“I understand, Mother, and I thank you for this wonderful opportunity,” Marzina said earnestly. “I will not fail you, or my brother.”

“He may need you and your magic one day,” Lara told her youngest born. “Remember that you have an obligation to Terah, the land of your birth. Study hard with your grandmother.” She smoothed a lock of Marzina’s dark hair from her face and sighed. “Go now before I allow my love for you to overrule my common sense,” Lara said, and she struggled to hold back the tears that threatened to well up in her green eyes.

Ilona came forward, kissed Lara upon the cheek and then, putting an arm about her granddaughter, disappeared with them both in a poof of lavender smoke. Goodbye, darling girl, Lara heard her mother call in the silent language of the magic world. A single tear ran down Lara’s cheek. She brushed it away impatiently. Marzina was not a mortal child. She was magic, and it was time she learned how to control her magic and use it for good.

The day after her youngest child had departed Lara took her son with her upon Dasras, and they left for the Temple of the Great Creator where Taj would be officially anointed as Dominus of Terah. Dasras descended several miles from the temple, and galloped the rest of the distance as was his custom. They were greeted at the gates by the High Priest Arik, who was Taj’s great-uncle.

“Welcome, my lord Dominus, my lady Domina,” he said, coming forward smiling. He looked at Lara. “You are well, my daughter?”

She nodded. “I miss him, but aye, I am well. Painful as it is even I know that it is as it should be at this point in time, my lord Arik.”

“The guest house is ready for you,” Arik replied. “Tomorrow at the exact moment of sunrise we will annoint young Taj. Will you stay with us for a few days?”

“Nay, it is our time for the New Outlands, and they are expecting us,” Lara told him. “Changes are coming, my lord, and we need to be ready for them.”

“Is Terah safe?” he asked anxiously.

“To my knowledge for now, aye,” Lara responded. “But you must know that my daughter Zagiri was lured away to Hetar. She has of her own freewill married the Lord High Ruler. They believe it will force us to aid them in any time of trouble.”

“Will it?” Arik queried her.

“I want to say nay, but the truth is I do not know now. I suppose it will depend upon the situation. I am not happy that Zagiri has put Terah in this position, my lord.”

“Nay, you would not be. You refused such a match, did you not?” he said.

Lara nodded. “I did. There is more to this tale than I would tell you, my lord Arik. I know you will trust me to do what is best for Terah, and for my son Taj.”

“I will, Domina. My nephew trusted you, and Magnus was no fool despite his deep love for you,” the High Priest said. “Now I would take my great-nephew from you. He must be bathed, purified and spend the night in prayer and contemplative thought before he is anointed at dawn. Can you find your own way now, Domina? You will find an old friend awaiting you. You and she will be the only females allowed to witness the anointing.” He bowed respectfully to Lara.

“Kemina!” Lara exclaimed. “How wonderful! Aye, I can find my way to the guest house, my lord Arik. I remember it well.” She turned to Taj. “Make your father proud, my son,” she told him, and she kissed him upon his forehead. “Now go with the High Priest while I attend to Dasras, and then find Kemina.”

The young Dominus returned his mother’s kiss, touching her cheek with his cool lips. Then with a small nod of compliance he went off with Arik.

“He wears the mantle of his office well for one so young,” Dasras noted.

“I know,” Lara replied to the great stallion. “Magnus would be pleased to see it.” She took his bridle and led him toward the stables.

“This place makes you sad,” Dasras said softly.

“Magnus brought me here so I might lift the curse of Usi from the priests. I had not been in Terah long. The old High Priest Aslak was both horrified and scandalized by me,” Lara recalled. “When he died in the night I wasn’t so certain the shock of hearing my voice hadn’t killed him. Fortunately Magnus’s uncle had already been chosen his successor. I performed my magic, and the rest you know. Still it has been several years since I last came to the Temple of the Great Creator. And I never come without remembering that first time,” she finished. “Ah, here we are at the stables.”

“Greetings, Domina,” the young priest tending the stables said. “Greetings, Lord Dasras. Your stall awaits you. I have brought a bucket of fresh water from our spring, there is fresh hay and your oats are newly poured. Is there anything else I may do for you?” the priest asked anxiously. He had never before served this magical beast although he had heard of him from others who had.

“My shoulders ache,” Dasras said. “A light massage would be appreciated.”

“Before or after you have eaten?” the priest inquired.

Dasras considered carefully. “After, I think,” he said.

“I will see you on the morrow. Rest well,” Lara told the great beast. Then she hurried off through the temple compound, crossing over the square stones that formed a bridge over the pond leading to the guest house. Stepping up onto the porch of the building, she smiled into the welcoming face of Kemina, High Priestess of the Daughters of the Great Creator, who awaited her in the open door. “Kemina!”

“Domina, it is good to see you again,” Kemina said, embracing the younger woman. “You look well, I am happy to see.”

The two women entered the dwelling. Kemina had brought two young novices with her to serve them. The young women moved silently about, instinctively anticipating the needs of their mistress and her companion. They were in awe of this service, for while they had heard of the faerie woman who had been Magnus Hauk’s wife, they were simple girls from ordinary families who would have never hoped to see let alone meet Lara.

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.