who are, cannot count themselves any better than their less fortunate brothers and sisters. Are all Hetarians equal? Only in the eyes of the Celestial Actuary is that so. Those who work harder and succeed are entitled to greater stature, provided they do not abuse those who are not as lucky,” Kaliq said. Then he continued.
“In the beginning Hetar’s neat division of its citizens was good. The people were never hindered from advancement based on the caste into which they were born. But then Hetar became fixed in its own system, using wealth for power, holding back men who might advance its world. Evil grew stronger. We Shadow Princes, and the Faerie Races sought to give Hetar a final chance. You were born to save them, but when it became evident you could not, then your destiny was turned to another direction. Cronan has not condemned Hetar. They have done it themselves.”
“What will happen to Hetar then?” Lara asked.
“Before a year has passed the Magic Races who have protected this world will be gone from it,” Kaliq said.
“But I have stopped Kolgrim,” Lara protested once again.
“You have delayed him,” Kaliq repeated. “That is all, my love.”
“I cannot believe there is no hope for Hetar,” Lara said. “I will remain until I know it for certain.”
“And I will be by your side,” he promised her. “Our fates have now been joined.”
“If we cannot remain in Hetar where will we go, Kaliq?” she asked him.
He shrugged. “I do not yet know,” he told her.
“If you do not know, then perhaps it is not meant we leave,” Lara said hopefully. Her faerie green eyes were filled with unshed tears. “I am so ashamed to have failed Hetar.” The tears overflowed and slid down her cheeks.
“You have not failed, my love,” Kaliq said, taking her into his arms to comfort her. “It is Hetar, and its people, who have created their own fate by following a well-traveled path that they have traveled before. For twenty-five years after the Hierarch came and went, Hetar improved itself. But as their world grew prosperous once again, they began to fall back into their old ways. Hetar has been come bloated with greed, and ripe with its own debauchery. They have put magic from their lives in an effort to make themselves all-powerful. They have forgotten and ignored their own history. The magic surrounds them, and yet they deny its existence. They give the Celestial Actuary lip service, but nothing more. They have become a people without belief, for if they believed in anything at all they would be afraid. Very afraid.”
“There is still hope, Kaliq,” Lara persisted. “Tell me there is hope.”
“I still believe in miracles, my love,” he told her. But he hid his thoughts from her, for he knew for certain what she could not yet come to accept. Hetar was doomed. Then changing the subject he said, “You should speak with Dillon, for Belmair will need to host Hetar’s magic. You have done all you can do here for now, Lara. I think a visit to a world that still believes will renew your spirits.”
“Tomorrow,” Lara said. “I will go tomorrow, my lord. Tonight I would spend with you alone.” Reaching up, she touched his handsome face, smiling when he caught her hand to kiss the palm.
“Let us go to Zeroun,” he suggested, “and watch the moons rise. They will all be visible tonight before they return to their usual cycle. We will eat, play in the water and make love the night long, my darling.”
“Yes!” Lara agreed, and before she could say another word he transported them beneath the awning before the silk tent at the oasis.
Laughing, Lara dissolved her garments, ran across the soft golden sand and flung herself into the water. Kaliq quickly joined her, and they played together, splashing each other like children. She dove beneath the waterfall, and he followed, catching her in his arms, their bodies melting into one another, their lips meeting as they kissed and kissed. Beneath the falling water the pool grew shallow until they could stand on the sandy bottom once again.
Sliding his hands beneath her buttocks, Kaliq lifted Lara up as she put her arms about his neck. His kisses touched her lips, her cheeks, her eyelids as his manhood slipped slowly, slowly into her sheath. His control was amazing. Inch by gradual inch he deliberately pressed himself forward. When he could go no farther he stopped, standing so still he might have been a stone statue.
Lara could hardly breathe as she waited. His superior length and thickness pulsed within her. She squeezed him with the muscles of her sheath. His manhood throbbed with a fiercer beat. Lara clasped him more tightly, and a small groan escaped him. “Ahh,” she responded, well pleased with herself.
Lara sighed, wrapping her legs about his torso, her ankles locking themselves. Her eyes were closed, and she let herself experience the delicious nuances of each thrust as he delved deeper into her sweetness.
He brought her to perfection once, and then withdrawing from her gathered her into his arms so he might stroke and kiss her. He loved her round breasts, and could have suckled forever upon them. The contours of her
