Shifra went immediately to Gaius Prospero and settled herself in his lap. Instinctively he put his arms about her and kissed her lips. “My dearest lord and husband, Lord Jonah’s wife has come to speak with me this day. Her words are wise and in the best interests of Hetar, I am absolutely convinced. You must hear her out, for my sake. For the sake of any children I may be fortunate enough to bear you,” Shifra said.

“You know I will do whatever pleases you, my dove,” the emperor murmured, kissing her ripe lips again. Then reluctantly he turned his gaze to Vilia. “You have my ear,” he told her. “Say what you need to say.”

Vilia spoke in quiet but urgent tones, telling Gaius Prospero of Terah’s offer; explaining the great dangers that Hetar faced, for until now the emperor had refused to believe the Wolfyn were anything more than just raiders. Even the frantic Squire Darah had been unable to convince him of the peril that they all faced. Besotted by his wife and drunk much of the time now with Razi, Gaius Prospero had almost lost his grip upon reality. The loss of his ships, of half of his armies and now the prospect of a terrible future had turned the once powerful, ambitious ruler into a weak and frightened man.

But this day he had not yet begun to drink and Shifra was imploring him to heed Vilia’s words. Like Jonah, he was astounded that Terah would offer their help, that the magic folk would aid him. The news encouraged him and the old Gaius Prospero suddenly reappeared from the wreckage. “Do you trust them?” he asked Vilia.

“I do trust them, my lord emperor,” Vilia told him.

“The faerie woman hates me,” Gaius Prospero said. “Why would she help us?”

“Oh, indeed, my lord, the lady Lara thinks you are no better than the sickly green-black scum that coats a backwater pond, but while she is Domina of Terah, she retains a fondness for her native land. If Hetar falls, Terah will be the Twilight Lord’s next target,” Vilia explained. “This Lord Kol means to have us all under his thumb. He means to spread his darkness all throughout our worlds. As he has chosen Hetar to attack first, it is only logical that our combined forces stop him here.”

“But to want nothing in return,” Gaius Prospero mused.

“They want to be left in peace by Hetar,” Shifra said quietly to her husband. “Does that not mean you have successfully ended their threat toward us? The people will be very pleased by this knowledge, my darling Gaius, but it can only happen if you give the order that will combine our Hetarian forces with those of the Terahns and the magic kingdoms, my dearest lord. Those dreadful Wolfyn are at our gates, and it is said they ravish all females-old and young, high and low-that they encounter when they conquer a place. The most beautiful are passed about so all might partake of them,” Shifra told him with a visible shudder. “We have not much time in which to act.”

Gaius Prospero had viewed the Wolfyn from the heights of The City’s walls. Their fierce wolf heads set upon the bodies of mortal men frightened him just looking at them. The thought of them mounting and ravaging his perfect young empress terrified him. “I will agree,” he said. “Tell the Dominus Magnus Hauk and his allies that I agree to their proposals. Lord Jonah will act as my intermediary.” He waved his hand at Vilia. “Go quickly, woman! Go!”

“I must have something written in your hand,” Vilia told him. “You know Jonah is a stickler for protocol.”

Shifra leaned from her husband’s lap and drew a thin sheet of vellum from a basket on the emperor’s desk. Then taking up the quill she inked it and wrote, Hetar’s glorious emperor, Gaius Prospero I, gives permission to his right hand, Lord Jonah, to join Hetar’s forces with those of the Dominus of Terah, Magnus Hauk, for the sole purpose of defeating the forces of Kol, the Twilight Lord. This is done in the name of the people of Terah, and with the blessing of the Celestial Actuary. She then handed the quill to her husband, who reaching around her signed, Gaius Prospero I, Emperor of Hetar. Then he dripped a bit of sealing wax from a pot onto the document and pressed his seal of office into the wax, making a clear impression.

Vilia reached out and dusted the parchment with sand. Then she rolled it tightly and bowed low to the imperial couple. “Thank you, my lord emperor, my lady empress. Long live Hetar!” Then although she had not been given any instructions her own instinct told her to call out, “My lady Lara, I am ready to return.” And sure enough she found herself suddenly in the chamber at Lady Gillian’s house where her husband and the others were awaiting her. She handed Jonah the rolled document. “His permission in writing!” she said triumphantly.

Jonah unrolled the parchment and read it quickly before handing it to Magnus Hauk. “Now, my lord,” he said, “what do we do?”

The Dominus read the emperor’s permission, then handed it to Lara.

She nodded. “Now,” she said, “we begin to even the odds that have been against us. I will go to King Archeron and the remaining commanders of the Crusader Knights in the Coastal Kingdom to prepare for the transfer and division of our forces.”

“And I will return to Terah to marshal our army,” the Dominus said.

“What are we to do?” Jonah demanded to know.

“You will come with me,” Lara told him, “so the commanders know what is being done is not a trick but on the emperor’s orders.”

He looked askance. “I am safe with you?” he demanded rudely.

“My lord, my powers over the years have grown greatly, and if I wanted to turn you into dust I should have done it long since. You are not worth my time. Aye, you are safe with me. It is my mother you have to fear. Her patience with mortals is not great.” And Lara laughed as Lord Jonah paled briefly. She turned to her husband. “Are you ready, my lord?” And when he nodded with a small smile at her she waved her hand over him and he was gone.

“Will we be safe while you are gone?” Lady Gillian asked Lara.

“Remember that Prince Kaliq has put a spell about The City walls that will keep the Wolfyn out until we are prepared to act,” Lara assured her. She looked to Jonah. “Now if you are ready, my lord,” she said and before he might answer Lara swirled a mauve mist about them and when it evaporated they were gone.

“Stay with me at least for the night,” Lady Gillian invited Lady Vilia. “The streets are dangerous in the best of times now and it is growing dark. You will be safe here. The Domina has said we are safe.”

“Perhaps I will,” Vilia returned. “I am alone in my own home but for the servants and many of them have gone into hiding. Servants are not as loyal as they once were, I fear,” she complained with a sigh.

“Nothing is as it was,” Lady Gillian replied. “Once everyone had a place here in Hetar, and everyone knew their place. We had prosperity and order. I am still trying to figure out what happened to bring us to such a pass as we now face.”

“Greed for more and more,” Vilia replied. “Too much prosperity being shared by fewer and fewer of our people. If a person’s belly is full and they are useful, they are content. But when the people grow hungry and are idle, that is when trouble ensues. That is why the emperor shipped so many of our poor to the Outlands so they might be useful again.”

Gillian laughed dryly. “The poor in the Outland province may have been put to labor, Vilia, but they are still hungry and unhappy. The magnates work them to death because there are always more of them to be used. But one day it will not be so. Then what shall we do? Whoever seeks to rule Hetar will have to solve all the problems that these past years have caused.”

“And what do you favor?” Vilia asked slyly. “Shall we return to the old days of the High Council and no single head? Or shall we retain the imperial rule begun by my former husband?”

“I have not yet decided,” Gillian replied. “But I do believe Lara is correct when she says that it is time women made up at least half the ruling body, whatever it is. Our population is now more women than men because of all the turmoil Gaius Prospero has caused us. We should have a say in those things affecting our lives. Our voices should be heard and our wishes should count for something, Vilia. Present whatever face you wish to present to your husband and to others, but speak the truth to me.”

Vilia was silent for a long few minutes, and then she said, “What if a woman ruled Hetar, Gillian? Not from behind the throne, but on the throne?”

“It is an interesting concept,” Lady Gillian said slowly. “But I think it too soon, Vilia. First we must make our voices heard within the High Council. That will shock enough people as it is, but once they are used to it, then aye!” She chuckled. “I wonder what your mother-in-law would think of these thoughts you harbor.”

“Farah? Pah!” Vilia said scornfully. “She gave no real thought to Jonah until she saw him rising to power. When his father’s widow sold him into slavery as a boy she might have bought him herself and rescued him. But she did not. Her only concern is for her own prestige. I personally question whether she will be a good headmistress of the Pleasure Guilds, but then of course time will tell. Why did you retire? You are yet young enough to manage the responsibilities.”

“No headmistress may serve more than three ten-year terms. I had served my time and under the law I had to retire,” Gillian said. “Besides, I am not unhappy to be free of the burden of management.”

Vilia nodded and then she said, “I hope Jonah is all right. He has never been comfortable with magic. And I think the Domina frightens him although he would never say it. She is not the girl she once was, is she?”

“Your husband will be fine with Lara,” Gillian assured Vilia. “They will even now be speaking with the surviving commanders of the Crusader Knights.”

And Gillian was correct. Lara and Lord Jonah had appeared in King Archeron’s hall in a swirl of smoke. Everyone had been startled but Archeron had stood up smiling.

“Greetings, Lara, Domina of Terah,” he said, coming from his high board to take up her hands and kiss them. His curious glance went to her companion. “Lord Jonah, I bid you welcome, too,” he said.

The Crusader Knights and their commanders in Archeron’s hall looked uncomfortable. John Swiftsword stared at his daughter as if she were a total stranger.

“Greetings, my lord king,” Lara said. “Greetings, my lord commanders of the Crusader Knights. Greetings to all the knights gathered in this chamber tonight.” She did not single out her father. “I have brought Lord Jonah to attest to what is true.” Her gaze swept the hall, commanding their attention. “The Dominus of Terah and the magic kingdoms have offered to aid Hetar in its battle against Kol, the Twilight Lord, whose forces even now assail The City.”

A babble of surprise erupted among those gathered in the hall, but King Archeron signaled for silence so Lara might explain to them.

“While you attempted to invade a peaceful land, a land that has done you no harm, the Twilight Lord has sought to spread his evil and his darkness into Hetar. The Midlands have been ravaged,” she concluded.

“We must return you quickly to Hetar,” Lord Jonah said. “I bring the emperor’s written command. We will join with the forces of Terah to defeat the Twilight Lord.”

“Let me see the document,” the head commander of the Crusader Knights said. When Jonah handed it to him he scanned it carefully.

“It could be a forgery,” an under-commander suggested.

“Nay, it is Gaius Prospero’s signature,” the head commander replied. “I have seen it often enough to know his scrawl.” He turned back to Jonah. “Just what are we facing?” he asked the emperor’s right hand.

To their surprise, Lord Jonah deferred to Lara.

“The Twilight Lord has three groups of allies. We have already convinced the giants who have been serving him to eschew his rule. They will not turn against Hetar. The fiercest of Kol’s warriors are those he has sent to Hetar-the Wolfyn.”

“Wolfyn are naught but a myth to frighten children,” a Crusader Knight said.

“Wolfyn are very real,” Lara told them. “They are creatures with the heads of wolves and the bodies of men. They are savages who kill for the pure joy of it and who enjoy violating mortal women for no other reason than just to hear them scream with terror as they force them to yield pleasures. There is no kindness or pity in them. Kol sends these minions of his darkness to take The City, the heart of Hetar. Take The City and the rest will fall or be taken as the Midlands have been taken. And then Kol will turn his eyes to Terah.

“The emperor realizes that we must stop the Twilight Lord now before he takes The City, before Hetar is lost to Kol. To do that, all of us must band together. Hetar, Terah and the magic kingdoms,” Lara explained. “The Shadow Princes will transport you along with Terahn forces to a position just behind the Wolfyn. They will bring a small number of Terahns into The City to join with those remaining Crusader Knights and Mercenaries who remained in order to protect The City. When all is in readiness, we will have the enemy caught in a pincer movement and together we will crush them.”