The widowed Domina and the High Priestess spent a pleasant afternoon and evening recalling old times shared. The two novices brought them a simple supper of capon, salad, warm bread, sweet butter and fresh fruit. They drank Frine, and toasted the memory of Magnus Hauk, and then they toasted Taj.

“Tell me of your daughters,” Kemina finally asked.

Lara told her of Anoush’s desire to return to her father’s people, of Zagiri’s runaway marriage and of Marzina being put for safety’s sake with her faerie grandmother. “Something is brewing. I sense it like one senses an impending storm, Kemina. I don’t know yet what will happen, but my entire energies must focus on Terah, and Taj.”

“The rumors,” Kemina said. “They are barely dared to be whispered, and are faint. Are they true?”

“What rumors?” Lara replied.

“That Magnus Hauk left you as regent for his son,” Kemina murmured softly.

Lara nodded. She would not lie to Kemina. “He did, but such a thing must never become public knowledge, or even be admitted. I asked Corrado, Armen and Tostig to become the Dominus’s Council to defuse any rumors. They have accepted that I am in charge until Taj is skilled enough to take control for himself. Terahn customs must not be broached for the sake of peace. There are always those who would cause trouble. Corrado and Persis were there when Magnus died as were Sirvat and Taj.”

“Persis?” Kemina laughed. “Poor lady. How difficult hearing her son hand you the power must have been for her. She is so traditional in her manner.”

“It was difficult, but her loyalty to both Magnus and to custom has required her compliance,” Lara said. “And giving Taj a public council of male family members has helped her to overcome any qualms she may have struggled with, Kemina.”

“You walk a fine line,” the High Priestess said with a sympathetic smile.

“I do,” Lara admitted, returning the smile. “But if it were not meant to be then it should not be.”

“Nay, it would not,” Kemina agreed.

The two women talked until moonrise, and then they retired to their beds. In the hour before the dawn they were awakened by the two novices so they might bathe prior to attending the anointing. Together they walked to the Temple of the Great Creator. Above them the sky was light, neither gray nor white. It would shortly turn to blue with the coming of the dawn. Both women were dressed in the simple white robes that had been supplied them by the priesthood. The necklines were round and high. The sleeves were long and flowing. The waistlines were beneath their breasts, and the fabric falling from that point was narrow and pleated. Sheer white gauze veils covered their heads, and they were barefoot.

Arriving at the temple, they were escorted inside and led up a flight of stairs to a small balcony that overlooked the main chamber of the temple, which was empty but for the young Dominus, who stood in prayer, naked, his back to them. At the sound of a gong the priesthood belonging to the Temple of the Great Creator entered the chamber led by Arik. They were chanting in the ancient Terahn tongue, their voices low. They formed a circle around Taj, who now stood before a simple marble altar. Arik stepped forward, and as the sun crept over the horizon spilling its light into the open temple, the High Priest poured the holy oil of Terah over the golden head of the young Dominus. The oil ran down his neck, over his bare shoulders, threading its way down his back and chest. Not a word was spoken, and only the hum of the chanting priests broke the silence. Finally Arik took a robe from the altar and draped it over Taj. Then he led the Dominus from the great chamber.

Kemina took Lara’s hand, and together the two women descended the staircase back down to the main floor of the temple. The High Priestess led the Domina back to the guest house where they found their morning meal awaiting them. Fresh bread, hard-boiled eggs, butter and a honeycomb. The silent novices served them, bringing hot cups of green tea to their mistress and the Domina.

“Did you enjoy the ceremony?” Kemina asked Lara.

“Aye. It was simple and beautiful,” Lara said. “The coronation will, I expect, be more lavish.”

“Nay, it will not. While you will arrange that there be celebration feasts throughout Terah on that day paid for at government expense, Taj will be crowned here in this temple. Only his family, specially chosen representatives from the Seven Fjords and the New Outlands, along with the priesthood, will be allowed to attend the actual ceremony. It is as simple an affair as today’s anointing was. And the day after life will continue onward as any other day after a celebration,” Kemina explained.

“How lovely, and how perfect. In Hetar they would have the most lavish of crownings, and the feasting would go on for a week,” Lara said.

“Such a thing breaks the rhythm of life,” Kemina noted. “It is not good to break the rhythm of our passage.”

They ate their meal, and then prepared to depart. Lara changed from the white robe into her leather trousers, white shirt, leather vest and boots, braiding her hair into a single plait. She strapped her sword, Andraste, onto her back. Then, embracing Kemina and thanking the two young novices for their service, she left the guest house for the stable yard where Dasras was saddled, and awaiting her.

“Good morrow, Domina,” he greeted her.

“Good morrow, Dasras,” she responded.

“Mother!” Taj hurried into the courtyard dressed for travel. His dark gold hair still bore the traces of holy oil. Lara smelled the sweet freesia as she embraced her son. “Did you see my anointing? My great-uncle Arik said you would be there with the High Priestess, but I glanced about, and did not see you.”

“We were in the balcony above the chamber, and saw all,” Lara assured him. “Are you tired, my son?”

“I prayed all night,” the boy replied. “Or I tried to pray, but sometimes my mind went to my pleasurable memories and thoughts. Do you think the Great Creator was displeased with me, Mother?”

“Nay, he was not displeased,” Lara said. “He understands that young men, even those who have become the Dominus of Terah, cannot yet focus only on serious matters.”

“I did try, Mother,” Taj said earnestly. “I really did!”

“Of course you did,” Lara responded. “Now, my lord Dominus, let us mount Dasras, and be away for the New Outlands. Our companion is eager to visit Lord Roan’s meadows, and see the mares who will undoubtedly be eagerly awaiting him.”

Dasras neighed enthusiastically and pawed the ground with one hoof, causing both Lara and Taj to break out in laughter. They climbed aboard the big stallion, Taj sitting before his mother in the saddle for as Dominus he had official precedence over her. But it was Lara who controlled the reins of her horse. The High Priest and Kemina both came to see them off. With Dasras’s permission the boy wrapped his hands in the magical beast’s thick mane as he trotted from the courtyard of the Temple of the Great Creator out onto the road that led across the meadows.

Picking up speed, Dasras’s great wings unfolded, and he rose up into the cloudless morning sky, circling the temple and then turning toward the high mountain range that separated Terah Prime from the New Outlands. Soon they left the open fields behind, and gentle hills appeared beneath them. Dasras flew on, rising as the hills became the Emerald Mountains. He felt the boy begin to relax, and called softly to his mistress to secure her son so he would not fall.

“If only one of your offspring were winged,” Lara said. “It was easier to bring the children when they were smaller, and we could keep them in saddle baskets.”

“Indeed it was,” Dasras agreed. “We are almost there, however, mistress. See, the mountains are giving way once more to hills, and the plains beyond. How long will we remain this time?”

“Perhaps the remainder of the summer,” Lara said. “I do not know. It will depend upon the information that Kaliq brings to me. But it would be nice to remain until The Gathering is over, wouldn’t it?”

“Aye, mistress, it would,” Dasras agreed. He began to drop down as they approached the meadows of the Aghy Horse Lord Roan, scanning the mares below. “A fine group of pretties,” the stallion said with a small snort. “I think I shall join them as soon as I have delivered you and the Dominus to New Camdene.”

Lara laughed. “You are as randy as a Shadow Prince,” she told him.

Dasras galloped on through the late-morning skies and then below them livestock in the meadows became cattle, and Lara knew they had reached the territory of the Fiacre clan family. From her vantage point she could see the head village, New Camdene, in the distance. Dasras dropped down lower and lower. Then when they were but a short distance from the village, his hooves touched the ground so he might gallop the rest of the distance into New Camdene.

Lara gently shook Taj awake. “We are almost there, my son,” she said.

The boy snapped awake immediately. “Thank you, Mother,” he said.

His father, Lara remembered, had been able to awaken quickly and fully as Taj just had. But she had no time to grow sad with the memory, for there were already shouts of welcome reaching her ears as Dasras reached the village proper. Sitting straight before her, Taj was returning the greetings. Reaching the hall of the head of the Fiacre clan family, Lara was pleased to see Liam, Noss and their children waiting for them.

Dasras came to a stop, and Liam hurried forward. “Welcome, my lord Dominus. Welcome, Domina,” he said. His red hair was showing bits of silvery copper as it faded with age, and there were deeper lines about his blue eyes.

Noss, his wife and Lara’s best friend, pushed her husband aside. “Lara!” She hugged the faerie woman. “It is so good to see you, dearest one.” She turned to young Taj. “Welcome, my lord Dominus, to New Camdene. You will find Sinon and Gare awaiting you in the hall,” she told him.