And, too, Lara’s mother, Ilona, Queen of the Forest Faeries, longed to take charge of her favorite granddaughter in order to teach her faerie magic. Appearing in her daughter’s apartments in her usual puff of smoke, she embraced Lara. “I am so glad you have decided to send Marzina to me sooner,” she said in her musical voice.

“Kaliq has convinced me it is important she leave Terah now rather than a few months from now,” Lara replied. “I hate it when he gets all mysterious.”

Ilona laughed. “He knows much of what is to come, but is forbidden from disclosing it lest he change the history of our worlds. Are you off to the clan families?”

Lara nodded. “I left Anoush several weeks ago, but did not remain. Now I would spend some time making certain that the clan families do not forget the debt they owe to Terah, and to me. Liam and his generation are growing older. Those following them must be made to remember. It doesn’t matter that a mountain range separates us. If we leave the clan families to themselves they will become a law unto themselves, and forget their loyalty to Terah. It is the way of mortals to eventually forget their past.”

“You are wise, daughter,” Ilona said. “And Anoush has definitely decided to remain with her father’s people?”

“Aye. They accept her Sight now, and revere her healing skills. Some young man will eventually seek her love, and take her for his wife. Anoush prefers being Fiacre, and there is little of me in her, which is perhaps for the better, Mother.”

“Aye, I believe you are right,” Ilona agreed. “Well, daughter, it would appear you have but one duty now. That is to Taj, and to Terah. Anoush and Zagiri have both made their choice of how they would live their lives. Dillon rules Belmair. Now Marzina, the most talented of your three daughters, will come with me so she may fully embrace her faerie heritage. I will take good care of her as I would have of you had I had that opportunity, Lara. She will be safe in the Forest Kingdom. Our people will guard her with their own lives.”

“What of my brother, Cirillo?” Lara asked her mother.

“Impetuous boy,” Ilona said in an annoyed tone. “He spends more time with his lover on Belmair than in the kingdom he will inherit one day.” She shook her head. “A female dragon! Where did I err in raising him? I blame his father, of course. Thanos is the one who is so enamored with the natural world. It is all his fault!”

Now Lara laughed. “Oddly I think Nidhug the perfect mate for Cirillo. Oh, he will please you one day, and sire an heir on some sweet faerie lass, but Nidhug is the female he will love above all others, Mother. Be glad he will do his duty by your kingdom. Besides, it will be centuries before you fade away.”

“Indeed it will,” Ilona agreed. “Now where is my darling Marzina?”

“Here, Grandmother!” Marzina said, appearing suddenly.

“How long have you been eavesdropping on us?” Lara asked her daughter. “You know I have asked you not to do that.” She turned to Ilona, who was beaming with pride at her granddaughter’s aptitude. “Marzina lacks discipline, Mother, and even you will agree that good magic requires strict discipline.”

“Aye, it does,” Ilona agreed, “but do not scold the child, Lara. She is just eager.”

Lara sighed. “You spoil her, Mother. Try not to make her too impossible. Remember that she is a princess of Terah as well as faerie born.” Lara reached out and took Marzina’s face between her two hands. “I love you, little one. I will miss you. Were times not so dire I should keep you with me, Marzina. Remember you are my daughter, and the sister of Terah’s Dominus. Obey your grandmother without question. If you prove worthy she will teach you the magic you need to know. Do not be impatient or imperious with others as you sometimes are.” Lara kissed her daughter on both of her rosy cheeks. “There is change coming, Marzina, and it brings great danger with it. Do not leave the Forest Kingdom unless you are with your grandmother, your uncle Cirillo or Prince Kaliq. Do you understand me, my daughter?”

“I understand, Mother, and I thank you for this wonderful opportunity,” Marzina said earnestly. “I will not fail you, or my brother.”

“He may need you and your magic one day,” Lara told her youngest born. “Remember that you have an obligation to Terah, the land of your birth. Study hard with your grandmother.” She smoothed a lock of Marzina’s dark hair from her face and sighed. “Go now before I allow my love for you to overrule my common sense,” Lara said, and she struggled to hold back the tears that threatened to well up in her green eyes.

Ilona came forward, kissed Lara upon the cheek and then, putting an arm about her granddaughter, disappeared with them both in a poof of lavender smoke. Goodbye, darling girl, Lara heard her mother call in the silent language of the magic world. A single tear ran down Lara’s cheek. She brushed it away impatiently. Marzina was not a mortal child. She was magic, and it was time she learned how to control her magic and use it for good.

The day after her youngest child had departed Lara took her son with her upon Dasras, and they left for the Temple of the Great Creator where Taj would be officially anointed as Dominus of Terah. Dasras descended several miles from the temple, and galloped the rest of the distance as was his custom. They were greeted at the gates by the High Priest Arik, who was Taj’s great-uncle.

“Welcome, my lord Dominus, my lady Domina,” he said, coming forward smiling. He looked at Lara. “You are well, my daughter?”

She nodded. “I miss him, but aye, I am well. Painful as it is even I know that it is as it should be at this point in time, my lord Arik.”

“The guest house is ready for you,” Arik replied. “Tomorrow at the exact moment of sunrise we will annoint young Taj. Will you stay with us for a few days?”

“Nay, it is our time for the New Outlands, and they are expecting us,” Lara told him. “Changes are coming, my lord, and we need to be ready for them.”

“Is Terah safe?” he asked anxiously.

“To my knowledge for now, aye,” Lara responded. “But you must know that my daughter Zagiri was lured away to Hetar. She has of her own freewill married the Lord High Ruler. They believe it will force us to aid them in any time of trouble.”

“Will it?” Arik queried her.

“I want to say nay, but the truth is I do not know now. I suppose it will depend upon the situation. I am not happy that Zagiri has put Terah in this position, my lord.”

“Nay, you would not be. You refused such a match, did you not?” he said.

Lara nodded. “I did. There is more to this tale than I would tell you, my lord Arik. I know you will trust me to do what is best for Terah, and for my son Taj.”

“I will, Domina. My nephew trusted you, and Magnus was no fool despite his deep love for you,” the High Priest said. “Now I would take my great-nephew from you. He must be bathed, purified and spend the night in prayer and contemplative thought before he is anointed at dawn. Can you find your own way now, Domina? You will find an old friend awaiting you. You and she will be the only females allowed to witness the anointing.” He bowed respectfully to Lara.

“Kemina!” Lara exclaimed. “How wonderful! Aye, I can find my way to the guest house, my lord Arik. I remember it well.” She turned to Taj. “Make your father proud, my son,” she told him, and she kissed him upon his forehead. “Now go with the High Priest while I attend to Dasras, and then find Kemina.”

The young Dominus returned his mother’s kiss, touching her cheek with his cool lips. Then with a small nod of compliance he went off with Arik.

“He wears the mantle of his office well for one so young,” Dasras noted.

“I know,” Lara replied to the great stallion. “Magnus would be pleased to see it.” She took his bridle and led him toward the stables.

“This place makes you sad,” Dasras said softly.

“Magnus brought me here so I might lift the curse of Usi from the priests. I had not been in Terah long. The old High Priest Aslak was both horrified and scandalized by me,” Lara recalled. “When he died in the night I wasn’t so certain the shock of hearing my voice hadn’t killed him. Fortunately Magnus’s uncle had already been chosen his successor. I performed my magic, and the rest you know. Still it has been several years since I last came to the Temple of the Great Creator. And I never come without remembering that first time,” she finished. “Ah, here we are at the stables.”

“Greetings, Domina,” the young priest tending the stables said. “Greetings, Lord Dasras. Your stall awaits you. I have brought a bucket of fresh water from our spring, there is fresh hay and your oats are newly poured. Is there anything else I may do for you?” the priest asked anxiously. He had never before served this magical beast although he had heard of him from others who had.

“My shoulders ache,” Dasras said. “A light massage would be appreciated.”

“Before or after you have eaten?” the priest inquired.

Dasras considered carefully. “After, I think,” he said.

“I will see you on the morrow. Rest well,” Lara told the great beast. Then she hurried off through the temple compound, crossing over the square stones that formed a bridge over the pond leading to the guest house. Stepping up onto the porch of the building, she smiled into the welcoming face of Kemina, High Priestess of the Daughters of the Great Creator, who awaited her in the open door. “Kemina!”

“Domina, it is good to see you again,” Kemina said, embracing the younger woman. “You look well, I am happy to see.”

The two women entered the dwelling. Kemina had brought two young novices with her to serve them. The young women moved silently about, instinctively anticipating the needs of their mistress and her companion. They were in awe of this service, for while they had heard of the faerie woman who had been Magnus Hauk’s wife, they were simple girls from ordinary families who would have never hoped to see let alone meet Lara.