The Twilight Lord

poor, growing poorer and even larger in numbers, are beginning to complain more loudly with each passing day. And so another diversion must be planned.”

Kaliq smiled at her analysis. As much as he adored Lara’s delicate beauty and lush body, it was her facile mind that intrigued him most. She was quick like a faerie but also more analytical like a mortal. “So,” he said, “what is the solution, my love?”

“I do not know yet,” Lara told him. “First I must return home. You are right. It is time for me to go, Kaliq. Not,” she said with a wicked grin, “that it has not been delightful being with you again as your lover.” Her green eyes twinkled at him. “I am sorry you must take my memories of this time with you from me but alas, I do not believe my conscience could bear knowing for I do love my husband.”

“I understand,” he replied with an answering grin.

“Do you, I wonder?”

“Oh yes, my faerie love, I really do,” he responded. “I know your love for Magnus Hauk is true but I also know that sometimes your faerie nature wants to overcome your mortal nature. But as long as you have your Terahn lord it will not. Forgive me, Lara, for wanting to be in your arms once more.”

She reached out to caress his smooth tanned cheek. “I suspect, Kaliq, that I am capable of forgiving you almost anything.”

“You will return to the New Outlands exactly when you left it,” he explained. “And your husband will arrive that same day to escort you to the Gathering. Oh, I have forgotten,” and he reached into his robes to draw out the gold chain with its crystal star that she had worn her entire life until Kol had abducted her.

“Ethne!” Lara cried and reaching for the chain slipped it about her neck.

I am relieved to see you safe once again, my child, Ethne murmured. We are proud that you have begun to fulfill your destiny.

Hearing the voice of her beloved guardian spirit within her head, Lara felt a tear slip down her cheek. I am so glad to be with you again, Ethne. Will you remember that I have been away? Or will it also be for you as if naught has happened?

We in the magic realm know the sacrifice you have made, my child, but it is better that you forget it. When Prince Kaliq returns you to your husband, to Terah, all references to your destiny will be forgotten and gone, Lara. The light has once again triumphed over the darkness, thanks to you, Ethne told her.

Lara nodded. I am content that the memories will soon be gone. I do not believe the mortal side of my nature could live with those memories, or having to keep them from Magnus. Will you leave me now that I have completed part of my destiny, Ethne?

I will never leave you, my child. Because you have completed part of the destiny set forth for you by the magical realm does not mean you do not also have a mortal destiny. I was given to you by your mother to be there always to guard, to guide and to protect you. I will not fail in my duty, Lara. I am with you always.

And I am glad for it, Ethne! Lara told her spirit guardian. Now she turned back to Kaliq. “When?” she asked him.

“Now, if you desire,” he answered her. “It is almost dawn in the New Outlands, my love, and time for you to awaken from your slumbers.” Leaning forward he kissed her lips gently and Lara immediately fell into a somnolent state. He caught her as she fell toward him over the game board, and standing up, carried her into her bedchamber. Placing her gently upon her bed Kaliq called to the Munin lord. “Lord of the Munin, hear my plea. Cease all else, and come to me.”

The Munin lord appeared in his filmy robes. “I am here, my lord prince.”

“You and your brothers have completed the tasks I set for you?” Kaliq asked.

“It is done, my lord. None in Hetar or Terah will recall this last year as anything special nor will they remember this lady’s absence. Is it time for me to remove those memories we discussed from her? You have the container you wish to store them in, I presume,” the Munin lord said in his whispery tones.

“I do,” the Shadow Prince replied. “And when those memories have been taken from her and sealed away, you will take it with you and store it in your vaults beneath the Sea of Obscura where none will have access to it but you and I.”

“You trust us to hold those memories, my lord?” the Munin said, surprised.

“I do,” Kaliq responded, “for you know that my powers are greater than any, now. You will not betray me.”

“Nay, I will not,” the Munin lord said quietly. “My kind are best at keeping memories stored away. We know how to properly care for them.”

Kaliq languidly swirled his elegant hand and a small round jar fashioned from silver and gold appeared in it. It had a crystal stopper. “The memories are dark,” he said to the Munin lord, “but they will need a little light to survive and they should survive in their captivity. I carved your storage facility from a sea cave and gave it a glass roof. The water reflecting the diffuse light will suffice these memories. Too much light would harm them.” He unstopped the jar and handed it to the Munin lord.

The wraith took the lovely round jar in his palm and then with his other hand thrust carefully into Lara’s head, drawing the memories of her time in the Dark Lands from it. The thin strands were like silver threads but they glittered darkly with tarnish in the light of the chamber, twisting and squirming with an apparent life of their own. The Munin lord slowly pulled them one by one from Lara’s golden head and lowered them with great care into the gold-and-silver jar. The last thread glittered brightly, for it contained Lara’s memories of her recent days with the prince. Kaliq reached out and took that one strand from the Munin, who, when he had completed the task, put the stopper firmly into the mouth of the jar. A faint murmur of protest came from the jar as he did so and then all was silence.

Something passing for a faint smile touched the Munin lord’s lips. “You have kept that one memory for your own, my lord. Be careful, for the strands are very fragile.”

“It did not belong with the others,” Kaliq said as he slid it into the pocket of his white robe where it glowed through the fabric. “I have a small crystal container to house it and will keep it in the sunlight.”

“My task for you is completed, my lord prince,” the Munin lord said. “May I return now to that fine castle you built for us? It is even better than Kol’s and warm, too.”

“You may go, with my thanks, Satordi,” Kaliq said softly.

“You know my name!” the Munin lord cried, distressed.

“And knowing it I hold you in my power always,” the prince answered him. “Farewell, Satordi of the Munin.”

The Munin lord was gone even before the sound of Kaliq’s words had died.

The Shadow Prince laughed softly. Knowing the Munin lord’s name guaranteed his fidelity. In the magic world names were sacred. But then Kaliq turned to look down at Lara. Just for a moment more, he told himself with a sigh. She was his one weakness, though he kept it from everyone, even his brothers. Lothair, in particular, would be very annoyed that he had not been told of her visit. Had he known, however, Lothair would have wanted to share pleasures with Lara. He had always admired her passion. Kaliq now bent and kissed Lara’s lips lightly a final time. “Farewell, my heart,” he murmured and then he whispered the spell necessary to transport the sleeping woman back to her own bed in Liam’s hall in the New Outlands. “Send her back through time and space. Returned now to her rightful place.” And Lara vanished before the Shadow Prince’s bright blue eyes. With a sigh Kaliq turned and left the bedchamber. As he walked down the wide corridor he stopped to look over the balustrade down into the valley where the horses were settling themselves for the night. The copper desert moon was almost full and it shimmered in the skies above him. He sighed again. She would be awakening shortly, he knew. And Magnus Hauk would be coming soon to take his wife home again to his castle high above the Dominus’s fjord. Sometimes being immortal was painful.

He sought his reflecting mirror, and saw it would be a beautiful day in the New Outlands.

THE HARVESTS had been good and were already gathered for the winter to come. The rising sun was warm, the air clear and crisp. Lara’s eyes opened slowly. Rolling onto her back she yawned and stretched. It was not quite dawn and she had time to reach the hillock near the village to watch the sunrise. She arose, pulling a loose medium blue gown over her chemise. Not bothering with sandals Lara exited the chamber where she slept with her three children. The servants were drowsily preparing for the day in the hall, sweeping and setting the board for the