Bertrice Small - Lara

Og turned, surprised to see her. “What has happened?” he asked.

“I said no, and he sent me back,” Lara replied.

Og shook his head. “Was he offended? They are not used to being refused, these Shadow Princes. It is rumored they are the finest lovers on Hetar.”

“I wonder who began such a rumor,” Lara said dryly. “They are the greatest lovers, and the Forest Lords are the oldest and purest clan. I am fast learning to believe only that which can be proven.” She laughed lightly. “You said they leave the option to their partner, Og. I chose not to lie upon my back and spread my legs for this prince. Now I would get out of this gown and into something more practical. I have a pile of mending to do, and we will not be paid unless I sew.”

The giant shook his head. Lara was behaving in a foolish manner. Gaining favor with this prince could certainly improve their living conditions. Her needle and his strong back could not earn them enough to purchase a real tent. The villagers were not rich. He and Lara were just managing to feed themselves with their labor, and a system of barter. But then he considered that the prince had seen what no one else in the Desert had seen-he had seen Lara in all her beauty. One small rebuff would surely not discourage Prince Kaliq. Lara’s resistance was but a minor setback.

Later, as the evening came on, a group of the prince’s servants arrived bearing dishes and platters of the finest foods. There was roasted gazelle, grape leaves stuffed with meat and rice, small flat breads still warm, a bowl of thinly sliced cucumbers in yogurt, a stone jar of honey, a platter of fresh fruits of every kind-even some Og’s memory could not identify-along with a basket of honey cakes and a bowl of sugared almonds. And there was wine! The feast was set without a word on the floor of the tent and the servants quickly departed.

“Come quickly!” Og called to Lara.

She came from her place behind the curtain where she had been sewing in the fading light of the day. Her mouth opened in surprise as she gazed upon the feast before her. “Where has this come from?” she asked him.

“It has surely come from the prince,” Og told her. “There is even wine!”

“I had agreed to remain for the feast if I might take home the leftovers for you,” Lara murmured. “Then he became offended at something I said, and sent me home.”

“What did you say to him?” Og demanded to know. His mouth was watering at the smells of the food. “Sit down-” he gestured at her impatiently “-we can talk while we eat. I did not realize how hungry I was until this all arrived.” He cut several slices of the roasted gazelle, putting it on one of their two wooden plates for her. Then taking up the haunch of the gazelle he began to eat with gusto.

Lara helped herself to two of the stuffed grape leaves, some bread, yogurt and fruit. Then she began to eat, surprised at how hungry she was. They had been starving, especially Og, and she hadn’t even realized it. Lara chewed slowly, lest she get sick with this rich meal Prince Kaliq had sent them.

They ate, and Og listened as Lara recounted every moment of her visit to Prince Kaliq. Finally when she had finished he said to her, “Of course you offended him. The Shadow Princes believe deeply in love, and its many powers. By rejecting love and all it stands for you insulted him.”

“How can I know of this elusive thing you call love?” Lara demanded of him. “My innocence was cruelly taken, and then my body used over and over again by two brutal men who only sought to plant their seed in me in hopes a child of mine might lift a curse placed upon them. A well-deserved curse, I might add. The Forest Lords are proud and stupid and cruel. Do you think they believe in this love? I certainly do not.”

“Love exists,” Og insisted.

“If you know that it is only from your shared memories, not from personal experience,” Lara replied cruelly. “The Forest Lords and their women were hardly kind to you, Og.”

“But I remember my mother, and how she loved me. Loved me enough to escape the carnage that terrible day that I might be born. Loved me enough to protect me as long as she might,” he responded.

“A parent’s love I understand,” Lara agreed, “for my father loved me. But do not tell me there is a different kind of love between a man and a woman. There is only lust, Og. This love the prince believes in does not exist. It never has. It is an illusion.” She reached for a honey cake, and bit into it with relish.

“Some day you will learn differently,” Og told her quietly. He put down the gazelle haunch that he had stripped of its meat to the bone, and picked a small bunch of grapes from the platter for himself.

“I am grateful for Prince Kaliq’s kindness in sending us this fine meal. We must share the honey cakes with Zaki and his family. Some of the fruit, too. Nothing will keep in this heat,” Lara said practically.

Og nodded. “It cannot hurt us to curry favor with the village headman,” he agreed. “But let us eat our fill first, please,” he pleaded.

Lara nodded. “My sweet tooth is not yet satisfied,” she told him, taking a peach.

When they had finished, however, they gathered up the remaining flat bread, the bowl with the cucumbers and yogurt, the dish with the grape leaves, and the one with the honey cakes, along with some of the fruit. They carried it to Zaki’s tent. His family had just sat down to their meal. Zaki was effusive in his thanks even as his younger children eyed the bounty.

“It is most kind, most kind!” he told them.

“The prince sent the food,” Lara said. “We could not eat it all, and are happy to share it with you who have been so kind to us, Zaki.” She bowed to him, and then turning, departed his dwelling.

“Why is she always veiled and muffled in shapeless robes?” Zaki asked Og.

“Because she is so beautiful that the mere sight of her causes conflict and strife,” he told the headman. “She does not wish to be surrounded by contention, and so she covers herself to protect those around her,” Og explained.

“Will she become the prince’s woman?” Zaki asked.

“I do not know,” Og replied. “She does not understand love.”

“If she will let him, he will teach her,” Zaki responded.

“Perhaps,” Og said, and then bowing he departed the headman’s tent to return to his own. He called out to Lara behind her curtain as he entered. “Zaki is delighted with the food. I believe we may have a place here as long as we desire it. But shall we remain forever, Lara?”

“I don’t know,” she replied. “For now, I am content with no demands made upon me but to sew. We will get a better tent soon. The tent maker’s daughter is to be married soon, and will need a proper gown for the occasion. The gown is simple enough, but no one can embroider like I can. These Desert people know nothing of that art.”

“You are clever, and meant for more than you now have,” Og said. “Good night, dearest Lara. May your dreams be happy ones.”

“Good night, my dear Og, protector and best friend,” Lara said. She curled onto the furs, drawing a light coverlet over her. It had been an interesting day. She wondered if Prince Kaliq would call her to his presence again. He was such a beautiful man with his blue eyes and wavy black hair. When he had looked at her she had actually felt a small measure of curiosity; might he possess some magic that would put the warmth back into her soul?

Despite Og’s blessing, her dreams that night were not happy. She dreamed of Enda and Durga ravaging her body, and awakened with a gasp, trembling so violently that it was some time before she was able to regain her composure. Were they looking for her? Would they find her?

Lara reached down for the crystal and saw the flame burning steadily. I can’t go back, she said within her mind.

Do not fear, Ethne’s voice reassured her.

Then why do I dream?

At the moment men are your greatest fear, Lara, but the Forest Lords will not venture far from their trees. You are safe here.

Why do men always want to possess my body, Ethne?

Because it is a beautiful body, and most men believe in love. To love a woman is to possess her body, among other things, Ethne told her.

What other things?

That is for you to learn. Ethne’s laughter tinkled knowingly.

I hate it when you say things like that to me, Lara grumbled. It is all so mysterious, and how am I to learn if you will not teach me?

You must learn from others of your kind, both human and faerie, Ethne told her. It is my task only to guide and protect you.

A Shadow Prince would be my lover, Lara told her guardian.

Ahhh. Ethne’s voice grew soft as if she were remembering something wonderful. He will give you such pleasure, Lara. The Shadow Princes are truly the masters of tender passion and love. There are none like them anywhere but here. How I envy you!

I said no.

Ethne sighed almost irritably. Your experience with passion to date has not been pleasant, I am the first to admit, she said, but you must put it behind you.

I dream of Enda and Durga, of their cruelty and brutality, Lara said.

Foolish girl! Why did you not tell me? Ethne demanded. I can rid you of those dreams. You must think only of this prince who would love you. He will teach you the lessons you must learn in order to move on with your life. Do you think fate has planned for you to sit sewing in a Desert encampment for the rest of your life?

No, Lara said, chastened.

You have a great future, Lara.

What is it? Lara asked her excitedly.

You are not ready yet to know, but you will when the time is right, Ethne replied.

More of your cryptic enigmas, Lara muttered.

Ethne chuckled. You are forever wanting to run before you have learned how to walk, she said. Enjoy the journey, Ethne advised the girl. Learn as much as you can before you reach your destination, my child. Do not waste the opportunities that are being put before you.

If my fate is already planned, I suppose I have no other choice but to go along with it, Lara murmured.

There are always choices. The stratagem is to choose wisely.

I would not have chosen Durga and Enda, Lara replied.

Again Ethne laughed. Yet you have learned from them, my child.

What have I learned from those two? Brutality? Stupidity? Cruelty?

You have learned what love is not, the guardian of the crystal said softly. Now go and learn what it can be.

PRINCE KALIQ rode into the village the next afternoon and he directed his horse to the tiny tent shared by Lara and Og. Lara sat outside beneath an awning, sewing. The giant was nowhere to be seen. The girl looked up at him. He held out his hand. “Come!” he said imperiously reaching down for her.

Lara stood and let herself be swept up onto the prince’s horse. “How masterful you are,” she teased him mischievously.

“I do not know why I want you,” he said. “You look like an old crow in your enveloping black garments. And you are ignorant beyond any I have ever known.” He moved his horse away from the tent and toward the entrance to his palace at the bottom of the cliff.

“You want me because you have seen me without my enveloping garments,” she told him. “And you want me because you desire to teach me your ways,” Lara said. “I am a mystery to you, my lord, am I not?”

“You are not stupid,” he admitted.

“Nay, not stupid, just ignorant,” she mocked him, and he laughed.

“I will probably fall in love with you,” he grumbled, “and you will break my heart, Lara, won’t you?” He guided his mount past the cliff’s entry, and onto the inner road.

“I told you yesterday, my lord, that I do not believe in love. It does not exist. But I am also now informed that for the Shadow Princes love is paramount. If you know that I will break your heart, then it is best you not fall in love with me,” Lara advised him.

“Love is not a logical emotion. It will not obey the science of reason,” Kaliq told her. “That is the first thing you must learn, Lara. Love happens. There is no rationale for it. You cannot control it, or the passions it arouses.”

She was seated before him on his stallion. One arm held her gently but firmly against him. He wore white silk trousers, and an open-necked white silk shirt. About his waist a black sash was wrapped, and his boots were black leather. She found her cheek resting against his bare chest. His skin was smooth, warm, fragrant. “I don’t understand,” Lara told him. “You speak in riddles.”