“Greed for more and more,” Vilia replied. “Too much prosperity being shared by fewer and fewer of our people. If a person’s belly is full and they are useful, they are content. But when the people grow hungry and are idle, that is when trouble ensues. That is why the emperor shipped so many of our poor to the Outlands so they might be useful again.”
Gillian laughed dryly. “The poor in the Outland province may have been put to labor, Vilia, but they are still hungry and unhappy. The magnates work them to death because there are always more of them to be used. But one day it will not be so. Then what shall we do? Whoever seeks to rule Hetar will have to solve all the problems that these past years have caused.”
“And what do you favor?” Vilia asked slyly. “Shall we return to the old days of the High Council and no single head? Or shall we retain the imperial rule begun by my former husband?”
“I have not yet decided,” Gillian replied. “But I do believe Lara is correct when she says that it is time women made up at least half the ruling body, whatever it is. Our population is now more women than men because of all the turmoil Gaius Prospero has caused us. We should have a say in those things affecting our lives. Our voices should be heard and our wishes should count for something, Vilia. Present whatever face you wish to present to your husband and to others, but speak the truth to me.”
Vilia was silent for a long few minutes, and then she said, “What if a woman ruled Hetar, Gillian? Not from behind the throne, but
“It is an interesting concept,” Lady Gillian said slowly. “But I think it too soon, Vilia. First we must make our voices heard within the High Council. That will shock enough people as it is, but once they are used to it, then aye!” She chuckled. “I wonder what your mother-in-law would think of these thoughts you harbor.”
“Farah? Pah!” Vilia said scornfully. “She gave no real thought to Jonah until she saw him rising to power. When his father’s widow sold him into slavery as a boy she might have bought him herself and rescued him. But she did not. Her only concern is for her own prestige. I personally question whether she will be a good headmistress of the Pleasure Guilds, but then of course time will tell. Why did you retire? You are yet young enough to manage the responsibilities.”
“No headmistress may serve more than three ten-year terms. I had served my time and under the law I had to retire,” Gillian said. “Besides, I am not unhappy to be free of the burden of management.”
Vilia nodded and then she said, “I hope Jonah is all right. He has never been comfortable with magic. And I think the Domina frightens him although he would never say it. She is not the girl she once was, is she?”
“Your husband will be fine with Lara,” Gillian assured Vilia. “They will even now be speaking with the surviving commanders of the Crusader Knights.”
And Gillian was correct. Lara and Lord Jonah had appeared in King Archeron’s hall in a swirl of smoke. Everyone had been startled but Archeron had stood up smiling.
“Greetings, Lara, Domina of Terah,” he said, coming from his high board to take up her hands and kiss them. His curious glance went to her companion. “Lord Jonah, I bid you welcome, too,” he said.
The Crusader Knights and their commanders in Archeron’s hall looked uncomfortable. John Swiftsword stared at his daughter as if she were a total stranger.
“Greetings, my lord king,” Lara said. “Greetings, my lord commanders of the Crusader Knights. Greetings to all the knights gathered in this chamber tonight.” She did not single out her father. “I have brought Lord Jonah to attest to what is true.” Her gaze swept the hall, commanding their attention. “The Dominus of Terah and the magic kingdoms have offered to aid Hetar in its battle against Kol, the Twilight Lord, whose forces even now assail The City.”
A babble of surprise erupted among those gathered in the hall, but King Archeron signaled for silence so Lara might explain to them.
“While you attempted to invade a peaceful land, a land that has done you no harm, the Twilight Lord has sought to spread his evil and his darkness into Hetar. The Midlands have been ravaged,” she concluded.
“We must return you quickly to Hetar,” Lord Jonah said. “I bring the emperor’s written command. We will join with the forces of Terah to defeat the Twilight Lord.”
“Let me see the document,” the head commander of the Crusader Knights said. When Jonah handed it to him he scanned it carefully.
“It could be a forgery,” an under-commander suggested.
“Nay, it is Gaius Prospero’s signature,” the head commander replied. “I have seen it often enough to know his scrawl.” He turned back to Jonah. “Just what are we facing?” he asked the emperor’s right hand.
To their surprise, Lord Jonah deferred to Lara.
“The Twilight Lord has three groups of allies. We have already convinced the giants who have been serving him to eschew his rule. They will not turn against Hetar. The fiercest of Kol’s warriors are those he has sent to Hetar- the Wolfyn.”
“Wolfyn are naught but a myth to frighten children,” a Crusader Knight said.
“Wolfyn are very real,” Lara told them. “They are creatures with the heads of wolves and the bodies of men. They are savages who kill for the pure joy of it and who enjoy violating mortal women for no other reason than just to hear them scream with terror as they force them to yield pleasures. There is no kindness or pity in them. Kol sends these minions of his darkness to take The City, the heart of Hetar. Take The City and the rest will fall or be taken as the Midlands have been taken. And then Kol will turn his eyes to Terah.
“The emperor realizes that we must stop the Twilight Lord now before he takes The City, before Hetar is lost to Kol. To do that, all of us must band together. Hetar, Terah and the magic kingdoms,” Lara explained. “The Shadow Princes will transport you along with Terahn forces to a position just behind the Wolfyn. They will bring a small number of Terahns into The City to join with those remaining Crusader Knights and Mercenaries who remained in order to protect The City. When all is in readiness, we will have the enemy caught in a pincer movement and together we will crush them.”
“And the emperor is truly in accordance with this?” the head commander asked. “For once he appears to show some foresight.”
“You know well what he is like,” Jonah quickly put in, seeing an opportunity for himself, “but I worked hard to convince him that this was the wisest course.”
“To treat with our enemy?” a voice among the Crusader Knights called out.
“We have only recently come into new information,” Jonah said smoothly, “that convinces us that the Terahn threat was nonexistent.”
“What a pity you did not have that information before you lost your men and your ships,” King Archeron murmured dryly.
“The Terahns are not our enemies,” Lord Jonah continued. “They are, it would seem, our friends, as their offer to help ward off the Twilight Lord has proven, my lords.”
Lara almost burst into laughter at this and struggled to maintain a serious face.
“And what will Terah’s help cost us, Lord Jonah?” the head commander asked. “How high a price must Hetar pay to escape the clutches of this Twilight Lord?”
“We seek nothing from Hetar except that you keep to your own borders,” Lara told them all. “Terah has avoided Hetar for centuries. We would continue that policy, my lords. There is nothing that we want or desire from you.”
They looked at her, astounded. Hetar was the pinnacle of the known world. There was no place like it. Yet Terah wanted naught from them? How could that be? The faerie woman had to be lying. But before they might explore this further, Lord Jonah spoke.
“My lords, we have little time to debate this issue. The emperor has given you his orders. You must obey them or be held accountable for treason. In wartime especially, such a thing cannot be tolerated.” He looked to Lara.
She was impressed in spite of herself. Jonah was obviously not a man to dither over a decision. “I will return to Terah,” she told them, “and then the Shadow Princes will come to you. Have your men ready immediately for transport, my lords. I will see you in the Midlands shortly.” And then she was gone in a puff of her signature mauve smoke.
“I do not like this,” the head commander said. “Have you actually seen these creatures, my lord? Or is this all faerie smoke to frighten us?”
“I have seen them. Squire Darah has seen them. He was so terrified he fled to The City, leaving behind his
