“Look at the tassels on the pillows,” they heard Lady Paulina exclaim to the Dominus as she climbed into the transport. “Do you think the jewels are real? Caddie, we must have a litter like this made for ourselves when we get home. Our litters are too plain by far. What will Vaclar’s bride think of us with such ordinary litters?”

They did not hear Cadarn’s reply, and Lara was more interested in the four young men who bore each litter. They were identical in face and form. “Are you brothers?” she inquired of them.

The men nodded in reply. Then they all opened their mouths to reveal they had no tongues and could not speak.

Lara saw their plight then asked, “Magic effected this perfection you all bear. Did it also take your tongues and with it your power of speech?”

Again the bearers nodded in unison.

“Are you well treated otherwise?” Lara wanted to know.

They nodded.

“Then I shall restore your ability to communicate without anyone realizing that you can,” she said. Hear my voice this very day. Hear what all your brothers say. Speak to them within your head. This is magic you need not dread.

A look of wonder suddenly lit the eight bearers faces, and Lara smiled.

“Take us to the wedding now. You will be able to speak with each other in this manner from this moment on. Those who rendered you voiceless will never know you have the power to communicate again,” she told them. Then Lara climbed into the litter.

Thank you, faerie woman! Thank you! one of the bearers said.

You are welcome, my friends, Lara said. She moved slightly to accommodate Kaliq, who had climbed in beside her. “How barbaric to take their tongues from them so they could not tell of the magic that made them identical. Some bad faerie did this. I hope it was not one of our forest folk. I will have Mother investigate.”

“And how Hetarian of the Lord High Ruler to have handsome identical bearers for his litters. I wonder how many more of them there are,” Kaliq wondered. “No matter. I have enabled any unknown to us to have the gift of mind speak. I will tell these bearers, and they can bring the news to the others.”

They felt their litter lifted up, and the bearers set off at a swift trot across the green park that was the Golden District. Looking at Lara in her green gown, Kaliq felt a surge of desire and was startled to find her gaze on him. Closing his bright blue eyes, he began to imagine them making love within the litter. Catching his thoughts, Lara joined hers to his. They were naked, lying stretched out against the soft golden leather of the interior of the litter. He sat propped up by the many pillows, his great cock filling her as she sat facing him, her arms entwined about his neck, her breasts pushing against his chest. They moved together in perfect rhythm as the litter jogged along. And then their passions peaked simultaneously. They sighed, and opened their eyes, smiling at each other.

“That was delicious,” Lara murmured to him, laying her head upon his shoulder.

“An appetizer for later when we have returned to Shunnar, and I may spend hours enjoying your beautiful body, your sweet lips, Lara, my love,” Kaliq told her.

“If mortals knew all the things we could do they would be so envious,” Lara chuckled mischievously. “Their perceptions of magic are far too simple.”

They felt the tempo of the bearers slowing down and, looking through the sheer draperies, saw they were coming up a curved driveway. On either side of the path great tall bushes filled with round, deep pink flowers lined the way. Then suddenly a view of Grugyn Ahasferus’s home was revealed to them. A low two stories, constructed of cream-colored marble, and generously colonnaded, it had two wings separated by a third single-storied section. Its exterior was almost as magnificent as the palace, but Lara wagered with herself the interior would be far more glorious. As long as the Ahasferus family was wise enough not to display their great wealth too publicly they were safe from Palben’s wrath. No one but those few invited into both homes would ever be able to compare the two. And they would not dare to do so if they valued their lives.

The litter came to a stop and was set down gently. Kaliq emerged, holding his hand out to Lara, who then stepped forth. Tell any others who have been afflicted as you have in the service of your masters that they can now use the mindspeak of the magic world, my friend, Kaliq told one of the bearers.

There is no way in which we can thank you for this gift, my lord, the bearer said with tears in his eyes.

Fight the darkness that will soon come with good, Kaliq replied and then he turned to escort Lara into the great mansion of Grugyn Ahasferus.

The master of the house and his wife, Lady Camilla, having been advised of these most important guests, were awaiting them in the entry rotunda of the house. Cadarn had wisely waited for Lara and Kaliq despite his wife’s insistence they go ahead. Lara nodded her approval to her great-grandson as they passed him by to meet Grugyn Ahasferus and his lady.

“We are honored by your presence, Prince Kaliq of the Shadows,” the patriarch of the family said, bowing. “And by yours, as well, my lady Lara. I remember my grandfather, Cuthbert, speaking of you when I was a child. May I present my wife, Camilla, whose line of descent is through the eldest daughter of Sir Rupert Bloodaxe, who fathered your late son-in-law, Jonah,” Grugyn Ahasferus explained.

Lara bowed slightly in recognition of his greeting. “Faerie blessings on your house this day, Grugyn Ahasferus,” she said to him.

“We much admire your son, lady,” he responded.

Lara smiled slightly. “Kolgrim is an interesting young man, well not really so young for he passed the century mark several years ago.”

Lady Camilla paled. “He is old? But he looks no more than a man of thirty.”

“His vanity would revel in your words, lady,” Lara told her. “Twilight Lords age far more slowly than do mortals. But my son will keep your granddaughter young as long as she amuses him.” Her words were cruel, and Lara knew it.

It would not, however, faze Lady Camilla. Tomorrow mattered little to Hetarians. Today and prestige was most important to them; and today Lady Camilla’s granddaughter would wed a powerful magical being who ruled over his own land. No one else in Hetar could say that. She smiled coyly at Prince Kaliq, who kissed her hand. Lady Camilla had heard that Shadow Princes were great lovers. Of course that was legend. Shadow Princes didn’t exist. Magic didn’t exist. At least according to the powers that be. And yet here was a Shadow Lord kissing her hand, and she had just spoken with a faerie woman who was said to exist only in legend, and yet she was real. It promised to be a very wonderful and very exciting day. Lady Camilla focused on greeting the Domina of Terah, who was wearing one of the most beautiful gowns she had ever seen.

The thoughts in her head, so filled with self-importance and misinformation, boggle my mind, Kaliq.

You are harsh in your judgments, my love, he replied. But that is because you are angry with what is happening. Do not be, Lara. We have done our best for Hetar. We can do no more, and so we will move on to new pastures and new adventures.

Then let us go now, Kaliq! I cannot watch this travesty.

Nay, we must yet remain, he told her. Our task here is not quite finished. Today you will give Kolgrim what he has always wanted of you. Your love and your approval. In doing so you weaken him, although he will not realize it. It means that one day the light can return to this world. And when it does it will hopefully be a better place.

So in the end I do defeat the darkness, Lara said softly.

Nay, ’twill not be you who defeats it here, Lara, but by giving your love and favor to Kolgrim this day you will set in motion what is to be.

And then what? Lara asked.

And then, my darling, we will ride Dasras together into the Cosmos. There is more, of course, but better you live it than I tell you of what is to come, he said with a smile, his blue eyes twinkling at her for he knew what she would say next.

You know I hate mysteries, Kaliq! Lara said, and Kaliq laughed aloud.

“Mother!”

“Marzina! What are you doing here?” Lara wanted to know.

“Kolgrim wanted me to come, and frankly I couldn’t resist. The forest is almost emptied out of all of our race. Grandmother and Thanos will be the last to go, for they are so responsible. And I think Grandmother is sorrowing a little over Hetar. Dillon has offered them a permanent refuge on Beltran if they want it. I must admit the forests there are magnificent, but Grandmother is not ready to settle herself just yet,” Marzina said. “I love your gown, Mother! The green is wonderful and exactly like the White Oak leaves of spring in the forest. Hello, Kaliq.”

“Marzina,” he said, amused by her chatter.

“I do not know if I want you to become so friendly with Kolgrim,” Lara said to her youngest daughter.

“Why not? He is my brother after all. Not half brother, but my brother,” Marzina said meaningfully.

Lara sighed. “If I could have prevented it, you would have never known that, my daughter. And Kolgrim is evil as he was meant to be. When your grandparents leave the forest I want you to go with them, Marzina.”

“You cannot plan my fate, Mother, as you could not plan that of your other offspring. Dillon went to Belmair. Anoush returned to the Fiacre clan family where she felt happier. Zagiri defied you, ran away and married the man she loved. Taj listened more to others than to you. He committed the worst sin of all by marginalizing you, Mother. I have my own destiny to follow, and I will.”

“And just what is your destiny?” Lara wanted to know.

“I have absolutely no idea. I simply listen to the voice within, who guides me even as Ethne sometimes guides you,” Marzina said airily. “Whatever my destiny is I am not afraid of it. Unlike you, I like enigmas.” And she laughed her tinkling laughter.

“This is your brother’s wedding day,” Lara said, “and so you and I shall not quarrel, Marzina. But you must leave Hetar with the others.”

Marzina, her violet eyes dancing with merriment, kissed her mother’s cheek. “Have you seen all the handsome young men here today? I am in the mood to take pleasures with several of them.”

Kaliq chuckled. “You are a naughty faerie maid,” he teased her. “Try not to break too many hearts today, Marzina.”

“Mother!” Kolgrim strode forward. Garbed in black silk decorated with silver, he was very handsome. He kissed her on both cheeks. “Thank you for coming.”

“I always attend my sons’ weddings,” Lara said. “My daughters either run away, or stay unmarried.”

“Marzina is too beautiful to marry,” Kolgrim said. “I shall build her a House of Men in the Dark Lands next to my House of Women. She may keep her male concubines there for pleasures.”

“What a grand idea!” Marzina said, clapping her hands. “You are the best brother any girl could have!” She threw her arms about him so she might hug and kiss him.

Lara felt an icy ripple race down her spine. Marzina was the most reckless of all her children. That, she supposed, was Kol’s doing. But her daughter must not ally herself with Kolgrim. He was a fascinating man to be sure, but he must not take Marzina with him into the darkness. He mustn’t!

“I have a favor to ask of you, Mother,” Kolgrim said.

“What is it?” Lara inquired of him. He wanted a favor from her? Curious.

“Marzina has already agreed to stand with me, but I would have you, too.”

Lara’s first instinct was to say no. But then she heard Ethne, her guardian spirit, speaking to her. Only Lara could hear her when she spoke.

Say yes, my child! Ethne’s voice was most plain.

Why? Lara asked surprised.

Because it is important to him, and it is important for you to do so, Ethne said. Trust me, my child, as you always have. The crystal star on the end of the chain about her neck glowed with its golden light.

Has Kolgrim bewitched you, Ethne?

Nay, my child, he has not the power for that. Now tell him aye.

“I will stand by your side, Kolgrim,” Lara told the Twilight Lord.

His handsome face mirrored his delight at her words. “Then you do love me!” he said excitedly! “Sometimes I speak with Kolbein in his imprisonment. He says you will never love me, but you do. You do!”

“Do not press your good fortune, Kolgrim,” Lara said tartly. “I will stand by your side, and gladly give you to Nyura, but I have said naught of love.”