Bertrice Small - A Distant Tomorrow

“Will he keep his promise to you?”

“How do you know he made me a promise?” she asked with a small smile.

He chuckled. “Let us just say I have my ways of knowing such things,” he teased her. “Besides, you are planning to wed him, are you not? You would not have agreed to his proposal had he not agreed to your conditions, my love.”

“Then you will take him with us?” she said.

The Shadow Prince nodded. “Speak with him and set a time. Then recall me, and I will transport us to the Gathering. They will resist you, you know. You may not be able to save them all,” Kaliq warned her.

“I know,” Lara said. “But I will save as many as I can. It is all I can do.”

“He awaits you impatiently outside the portal to this chamber. Call him to us,” the prince said.

Lara leaned forward, and kissed the prince upon the cheek. “What would I do without you, Kaliq?” she asked him.

He laughed almost ruefully. “Soon the pupil will outstrip the master,” he said.

“Never!” Lara replied softly. Then she arose, and opened the door to admit Magnus Hauk. “Come in, my lord Dominus. We have matters to discuss.”

“How do you arrive in the middle of my castle?” the Dominus asked the prince, shaking his hand as he came forward to join them.

“Your future Domina cast a tiny spell,” Kaliq answered. “I will always come when she calls me, Magnus Hauk.”

The Dominus laughed. “You will not intimidate me for all your magic, Kaliq of the Shadows. While magic amazes me, it no longer frightens me.”

The prince chuckled.

“If you two are finished playing boy games,” Lara said, “we will speak on the Outlands, and their people.” She fixed them both with a stern look. The two men grew silent, but the glance they shared was one of coconspirators. Lara ignored it and began.

“Magnus, you have spoken of your desire to know the people of the Outlands. Shortly they will come together for a yearly meeting called the Gathering. This is an ideal time for us to go to them, and offer them a new homeland beyond the mountain range you call Emerald. Kaliq and I agree we must transport them before the winter sets in for Hetar means to invade the Outlands come spring.

“Archeron, the oldest and most senior of the Coastal Kings, is very ill. Kaliq believes he is being poisoned by his son, Arcas, who has taken his place. Arcas has promised Gaius Prospero access to the Outlands through the lands of the Felan which border the Coastal province of Hetar. This is a terrible betrayal, for the Coastal Kings have always lived in concord with the Felan. And such an attack will constitute a great surprise to the Outlands. The Hetar Mercenaries can sweep over the lands unimpeded. And as they reach the Purple Mountains, Hetar will attack the Tormod and the Piaras from two sides. Kaliq is more than aware of how the mind of Gaius Prospero works. This emperor of Hetar will slay all the Tormod and the Piaras for he certainly holds them directly responsible for Hetar’s loss to the Outlands in the Winter War.”

“You have been protecting the Outlands since Lara’s departure, haven’t you?” the Dominus asked the Shadow Prince.

“We have,” Kaliq responded, “but even we grow weary, and need our energies restored. Our advantage has been that no one is aware of our part in the Outlands’ seeming invincibility. If we can make this transfer from the Outlands to Terah before winter sets in then we will have that time to renew our strengths. We will be more than ready to stand against Gaius Prospero when the time comes.”

“And you can take Lara and me to this Gathering, and return us in safety to Terah?” the Dominus asked.

“I can,” Kaliq answered.

“One thing,” Lara said to the two men. “No one can know I have come but for the clan lords. Our visit must be a secret one. If Gaius Prospero could subvert Vartan’s brother and his wife, who knows what he has promised, and to whom within the population of Outland peoples. The clan families are not very sophisticated, and have no real idea how guileful Hetarians can be. I will not be responsible for endangering Terah. It is my hope that Hetar will never know what exists on the other side of the Sea of Sagitta. I fear for us all if they learn. And worse, if they discovered the Obscura we would certainly not be safe,” she concluded.

“You do not want to see your children?” Kaliq asked her curious.

“I will see them once they are safe again,” Lara replied. “I will reveal myself only to the clan lords, but first to Rendor of the Felan. He will tell me what has happened in the year I have been gone. We must seek his wisdom before we speak with the others.”

“Aye,” Kaliq said, “I agree that would be the best course.”

“Rendor,” Magnus said slowly. “He was the lord chosen to replace Vartan as head of the High Council?”

“Yes,” Lara responded. “Roan of the Aghy desired the position, but we convinced him to marshal a military force for the Outlands. Rendor has a cool head, but Roan is as hot-tempered as his red hair indicates. If it had been necessary to treat with Hetar he could not have done it. Ordinarily he is a peaceful man, but not when his people or his horses are threatened,” she explained with a small smile.

“Did he desire you?” Magnus asked.

“Of course,” Lara answered. “But I never desired him, my lord Dominus.”

“Do all men who see you desire you?” Magnus demanded.

Before she might answer Kaliq spoke up. “Men, mortal and otherwise, will always desire Lara,” he said quietly. “But if she pledges herself to you, Magnus Hauk, she will be both loyal and true to you. So you need never ask her such a question again.”

Lara put a hand on the Dominus’s hand, and looked into his face. “I am yours,” she told him. “Never doubt me.”

“I am the Dominus of Terah, descended from a royal line. I am powerful, and I am obeyed. Yet having captured my heart, Lara, you rule me, and sometimes I am afraid,” he admitted in a moment of great candor.

“I have said I am yours, Magnus, but I have not heard a similar declaration from you. Perhaps it is I who should be fearful,” Lara told him.

Kaliq marveled at her. She was an amazing woman. But though she might believe rescuing the Outlands was her total destiny, it was not. There was much more to come, and she would one day be more powerful than she could ever imagine.

“I love you!” the Dominus said. “I am yours! Have I reassured your faerie heart, Lara? Can you believe we are meant to be together?”

“Yes,” she said simply.

“Then let us decide when it is we will go to the Outlands,” the Dominus replied.

“Let me meet with Rendor of the Felan first,” Kaliq suggested. “I will tell him nothing more than that you wish to speak with him privately, and that he must say nothing of it to anyone else. I will explain I fear for spies, possibly even among his own.”

Lara nodded. “Yes, that would be best,” she agreed. “And I do not have to call you again? You will return tomorrow on your own?”

“I will appear in this very chamber tomorrow night at this same hour,” Kaliq said, and as he spoke he began to fade away into the shadows until he was no longer there.

“Now that is a talent I should like to learn,” Magnus Hauk said to Lara, and she laughed.

KALIQ, PRINCE OF SHADOWS, met with Rendor of the Felan on the dream plane.

“Why do you disturb my rest?” the lord of the Outlands High Council asked him.

“Because here I know we two are safe from being overheard,” Kaliq responded. “There is great danger ahead, Rendor, but the Outland peoples can be spared. Lara wishes to speak with you before the Gathering. If all goes well then she will appear to the clan lords only at the Gathering. Her presence must remain a secret.”

“There have been rumors from the Coastal Kings that Lara is dead,” Rendor replied, “but frankly I never believed it. I do not trust Archeron’s son.”

“You are wise not to trust him, for he lies, and he has betrayed his father,” Kaliq replied. “Come the spring he will allow the mercenary army of Hetar to invade the Outlands through the Coastal province. Lara can save you if you will let her. What say you, Rendor of the Felan?”

“Of course I will speak with her!” Rendor exclaimed. “Lara is the true leader of the Outland clan families. Is she all right? And where is she?”

Kaliq chortled, amused, but then he said, “Lara crossed the Sea of Sagitta to its other side. There exists a land called Terah. It is ruled by the Dominus. Lara will soon be his wife. Her magic has increased greatly and she has the loyalty of the Terahns, for she has lifted a terrible curse from them. Have you a place within your house where we will not be seen by prying eyes? And a time when you will not be disturbed?”

Rendor considered. Then he said, “The safest place would be the cellar of my house. There is an interior room there where we store vegetables in the winter months. If we met in the middle of the night it is unlikely anyone would disturb us, my lord Prince. How soon can we meet?”

“Tomorrow night, Rendor, for time is of the essence in this matter,” Kaliq responded. “Fix the time for the first hour after midnight. We will be awaiting you.”

“Agreed,” Rendor said, and then he awoke to see the dawn beginning to break outside of his windows. Beside him Rahil snored comfortably. Rendor of the Felan lay upon his back, and considered if his dream had been real, or if he had imagined it. Well, he thought to himself, I shall know in the hour after midnight, but instinct told him the dream had been a truth. Because of the power of the Shadow Princes they had all forgotten that the Outlands were in grave danger. Something was changing, something important.

He arose from his bed and went about his duties, and the day that followed seemed unusually long. He mediated a dispute between two of his shepherds that could have erupted into a serious matter. He inspected the sheep that they would take to the Gathering to sell, animals now too old for breeding but acceptable for eating, or for their wool. Rahil noticed his restlessness and inquired upon it, but he assured her that all was well. He was simply anxious to set out for the Gathering. She accepted his explanation with a smile and a nod, but he knew she did not believe him. Still, Rahil did know that when he wanted to speak he would speak, and so she let the matter rest.

When the evening meal was over and the board cleared away, Rendor remained by the fire as was his custom. Rahil sat across from him at her loom, weaving. Finally she arose, kissed him, and bid him good-night. She knew her husband’s custom was to remain in his hall alone before he made his final rounds to be certain all was secure. If he desired pleasures from her he awakened her when he came to their bed. Rendor dozed lightly, but then with the discipline that was his he woke himself at the proper time. Rising he made his way through the house, making certain all was locked and barred, snuffing the lights, banking the fire. And when he had completed his rounds he took a small lamp, and made his way down into his cellar, remembering to close the door behind him. The cellar was cool, and the earth beneath his feet had a dampness that seemed to seep through the soles of his boots. As he approached the small enclosed chamber he saw a light flickering from beneath the door. Opening it he stepped into the room. Kaliq and Lara stood there, glowing in the darkness of the root cellar.

“Rendor!” Lara came forward, put her arms about him and kissed his cheeks.

“You are not dead!” Rendor said, his voice openly relieved.

She laughed. “No, old friend, I am not dead. Is that what is believed of me?”

“Rumors from the Coastal Kingdom,” he said. “Faint, but perceptible.”

“Arcas has no subtlety,” Lara remarked. “Kaliq tells me Archeron is being slowly poisoned.”

“I did not know that,” Rendor answered her, turning to glare at Kaliq.

The Shadow Prince shrugged. “What could you do to help? You will soon learn you have troubles of your own.”

“Could you not save him?” Rendor asked. “He is our friend.”

“You really should,” Lara agreed. “Archeron is the only one of the Coastal Kings who can hold the province together. Arcas is ambitious only for himself. He will reveal their secret even without meaning to, ruining the balance of trade, and then Terah will be endangered as well. Move him to your palace before it is too late, Kaliq.”

“Very well,” the prince agreed. “I will leave you here with Rendor while I complete the task. My powers can only do so much from a distance these days.” And then he was gone.

Rendor turned back to Lara, and suddenly realized another man, a very large man, was now standing by her side. Before he might speak, Lara did.