“I left for the temple when I was eight,” Arik said. “I knew from the time I could form thoughts that this is what I wanted. When I was eighteen I returned home for my interval year as required before taking my final vows to the Great Creator. Persis was gone by then, and married to your father.”

“You chose not to marry,” Magnus said.

“Aye, but I am not a celibate as some are. I take my pleasures now and again as I feel the need. But a wife and children, as some called to my vocation have, would have hindered my rise in our order. I have always been an ambitious man, Nephew. I prefer power to women.” Then he laughed. “But you knew that, didn’t you?”

Magnus Hauk grinned broadly, and nodded. “I knew it, Uncle. But you are practical, as well, I think.”

The High Priest nodded, and then he arose. “And being practical, I need my rest, Nephew. Bring Lara to me in the morning that I may bid you both farewell, and give you my blessing until the time of your nuptials.”

The Dominus stood. “Good night again then, Uncle,” he said. Returning to the guest house, he found Lara sleeping, a small smile upon her lips. Looking down at her, his own heart swelled. He did love her. He wondered if she had any emotions for him other than passion. Did he care? He washed himself, and lay down by her side to sleep.

IN THE MORNING, Lara and Magnus bid the High Priest farewell, and he did indeed give them his blessing, after telling Lara that she had his full support, and that the immigration of the Outland clan families would remain their secret. She thanked him, taking his hands in the Terahn fashion and pressing them first to her head, then her lips and finally her heart. The gesture brought a smile to Arik’s lips.

As Dasras did not like the narrow cliff road above the fjord he unfolded his great wings and flew back to the castle, landing in the courtyard close to the midday hour. The stable men stared wide-eyed as the horse’s hooves touched down on the cobbled ground. They gasped audibly as Dasras’s wings disappeared completely, folding themselves into his body when he commanded them to do so. They were barely used to the horse’s speech, but to see the magic he made half frightened them. Then one young boy, braver than the rest, came forward and took the horse’s bridle.

“Welcome home, Dasras,” he said.

“I thank you, young Jason,” the stallion said as he was led away.

“Once people get over being frightened of Dasras,” Lara remarked, “he has a great knack for making friends.”

“A horse who talks is one thing, but one who carries on an intelligent conversation is truly amazing,” the Dominus replied. “Come, let us tell Sirvat that we have returned home.” Catching her hand they strolled across the courtyard toward the private apartments where Sirvat came running to meet them.

“Welcome home, Magnus, Lara,” she said. “Now that you have lifted the curse from the men of Terah can we please begin the preparations for my wedding?” Then she paused, looking distressed. “Unless the wedding of the Dominus should take place first. You and Lara are going to wed, aren’t you?”

“Aye, we will wed,” Lara quickly replied. “But before we do, your brother and I have some other business that must be taken care of, Sirvat. So if you do not object, you will have to be married to Corrado first.”

“Oh no, I do not object!” Sirvat said breathlessly.

Lara and Magnus laughed at her delight.

“I shall leave the preparations in your hands, my ladies,” the Dominus told them. “The only part a man should have in his marriage day is to be there.” Then he left them.

“Your uncle the High Priest sends you his best wishes,” Lara said to Sirvat. “He is pleased by your choice of a husband, and will come himself to perform the ceremony so he may bless you and Corrado.”

“I do not wish a great celebration,” Sirvat said. “I only want to be married as soon as possible, Lara. Were you not eager when you wed your first husband?”

“I did not even know I was being wed,” Lara said. “Vartan tricked me into the union,” she recalled with a smile. “He had to visit his villages, and asked me if I should like to ride with him. I went, and in doing so found myself married. It seems if you spend two nights with a man of the Outlands, you are considered his wife. We did not even take pleasures of each other,” she chuckled, “but I was firmly wed according to clan law.”

Sirvat eyes were wide with shock, but she giggled. “He sounds very bold,” she said. “Was he handsome? Was he skilled at pleasures?”

“He was both handsome and skilled,” Lara acknowledged with a smile.

“I cannot wait to take pleasures with Corrado,” Sirvat sighed romantically.

“Have you ever taken pleasures with a man?” Lara asked her, wondering if she would have to prepare Magnus’s sister for passion.

“Oh yes,” Sirvat said nonchalantly. “I have had two lovers, but only for brief periods of time. Men have a tendency to grow possessive, and so I never kept a lover for very long, not wishing to be possessed. Corrado, however, knows and understands me. We are equals, as are you and my brother. That is how I know Magnus’s marriage to you is the right thing, Lara. He has never before treated any woman as an equal, or a friend. Women were just for pleasures. But not you. You are different.”

“But it is your wedding we must plan, Sirvat,” Lara said neatly turning the subject. “We must inform your mother and sisters of this event.”

“Not right away,” Sirvat said. “You and I will plan, and then at the last minute we will send to my family. If we inform them now they will come, and they will interfere. I would not ask them at all but that it would reflect badly upon me. But I am not interested in hearing them criticize me or my choice of a husband.”

“Why would they criticize Corrado?” Lara wanted to know.

“My mother was a distant cousin of my father. She was proud of her claim to the Hauk bloodline. My older sisters also made advantageous matches. My husband-to-be is a sea captain.”

“But he is Magnus’s captain of captains,” Lara reminded Sirvat.

“He has no lands, no villages. He lives here in the palace, and will continue to reside here when we are wed,” Sirvat said.

“Magnus has said that one day he will give you lands,” Lara said.

“And he will. And Corrado and I are content to wait. But my husband-to-be has not the fine bloodlines that my family has. He is distant kin. It doesn’t matter to me. I love him. I have loved him ever since I was a child, and he first came to the palace. And my brother has judged him on his worth, and found him more than suitable. My brother wants me happy. But my mother will carp at Magnus, and she will carp at me. She will be slyly insulting to Corrado in an effort to prick his pride, and drive him away. I do not look forward to her visit. And you had best beware for she will find fault with you. I am certain she has someone in mind to be Magnus’s wife. She will not be pleased to learn he has made his own decision from which he cannot be swayed.”

“You make your mother sound fearsome,” Lara said.

“She is not so much fearsome as irritating,” Sirvat replied.

“Tell me how a royal wedding is celebrated in Terah,” Lara asked, once again turning the subject away from something unpleasant. Remembering her Outlands mother-in-law, Bera, who had welcomed her, and been so loving, Lara decided stoically that one could not always be that fortunate.

“The wedding commences just before dawn,” Sirvat began. “Together with our guests we watch the sunrise, the beginning of a new day and our new life as husband and wife. Next Corrado and I are bathed together with our guests in attendance. This is done to show we are both fit for marriage and for children. We are then dressed in our wedding garments and led into one of the gardens, which you and I will choose beforehand. There the High Priest will inquire if we are agreeable to the marriage. We answer, he blesses us and we are officially wed. Then a great feast is held to celebrate our union. At day’s end we all watch the sunset. Then Corrado and I retire to our apartments, signaling an end to the celebration.”

“How beautiful!” Lara exclaimed.

“And it is even better the fewer guests there are,” Sirvat said. “More intimate, and special. At least Corrado and I will not have to visit every fjord afterwards as you and Magnus will have to do. Everyone in Terah must see the new Domina.”

“Let us concentrate on your wedding for now,” Lara replied. “Does Corrado have any family?”

“His father, Dima, who was once my father’s captain of captains. And an older brother, Ing, who is a ship’s chandler, having no taste for the sea. Corrado’s mother died years ago, and Ing has never married,” Sirvat explained.

“So we have two from Corrado’s family, and five from yours,” Lara said.

“Oh, I am certain my sisters will want to bring all their children, and I cannot avoid the laws of hospitality. And Magnus will have some he wishes to honor by asking them to the wedding,” Sirvat said. “It will be far more than I would have.”

“Then say no,” Lara told her. “Tell your mother and your sisters that they are welcome along with your two brothers-in-law, but no more. Tell Magnus that those he wishes to honor may be honored when we wed. Tell your brother that you want a small and intimate wedding. You are the Dominus’s youngest sister. There is no cause for great festivities unless you desire them, Sirvat. It is your wedding.”

A look of joy came over Sirvat’s face. “You are right, Lara,” she said. “I want a small wedding, and by the Great Creator I shall have one!”

The Dominus saw no fault in his sister’s wishes. The wedding would be discreet. Sirvat chose the gardens overlooking the fjord for the ceremony. It was late summer, and the flowers were in full bloom. Consulted, Corrado agreed with his beloved’s plans. The High Priest was sent for as was the lady Persis, and Sirvat’s two older sisters and their husbands. Their offspring, the Dominus ordered them, were to stay at home. Corrado’s elderly father, Dima, and his oldest son, Ing, lived at the foot of the castle cliff above the chandler’s shop. Their journey was one of minutes.