“What do you think he thought when he imagined himself where I now am?” the Dominus asked. “Was he able to enjoy the anticipation of having you completely? Or did he just thrust into you like the pig he is, and greedily enjoy his pleasures?”

“You are jealous for no reason,” Lara managed to say. “He knows nothing of me. Not really. He never will!”

“Aye,” Magnus Hauk’s deep voice ground out. “I am jealous! But he will never have you, Lara! I would kill you first!” Then he drove himself deep within her over and over again until they were both moaning with the pleasures they were sharing. And finally they were satisfied with each other, and they lay gasping upon their backs like two beached turtles.

Lara recovered first, and leaning over him she said but two words. “Only you.”

Reaching up he pulled her down so that their lips met in a burning kiss, but he said nothing more.

A small tap on the door of their bedchamber startled them both. A voice called out, “Are you awake?” as the door opened. Magnus Hauk stared in amazement at the woman in the doorway, then turned to look at his wife.

“Mother!” Lara slipped naked from the bed, and ran to embrace her parent.

“Darling Lara,” Ilona responded, hugging and kissing her daughter. Then her eyes turned back to the bed. “He is most suitable, daughter,” she said, her bold stare sweeping over the startled man. “And so nicely endowed, you fortunate creature.”

Hearing her words the Dominus realized that all of his body was visible to this copy of his wife. He flushed, and pulled the coverlet over his tired loins.

“Put something on, Lara, we must speak,” Ilona said imperiously. “Kaliq tells me your powers have grown stronger, but that you have used them unwisely. Having faerie powers entails first a sense of responsibility.” Her gaze caught that of the Dominus. “Magnus, get dressed, too – I will speak with both of you on this matter. I will await you in Kaliq’s dining chamber. There is food, and I would imagine you are both very hungry.” She flashed them a wicked smile before closing the door behind her.

Lara laughed softly at the stunned look on her husband’s handsome face. “Let us hurry and bathe. She is not particularly patient. There can be no water games, my lord.”

They bathed in the small room attached to their bedchamber, dressed, and then Lara, who remember Kaliq’s palace well, led her husband to the dining area, which overlooked some small gardens. They found both the prince and Ilona there, engaged in a spirited conversation. Their host waved them to their seats, and at once servants appeared to offer them fresh bread, fruit, yogurt, cheese, hard-boiled eggs and salted meat. There was cool freshly squeezed juice poured into their goblets, and the Dominus wondered just how it was kept cold in this very warm dry climate. He and Lara ate, waiting for Ilona to speak to them.

Lara’s lips twitched with amusement, but she said nothing.

Magnus Hauk studied his mother-in-law. She might be the queen of the Forest Faeries, but he was the Dominus of Terah. Why was he nervous? Probably because she had caught him at a disadvantage, and he had seen she had enjoyed it. She looked like Lara, and yet she was different. Upon closer examination he realized that being pure faerie, Ilona’s features were sharper while his wife’s mortal blood made her features softer. He decided Lara was the more beautiful of the two, and when the thought entered his brain Ilona suddenly looked directly at him. Then she smiled a quick smile before turning back to Kaliq.

A boy came into the room and put his arms about Lara’s neck, kissing her on the cheek. Turning her head she smiled at him. “Cirilo! Let me look at you, little brother. My, you have grown taller, and you are going to be a very handsome man.”

“And you will soon outstrip our mother with your beauty, elder sister,” Cirilo replied. “I have been with your giant, Og, in the valley of the horses. What glorious creatures they are! And how is your new husband?” The boy turned to look at Magnus.

“Greetings, my young prince,” Magnus said, nodding his head toward the boy. “I am well.”

“Do you love my sister?” Cirilo asked bluntly.

“With all my heart,” Magnus answered.

“Then I greet you in friendship, lord Dominus,” the boy replied. Taking a seat next to his mother he allowed the servants to fill his plate, and he set to eating.

“He’s a beautiful child,” Magnus noted. “Will you give me a son like that? All golden with jeweled eyes?”

“One day I will give you a son,” she replied. “But as for what he will look like, that is up to the Great Creator, isn’t it?”

“I am glad you have him,” Magnus said. “I know it does not make up for the loss of your father’s sons, but this lad is more like you than they could be.”

“I did not miss the younger sons that Susanna gave my father after I left. It is Mikhail, the little boy I knew, the eldest of them that I regret. I stood at my stepmother’s side and held her hand when he was born. I was there to hear his first cry. He was too small when I left the City to remember me on his own, but could not my father and his wife have spoken of me, and kept my fragile memory alive in my brother? What harm was there in speaking to him of me? It was my sacrifice that put my father on the road to his success. It is that I for which I can never forgive Susanna, Magnus.”

“Foolish girl!” Ilona said. “I see Swiftsword has not changed a great deal since his youth. He was a charming fellow, a wonderful lover and a brilliant swordsman, but his will was easily led, and obviously still is. Yet it is what makes him a good Crusader Knight. He is a man who will always follow the orders of a superior. He will never question anything. Put him, his jealous mortal of a wife and their mortal offspring from your mind, Lara. It is unlikely you will ever have anything to do with them again. They have nothing to offer you. Neither love, nor loyalty, daughter. It was your father’s strong seed that helped create you, Lara, but you are my child before you are his, as you have discovered in the last months. Cirilo and I love you. And your great brute of a husband loves you. You do seem to like them extra large,” she noted wryly.

“I know you are right, Mother,” Lara replied. “And yet…”

“Put it from you!” Ilona said impatiently. “We have important matters to discuss, my daughter. Kaliq has told me what you did to Gaius Prospero. It was very, very foolish.” She shook her golden head with her disapproval.

“But wonderfully clever,” Cirilo piped up, and then quickly lowered his head to his breakfast at his mother’s angry and silent reprimand. His cheeks were red with her admonishment, but Lara caught his eye and winked at him. Cirilo felt much better at his sister’s encouragement.

Ilona hid her smile. She was pleased to see her eldest born bonding with her youngest. That bond would one day be important to them both. Then she spoke to her daughter. “The powers that grow in you are more than most half faerie, half mortal beings have. This was foretold before your birth. Mortal blood runs in your veins, Lara, but you will have full faerie powers before long. But with those powers comes responsibility. You must exercise your powers only for good. If you do not you will be lured into the darkness, and your powers corrupted. The sorcerer you vanquished was like you, Lara, half mortal and half faerie. He was to bring greatness to the Brotherhood of the Great Creator. Instead he was drawn into the darkness, and Terah suffered cruelly under his rule. Only a creature like you, Lara, could have lifted the curse of Usi, and freed the Terahn people of his influence.”

“Is that why I was brought to Terah?” Lara asked her parent.

“Partly,” Ilona said. “Now promise me, my daughter, that you will never again use your powers for evil as you did the other night. I do not say Gaius Prospero doesn’t deserve to be punished, for he does, but time will take care of him, I promise you. You are meant for other and greater things. You must not be corrupted as Usi was.”

“Every time we meet you refer to a destiny for me,” Lara said impatiently.

“First your promise, daughter,” Ilona said refusing to be turned from her point.

“Of course I will promise you, Mother. I will never again allow my anger to rule my magic. Now let us get back to my destiny.” Lara looked directly at her mother.

“It is unfolding in its own time and manner,” Ilona said sweetly.

Lara laughed. “You will tell me no more, will you?” she said.

“To tell you would change your destiny, my dearest daughter,” Ilona replied with indisputable logic.

“Very well, Mother, I shall not quarrel with you over it,” Lara responded.

Ilona lowered her voice. “Your place will always be in Terah,” she told Lara.

“That does not mean you will not be gone from there now and again, but Terah is your home, my daughter. Remember that. You will draw more strength from that land than from anywhere else.”

“And Magnus? Will he meet Vartan’s end, Mother?”

“Nay, he will not,” Ilona said softly. “Now be satisfied, Lara. I have said all I came to say, and Cirilo and I must return to the forest – or what remains of it.”

“What do you mean?” Lara wanted to know.

“The forest is being cut down section by section to supply wood for building. The area around the villages of the Forest Lords is being left, but bit by bit they are destroying the woodlands. It was suggested by the Head Forester that the government replant where they take trees, but the emperor has decided that it would take from his profit so he will not do it. They have not yet reached the deepest part of the forest where we live, but in a few years they will,” Ilona said.

“There are forests in Terah,” Magnus Hauk said. “Bring your faerie folk and live with us,” he invited.