hazel eyes.
Though Lady Laureen blushed, she never lost the rhythm of their steps as they walked through the palace toward the great hall. But she did not answer him, for she had no idea what she could possibly say to such a bold invitation.
Kolgrim hid his amusement. Aye, the fair Lady Laureen could be tempted, and she could be seduced. He would take advantage of her weaknesses tonight while her husband played with his new toy. Divsha would keep her new lord and master quite busy, for she was a greedy and ambitious girl. And when the morning came, all would awake satisfied. He chuckled softly, and the woman on his arm flushed a deeper hue as if she had heard his thoughts.
THE GREAT HALL OF THE Lord High Ruler was built of snow-white marble. The round marble pillars holding up its domed roof were streaked with gold. The floor was made from squares of striated green marble ranging from a medium to a dark hue. Tall arched windows going from just a foot above the floors almost to the ceiling could be seen beyond the pillars. They offered views of the greenery, trees and lake within the Golden District. Gilded twisted poles were fastened to the tops of every other pillar, and from them hung silk tapestries depicting scenes from Hetar’s history both real and fictional. The entryway was hung with portraits of Hetar’s past rulers. Its only emperor, Gaius Prospero, and his beloved third wife, Shifra, who had mysteriously disappeared. The first Lord High Ruler, Jonah, and his first wife, Villia and his second wife, Zagiri, Princess of Terah. The second Lord High Ruler, Palben I and his wife, Coralyn. The bridegroom was already planning to have his portrait painted soon with both of his wives.
The large chamber, which was used only for high state occasions, was crowded with Hetar’s wealthy and important citizens eagerly awaiting the bride. At one end of the hall was a raised dais of purple-and-gold marble. Upon it stood the chair of office of the Lord High Ruler. The wooden chair was square with a low open back, and narrow twisted arms that turned under at their ends. Its legs matched the arms, and there was a purple velvet cushion with gold tassels at each of its four corners upon the caned seat. To the right of the chair was a low tufted rose velvet stool for Hetar’s First Lady.
A murmur arose from the guests as Lady Laureen now entered the hall. She was garbed in a beautiful gown of pale yellow with a low square neckline and wide flowing sleeves. The neckline was edged in a band of gold decorated with pearls and orange transmutes as were the wide cuffs of the sleeves. Her rich brown hair with its auburn highlights was braided, and the braids twisted into an intricate design upon her head. About her forehead was a band of gold centered with a large orange transmute. She glided through the chamber on the arm of the handsome Twilight Lord, who led her to the dais where Palben stood. The Lord High Ruler smiled a welcome to his first wife.
Lady Laureen curtsied low, her skirts billowing out like the petals of a flower. “My lord husband,” she said to him, “I greet you upon this happy day.”
Palben took the hand that Kolgrim now handed him and kissed it as his wife stepped up on the dais, and settled herself upon her stool. His wedding garments were fashioned of cream-colored silk, a simple round-necked robe with straight sleeves, decorated with golden threads and sewn all over with diamonds. Upon his dark head was a circle of gold studded with multicolored gemstones.
Kolgrim bowed. “My lord,” he said politely and then stepped to one side of the dais as a flourish of trumpets sounded, announcing the arrival of the bride.
The guests turned eagerly as Divsha, escorted by her father, Balint, and her grandfather, Grugyn Ahasferus, entered the hall. The bride was garbed as the groom was in a gown of cream-colored silk with a round neck and straight sleeves decorated in gold and jewels. Her golden hair was braided in half a dozen narrow braids, and upon her head was a wreath of sweet-smelling flowers. Her beautiful hands rested delicately upon the arms of her male relations as she seemed to float toward the dais, eyes lowered.
Kolgrim glanced at Palben and saw the lust in his dark eyes. He looked to the Lady Laureen, reading her angry thoughts, although her pretty smooth face showed no emotion. The lady, Kolgrim knew, was not pleased that her husband was taking a second wife, but Laureen had acquiesced because she loved Palben. Later, after the bride and bridegroom were put to bed, Kolgrim would help the First Lady of Hetar to ease her fury and jealously.
The bride had reached the foot of the dais. Hetar no longer had any religious authority, so the marriage would be formally celebrated between the consenting parties and their families. Head lowered in a gesture of perfect submission, Divsha knelt before the Lord High Ruler as Grugyn Ahasferus put the girl’s hand into his.
“We give you this maiden to be your wife,” the patriarch of the family Ahasferus said in a loud voice that carried throughout the hall. “Will you accept her?”
“I accept Divsha of the family Ahasferus as my second wife with all the privileges and rights that it entails,” Palben said.
Divsha’s father, Balint, turned to face the guests. “You have heard,” he said.
“We have heard!” the guests responded.
“Then it is done,” Balint said.
Palben raised up the kneeling girl and kissed her hard on her lush mouth. Divsha felt his hard cock against her leg and smiled up at him, her eyes meeting his for the first time. Without a word to her Palben passed the bride to the First Lady of Hetar.
“You are welcome into the house of Jonah,” Lady Laureen said, kissing Divsha upon both of her rosy cheeks. “Our fates are now intertwined, Divsha.”
“Thank you, my lady,” Divsha said prettily. She knew her place for now.
A servant brought an even-lower tufted velvet stool than the one that Lady Laureen sat upon. He set it down to the right of Hetar’s First Lady, who signaled the girl to seat herself. Then the guests began to come forward to pay their respects to the trio sitting upon the dais. Divsha was angry that her place was so publicly lower than the first wife’s. But her beautiful face showed only happiness. Palben and Lady Laureen’s children came to welcome her. Two of their sons were grown. The third was half-grown, as were his two sisters. They were closer to her in age than her bridegroom. Divsha smiled brightly at them all, considering her stepsons might prove entertaining eventually.
When all the wedding guests had greeted Palben and his two wives, the Lord High Ruler stood, and standing before Divsha, raised her up to lead her into the large dining chamber where a feast had been prepared for all. Kolgrim was quickly at Lady Laureen’s side, smiling boldly into her eyes as he escorted her to her seat at the High Board, and took the chair next to hers. Startled by his quick actions, Lady Laureen decided his attentions to her were pleasant, considering that her husband was practically drooling over his new bride.
The dining chamber was filled with laughter and the smells of roasting meats, game and poultry. Servants dashed to and fro with platters and bowls containing salads, vegetables and at least three different rices. One was yellow. Another white with bits of green seaweed to accompany the large plates of broiled fish, and prawns. The third, reserved for the High Board, was purple with thin pieces of gold leaf tossed in it. Rich wines from the vineyards of the Outlands were served, and the goblets and cups were never empty. Some of the ladies preferred strawberry frine. The cups of the bride and groom were well laced with aphrodisiacs so their night would be a memorable one.
At one point in the meal Kolgrim surreptitiously flipped the hidden latch on his ring of office, emptying into Lady Laureen’s cup a small substance that would relieve her of any inhibitions to his attentions. Then he let his hand slip into her lap. Slowly, slowly, he drew her skirts up until he was able to slide his hand beneath and fondle her plump mons. The lady had obviously played such a game before, for she gave no indication at all to what he was doing. Indeed she carried on a lively conversation with him as a single finger pushed through her moist nether lips to find the jewel of her sex and begin to worry it.
“That was nice,” she said, smiling at him as her juices flowed, wetting his hand.
“’Tis’ but a taste of what is to come, my lady,” he told her, putting the finger he had been using in his mouth and sucking it free of her juices. “Umm. Delicious,” he said.
“Should you not be spending at least some time this evening with your lovely betrothed?” Lady Laureen asked him. “She is not looking particularly happy right now seated alone with her family. I think I might excuse you for a short time, my lord. You know your way to my apartments,” the First Lady of Hetar purred with a small smile.
Again Kolgrim read her thoughts. She was hot to take pleasures with him, and he was more than ready to oblige her. “I hesitate to leave you alone,” he said, nodding in the direction of Palben, who was now feeding his bride some bit from his fingers, and laughing with delight at something Divsha had said.
Lady Laureen made a small moue with her mouth. “I am not used to sharing him publicly,” she admitted. “And
