“You would not have come today, nor would you stand by my side if you did not love me,” the Twilight Lord insisted.

Lara said nothing more. She did not wish to quarrel with him, and she wondered to herself if she did indeed have some tender maternal emotion where Kolgrim was concerned. He was after all flesh of her flesh. She was surprised that he cared if she loved him or not. And then she considered that, like her, he had a tiny drop of mortal blood within him. Perhaps that was why it meant so much to him that she love him.

“You look beautiful today, Mother. Every inch the forest faerie,” he complimented her.

“Thank you,” Lara replied. How odd this all was. It was almost as if it were a normal day and a normal wedding of a normal couple. She would have never considered that one day she would stand publicly by Kolgrim’s side, admitting to any who asked or saw them that he was her son. But then, it didn’t matter any longer. Those from whom she had hidden this truth were long dead, and Hetar was doomed. After today it was unlikely she would see Kolgrim again. “Does your father still live?” she asked him.

“Do you care?” he countered.

“Nay,” she admitted candidly. “’Twas just curiosity.”

“He yet lives,” Kolgrim told her. “Shall I tell him you asked?”

Lara laughed wryly. “It pleases you to taunt him, doesn’t it?” she said.

“He abandoned us even as you did,” Kolgrim said.

“He didn’t abandon you. He was imprisoned for violating the laws of the Dream Plain,” Lara said. “You know that, Kolgrim. Alfrigg saved you and your twin by placing you with Dark Land families who knew nothing of your birthright so they could not use you. Nor could anyone else. This is ancient history. You are the Twilight Lord.”

“And now I am about to conquer the world of Hetar,” Kolgrim said. “Look about you, Mother, at these mortals who drink and jest and believe everything is as it has always been, who think it will always be this way, that nothing will change. Neither Palben nor Cadarn would listen to you when you warned them, would they?” He laughed darkly.

“They deserve well what I will bring them. Even now in the Purple Mountains, a volcano, so long dormant that no one remembers it once existed, bubbles, preparing to erupt. And it will tonight at the very moment I gain first pleasures from my bride. It will do quite a bit of damage, wiping out towns that once belonged to the Piaras and Tormod Clan families along with several large vineyards planted on the mountainsides. It will set the forests there afire, and many lives will be lost.”

“You can stop it,” Lara said to him.

“Actually I cannot,” he said. “I haven’t quite gotten complete control of the natural forces belonging to this world. I will eventually gain a mastery of it all.”

“He did not set this into motion himself, Lara,” Kaliq said, “even if he will enjoy it and use it to his own advantage,” the Shadow Prince told her.

At that moment a servant came to tell them that Kolgrim was needed with his family to stand upon the dais that had been set up in the center of the rotunda. Nyura was about to make her entrance with her family. The many guests were seating themselves on either side of the aisles that had been formed with curved removable benches. Kaliq found a place on an edge near the front as Lara and Marzina followed Kolgrim and the servant to their designated place. The hall grew silent. Lara thought how beautiful it all was as she stood upon the dais, looking out over the hall and all the guests. Sunlight poured in through the open dome of the rotunda turning the space into a golden chamber. All around the circular space footed urns rose up, each holding large white wicker baskets of colorful blooms. Beyond the rotunda was a great dining hall where they would all adjourn after the ceremony. Two liveried serving men already stood before it, awaiting a signal to open the twin bronze doors. Marzina reached out to take her hand, and Lara squeezed the hand in hers.

A flourish of trumpets announced the arrival of the bride and her family. They advanced down the long aisle centered on the dais. The bride was extremely beautiful. She was clothed in a long, fitted cream silk gown, the skirt of which ended in a long train edged in gold lace. The neckline of the gown was round, its bodice sewn with tiny clear crystal beads and pearls. The long fitted sleeves came to a point at the end of her delicate wrists where they met her slender hands. Her pale red-gold hair flowed loose, and her head was topped with a delicate low white-gold tiara set with diamonds.

The bridal party was preceded by a troupe of musicians playing upon reed instruments, small drums and bells. These were followed by a group of slender young dancers-both male and female-in little silk gauze garments that left nothing to the imagination, who pranced and gamboled before Nyura and her family, flinging rose petals and fragrant violets as they came. The bride carried a basket of woven gold containing samples of all the wealth she would bring to her husband. It was filled with gold and silver coins, pearls, gemstones, pieces of different fabric and a parchment scroll listing all the land, livestock and slaves belonging to the bride. She carried it proudly, and Lara saw she noted quite clearly the envy of certain of her guests as she passed by them.

Beauty, and the untried powers Kolgrim needed. And Lara suspected the girl was intelligent. She would have to be to have listened to the shade of Ulla and kept herself pure for her husband. A virginal bride in Hetar was unique for the need for pleasures was ingrained in them. At the age of fourteen many Hetarian girls felt desire rising in them, and became sexually active. Others began earlier, but by sixteen when they were ready for marriage Hetarian girls were thoroughly experienced in passion. Oddly, young Hetarian men did not become active until they were sixteen or seventeen.

Pleasure Houses peopled by male slaves and catering to young women had become quite popular in The City. Parties were held in these houses by many parents for their daughters. At any time there was certain to be one or two male sex slaves who became particularly popular. Being deflowered by one of these slave men brought a girl great prestige. Consequently their services were considerably more costly than the other male sex slaves. Nyura, however, had proved the exception.

The bride had now reached the dais with her parents and grandparents. As marriage in Hetar was a business transaction, the ceremony would be presided over by Grugyn Ahasferus himself. Dressed in burgundy silk trimmed with black ebony beads and gold embroidery, he stepped up onto the dais, turned and looked about.

“We have come today to unite my granddaughter Nyura, daughter of my son Zenas, to Kolgrim the Twilight Lord, son of Kol,” he said in solemn tones. “Is there anyone present who would object to this union? Speak now or accept what is to be.” Grugyn Ahasferus’s gaze swept the hall, although he did not expect any objection to this union. Satisfied that all would proceed as planned, he now said, “I speak for the family Ahasferus. We give this maiden in marriage to Kolgrim.” He drew the bride onto the dais and took her hand to hold out.

Lara and Marzina spoke in unison. “We speak for the family of Kol. We give this man in marriage to the maiden Nyura.” Lara drew Kolgrim up onto the dais and, taking his hand in hers, put it into Nyura’s hand.

Grugyn Ahasferus nodded, pleased. He put his two hands over the clasped hands of the bride and the groom. “Then it is done. Kolgrim and Nyura are united in marriage.”

A mighty cheer arose from the guests in the rotunda. The banquet and day-long entertainments would follow until night fell, and the defloration ceremony was performed. Only then would the day be over. The avenue outside of the Golden District had been closed off to all but foot traffic this day. The family Ahasferus had provided a generous feast of meat, bread, frine, sweet cakes and even Razi, a narcotic drink that was so popular in Hetar. All the citizens of The City were invited to partake, and they came.

The main wedding banquet would not be served until late afternoon. Until then wine and light refreshments were brought forth for the guests to enjoy. In several chambers off the rotunda entertainments were set up. There were musicians and dancers, and in part of the garden a small circus performed. One chamber was devoted to any gentleman who wished to avail himself of a Pleasure Woman. In another chamber there were male sex slaves for the ladies. There was little privacy in these rooms, but the guests did not care. They were filled with wine, and they could enjoy pleasures for free with some of the most skilled Pleasure Women and male sex slaves in The City. A scream of agony brought the guests hurrying to an open chamber where unfortunate slaves had been chosen to be beaten until they died.

Kolgrim and his lovely bride delivered the first cruel blows. They taunted one another as to who could deliver the most brutal smacks. On the edge of the crowd Lara overheard two women gossiping.

“I’ve heard that the servants in her father’s house are quite terrified of her,” one matron said low to another. “She is said to quite enjoy whipping any who offend her, and has become expert at it.”

The other matron nodded. “Grugyn quite indulges her for she is his favorite, I’m told, and asked for this entertainment in particular. Have you placed your wager on which one will die first yet?”

“Oh I have. I think the man with the bald head will last longer than the other fellow.”

Lara was horrified by what was now considered entertainment in Hetar, but more so by the fact Nyura apparently had a vicious streak. Aye, she was the perfect bride for Kolgrim, and she regretted more than ever being cajoled into taking part in this travesty.

I want to leave now, she said to Kaliq, who was suddenly by her side.

You cannot, he told her. It would reflect badly upon you to do so.

Did you see what they are doing? They are beating two poor slaves to death, and they consider it entertainment, Kaliq! I cannot believe they have come to this!

I have taken care of it, my love, he told her. I have transported the spirits of both slaves to a safe place until it is time for them to perish. The bodies hanging between the whipping posts will bleed and struggle. They will scream, and the wedding guests will be content that they are suffering enough, but the two slaves now feel nothing more. Come away now, and do not distress yourself. The gardens here are beautiful, and quite empty right now. Let us go outside, and away from the crowd.

Aye, the scent of blood in my nostrils is making me quite ill, Lara told him, clinging to his arm. They exited the rotunda, walking down a hallway and out into the lush gardens of Grugyn Ahasferus. There is too much wickedness here, Kaliq. I swear that it is weakening me.

It is not just this house, but all of Hetar now, my love, Kaliq told her.

They found a marble bench in a part of the garden distant from the house. There were several tall trees and rosebushes about them. They sat quietly in the sweet air as birds sang around them, and colorful butterflies flittered back and forth. Lara sighed and rested her head on Kaliq’s strong shoulder. They remained that way for some time in the fragrant quiet, the sounds of revelry from the house quite distant.

But then a servant hurried toward them. He bowed. “My master asks that you join the bridal party at the High Board, my lord, my lady.”

“We will come at once,” Kaliq said, smiling at the servant. He stood up, drawing Lara with him. “Come, my darling. This day will be over soon, and we may return home to Shunnar.” Then he led her through the gardens back to the great mansion as the servant hurried ahead of them.

The rotunda was empty as they walked through it, following the liveried man into a Great Hall and to the High Board at the far end of the room. The hall, like the house, was marble. The painted ceiling was held up by a colonnade of slender pillars that encircled the entire hall. Beyond the hall were floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out upon the parkland of the Golden District. The High Board was set with a large white linen cloth and several gold candelabra. The table settings were all gold. The goblets crystal, rimmed in gold.

“Ahh, my dear lady Lara, my lord Kaliq,” their host greeted them. “Please sit yourselves next to the bridal couple,” he invited them, smiling broadly. “What a happy day for us all, is it not?” But he didn’t wait for Lara to answer him, turning instead to the Dominus Cadarn, who sat on the other side of Lady Camilla.