The Sorceress of Belmair

heart. You are discouraged tonight, and I am not surprised. One day you might have to take another wife. You cannot blame either Dreng or Tullio for putting forth their candidates, my son.” She giggled mischievously. “It is really quite amusing.”

“It is not!” he said, but he laughed. “Dreng told me that both girls had plump bottoms, good for smacking, Mother. He says he likes a woman with a plump bottom.”

“Then I am safe from him,” Lara remarked drolly as she stood up. “I must seek my own bed now if I am to be ready to greet your new guests tomorrow.”

“I shall go with Nidhug to Belia, and search the caves there again,” Dillon said.

“You most certainly will not,” Lara told him. “You may go the day after to escape your guests, but you must be here tomorrow to greet Duke Tullio and his family.”

From the roof of the castle the following morning, Lara looked the distance to the sea, and saw a great sailing ship coming into port. She smiled, amused. In midafternoon a small procession made its way up the road to the castle. Lara was waiting, and greeted Duke Tullio and his sister, Margisia. The young woman who traveled with them was modestly garbed in rich garments, her head covered by a beautiful shawl of red-and-gold silk. Eyes lowered, she bowed low to Lara.

Beware! Warn the king to beware of this maiden! The voice of Ethne, Lara’s spirit guardian, murmured to her mistress, and the crystal star about the Domina’s neck glowed briefly with Ethne’s urgency.

Why? Lara asked in the silent speech.

There is darkness in her, my child. Ethne advised.

“My lady Domina,” Duke Tullio said, “may I introduce to you my sister, the lady Margisia, and her daughter, my niece, Sapphira.”

The two women greeted each other, and then drawn forward, Sapphira raised her eyes to Lara, softly murmuring a greeting. They were green eyes. Green like emeralds. But Lara saw that the eyes held no emotion at all. Interesting, she thought to herself as she led the visitors into the hall.

“We have other guests,” she said as they walked.

“Aye, I saw Dreng’s vessel in the harbor,” Duke Tullio replied.

“Is he alone?” Lady Margisia asked none too tactfully.

“He travels with his wife and two of his granddaughters,” Lara said. “They are most charming girls, too. The hall was so merry last night when they danced for us.” She wished Kaliq were here for he would so enjoy this game that was being played. But the Shadow Prince had returned to his home weeks before, promising to return when he was needed. Dillon had his mother, and Kaliq knew that would lighten his mood until the spring came.

“Greetings, Dreng,” Duke Tullio called as they entered the Great Hall.

“Greetings, Tullio,” was his reply.

The women all greeted each other, but Sapphira remained modestly in the background until brought forward. She did not raise her eyes again.

“My son is searching in the hills today,” Lara said, “but he will be returning in time for the evening meal.”

“You didn’t go with him, Dreng?” Tullio asked.

“Why? It’s useless,” Duke Dreng replied.

As the spring sun was setting, Dillon returned to his castle in the company of Nidhug and Cirillo. He greeted his new guests, and almost immediately they adjourned to the high board for the evening meal. The king was charming, but distant. Cirillo made the dragon jealous by flirting with Dreng’s granddaughters.

Nidhug eyed Sapphira suspiciously, finally saying bluntly, “Why is it, Duke Tullio, that your niece hides herself from us? Is she scarred that she keeps her shawl over her head and turns her face from us?”

“Nay, Great Dragon,” Duke Tullio replied. “But King Fflergant and I were related by blood. My niece and Queen Cinnia are distant cousins. I did not wish the king startled by Sapphira’s appearance, for she very much resembles our lost queen.” He turned to Dillon.

“Majesty, with your permission my niece will reveal herself.”

Fascinated in spite of himself, Dillon nodded his approval. “Stand up, lady,” he said, “and let me see you.”

Sapphira rose from her place, and stepping from the dais stood directly before the young king. Slowly she dropped the shawl covering her head, revealing a swath of ebony black hair. Then Sapphira raised her face up to look straight at the king.

Dillon grew pale. He clutched the wine goblet in his hand, and the silver crumpled in his hand. “Cinnia!” he whispered unable to take his eyes from the girl.

“Nay, my lord. I am Sapphira of Beldane, and I am the king’s to command.”

“Let my daughter dance for you, Majesty,” the lady Margisia said. “I have heard that Duke Dreng’s granddaughters danced for you last night.”

“Yes,” Dillon said, never taking his eyes from Sapphira. “Dance for me! Minstrel! Where is the minstrel?” he called.

The Great Creator help us, Lara thought. He is bewitched by this girl. She looked to the dragon, who also appeared somewhat shocked.

The king’s minstrel came forth, and bowing to Sapphira said, “What shall I play for you, lady?”

“Not your lute,” Sapphira replied. “Do you have a reed pipe?”

The minstrel nodded, drawing it forth from his garment. Putting it to his lips he began to play a sweet but temporal tune. As he did, Sapphira kicked off her dainty slippers and began to dance. She was light on her feet and very graceful. She moved easily, and then as she began to discard bits of her gown they saw that it was actually made up of many red silk scarves. Her body twisted sensuously and lithely. Her long arms were quickly bared, and shortly her long bare legs were revealed, flashing amid the thin strips of flying scarlet silk.

Duke Dreng’s two granddaughters gasped, and looked at each other, shocked. A knowing smile touched Prince Cirillo’s lips as he met Lara’s eyes. Nidhug’s nostrils glowed deep red, and a tiny whiff of smoke came from them as she watched Sapphira through her narrowed eyes. Dillon came down from his chair at the high board, and as the tune ended Duke Tullio’s niece flung herself at the king’s feet, and then wound herself sinuously up his booted legs, her emerald eyes locking on to his bright blue eyes.

For a moment the hall was swathed in deep silence, and then Dillon bent to raise Sapphira her feet. “You dance well,” he said quietly. Bending, he fitted her slippers back upon her feet, and led her back to the high board, draping her shawl about her shoulders. “Thank you.”

“Lina! Panya! Now you must dance for the king!” Duke Dreng said.

“I think not, husband,” Amata interrupted him. “The lady Sapphira’s performance was quite entertaining enough for one evening.”

“But…” Dreng began.

“Nay, Grandfather.” Panya spoke for her cousin and herself ending the matter.

The minstrel began to play his lute now, singing a song of Belmair’s past. The guests came down from the high board, gathering themselves about the fire in chairs and settees. Lara moved to sit next to her son, who was now flanked upon his other side by Nidhug, who was jealously guarding her master. The women chatted amiably. The two dukes played a board game of Herder, which seemed to be common to all the worlds. Prince Cirillo flirted quite outrageously with the three young women, and soon had Lina and Panya giggling. Sapphira, however, sat quietly, stealing looks at the king who found himself unable to keep from looking back.

She is not your Cinnia, Lara spoke silently to her son.

She is her mirror image, Mother! he answered her.

That well may be, my son, but it still does not negate the fact that while she may look like Cinnia, she is not Cinnia, Lara said. Ethne says there is darkness in her.

Dillon stood up suddenly. “My lords, my ladies, I must leave you now. My day has been long, and I must begin seeking my queen again tomorrow. I bid you all a good-night.” And he hurried from the hall as if he were being pursued by demons.

Almost immediately the others began to rise, bidding their companions a good-night. Then the hall was empty but for Cirillo, Nidhug and Lara.

“What kind of magic does that girl have?” Nidhug demanded.

“There is no magic in her, my darling,” Cirillo said, “is there, Lara?”

“Nay, none. Does she look like Cinnia, Nidhug?” Lara wanted to know.