"Mother, who were those young men?" Marzina wanted to know. "Do you like what Grandmother's taught me? I wrote the spell myself."

"You should have warned me that you were coming, Marzina," Lara said, taking a long, slow breath to calm her beating heart. "And you should never transport yourself into this chamber. You know it is for my magic."

"But who were those two men?" Marzina repeated. "Their faces were the same, but one had golden hair like you while the other was dark haired."

"Prince Kaliq sent them to me to answer some questions," Lara lied. "There are problems in Hetar of late."

"The Hierarch, I know," Marzina said. "It's all over the Forest Kingdom. Our people have overheard the Forest Lords talking and complaining of late. The Head Forester says that his province is always the last to be considered, but then the Hierarch came, and with a wave of his hand restored the forests that had been previously cut down by the Midland farmers in their quest for new land."

"I'm sure that pleased Squire Darah," Lara said dryly.

"Nay!" Marzina gossiped on. "The Midlands are suddenly as fertile, if not more fertile, than they ever were. Squire Darah is very happy. He says it is just like olden times. But I am forgetting my purpose in coming. Grandmother says she wishes to see you as soon as you can come. I think she actually means now, Mother."

Lara had to laugh. "You have come to understand Ilona well, Marzina. Tell your grandmother I will come tomorrow at the moonrise."

Marzina threw her arms about Lara and kissed her cheek as she hugged her hard. "I have missed you, Mother. When will it be safe for me to come home for a real visit?"

"I do not know," Lara said softly, "but sooner than later I hope, my darling. Do you have time to go and see Taj?"

"Nay, but I will come to him soon. Grandmother is expecting me back quickly," Marzina said. "Goodbye, Mother!" And she was gone with the sound of tinkling bells, and in a puff of pink smoke.

Lara let out a gusty sigh. What a near thing it had been. While Marzina had briefly seen Kolgrim and Kolbein, Lara had managed to get them sent back to the Dark Lands before they had a chance to speak to one another. Had Marzina heard Kolgrim address her as Mother? She hadn't said anything about it so Lara was hoping her youngest daughter had not heard his mocking address. She had not quite finished with the twins when she had been forced to remove them from her chamber. Now she must speak with their keeper, and she knew the old dwarf had enough magic to heed her command.

Chancellor Alfrigg, heed my call. Come to me from out yon wall!

And the stone wall suddenly opened showing the golden tunnel through which the Dark Lands' ancient chancellor now hurried on his short little legs.

"Far too bright! Far too bright!" he complained as he entered her room. "I am almost blinded by your light, Domina. What do you want?"

Lara told him of the twins' visit, explaining why she had brought them to her, and why she had quickly returned them. "My other children know nothing of that lost year," she said. "Nor do I choose to share that time with them."

"What do you want of me then, Domina?" Alfrigg asked her.

"I believe Kolbein is dangerous. Far more so than Kolgrim, who is much like his father. His evil is elegant and subtle. Kolbein is an ignorant brute, and the Darkling is using him for her own purposes. I believe that one way or another she means to rule the Dark Lands herself. If you would, protect Kolgrim, and make certain that Kolbein understands that the shedding of blood between brothers is forbidden by tradition within their family."

"I will not ask where you gained your information," Alfrigg said. "How odd that we have become allies of a sort, Domina. My lord Kol would be pleased to see you looking out for the interests of your children."

"They are his, not mine. I do not claim them. My only interest is in keeping the darkness from leaving the Dark Lands, and spreading over our worlds," Lara said.

"I have been suspicious of the Darkling, although I will admit a fondness for her. She is much like her dear father. Is he still alive, Domina?" Alfrigg inquired curiously.

"I do not know. I do not want to know. His fate was the province of the Shadow Princes." Of course she did know, but Lara felt ignorance was the better path in this case. Alfrigg had been Kol's chancellor for several hundred years, and he was devoted to him.

The old dwarf nodded. "I have held the kingdom together since his disappearance. I have monitored the progress of his sons. Now I must guide them."

"Keep them in their place, and beware Kolbein and Ciarda," Lara warned him. "You are a reasonable man, Alfrigg, and reason must prevail."

"Thank you, Domina. Now, if you would open the tunnel for me, I will return."

Lara raised her hand, and the tunnel appeared in the stone wall. Without another word the chancellor of the Dark Lands turned and hurried through the passageway. She watched him go, the opening closing behind him until the wall was wall once again. Lara sat back down again, and considered the past few hours. She had not heard from Kaliq, or any of the Shadow Princes, in several days.

Prince Kaliq, heed my plea. Cease all else and come to me, she called out in the silent language. But he did not answer her call, and instead Lara felt herself drawn into a golden tunnel, which ended at the Oasis of Zeroun. The desert moon shone down with its copper light dappling the pool and its waterfall. A light flickered from the tented pavilion. Lara walked toward it, and was suddenly greeted by Kaliq, who appeared before her in a loose white robe.

"I called to you," she said. "And you did not come, my lord."

"I decided that you needed a respite from your problems," he said with a smile. Holding out his hand to her, he drew Lara into his arms and they were suddenly both naked. "'Tis not subtle, I will admit, but your son will expect you to emerge from your privy chamber in a few hours. I have missed you, my love." His hands caught her head, holding it still as he kissed her, a deep and passionate kiss.

Lara slipped her arms about his neck, her fingers caressing his nape, setting the little dark hairs upon it to bristling beneath her touch. "Aah, Kaliq, this is wickedly perfect," she murmured against his mouth. "My day so far has been difficult."

"Tell me," he said.

"Nay, not yet. I want to take pleasures with you first, my lord," Lara said.

He swept her up in his arms, carrying her to the silken mattress upon the dais. Laying her down, his lips met hers again. Her mouth opened beneath his, and their tongues entwined slowly. They breathed each other's essence, sighing. He lay upon his back and set her astride him, feeling the firm flesh of her bottom against his thighs. Reaching up, Kaliq took her breasts in his hands, fondling them, squeezing them individually, pressing them together. He suckled upon each of her nipples, nibbling teasingly, drawing hard so that she gasped aloud.

Lara reached out and caressed the length of his love rod. The very sight of it excited her, for she knew how well he could wield it. It grew in length and breadth beneath her touch. He laid her upon her back, straddling her, and when she pressed her two breasts together he pushed his rod back and forth between the soft flesh. Lara raised her head and leaned forward so she might lick the tip of him, laughing softly when he gasped.

Finally he turned himself about upon her so she might take him into her mouth while he began to play with the soft folds of her nether lips. He licked along her slit, pushing his tongue between the flesh to find the sensitive core of her. He licked at it first, but then he sucked and nibbled upon her even as he pushed two fingers into her tight sheath, moving them slowly back and forth.

"Ooh, Kaliq!" Lara exclaimed. And her juices bedewed his fingers and hand. He continued the love torture until her juices flowed again, this time more copiously. Then, turning his body back once again, he slowly drove himself as deep as he could into her eager body again and again, bringing her to the brink of pleasure, then withholding it. She wrapped her legs about his torso and his long, thick rod sank deeper as he pistoned her until she was crying with delight.

He could feel himself throbbing with his need, but he wanted more of her. Still deep inside her, he stopped to unfasten her slender legs from his body, and push them back until they were over her shoulders. Then, kneeling, his rod once again began to work her, deeper than he had ever gone, and Lara cried his name over and over and over again until the sheath in which his rod was so tightly encased began to tighten about him, and quiver with its need as she reached her peak. Her love juices flowed heavily as she attained pleasures such as she had never found before. She screamed softly with delight as her body spasmed over and over and over again. "Kaliq!" Lara cried as she felt him stiffen, groan, and then his manly juices poured into her. "Ooh, Kaliq!"

He held her tightly, his kisses covering her heart-shaped face, her throat, her chest. It matters not to me the lovers you take, Lara. You are mine and mine alone. No man, mortal or magic, can give you the pleasures that I do. No female, mortal or magic, can pleasure me as you do, my darling, he said to her in the silent language. The fates and all destiny help me, for I love you.

Oh, Kaliq, Lara murmured back to him in the same language, I love you, too. I have always loved you from the first. I loved Vartan, and I loved Magnus, as well. But not as I love you, my dear lord.

He said nothing more but held her in his arms until he knew that they had both recovered from the tremendous passion that had overwhelmed them. His hand stroked her golden hair as he enjoyed these moments of perfect peace with her. When finally he sensed her heart had calmed itself he said, "Tell me about your day."

And Lara told him how she had brought the dark twins to her, of what had been said, of how she had quickly returned them to their own kingdom when Marzina had intruded upon them. "It is so like my mother to have taught her a spell like that," Lara said. "It was thoughtless with no balances and checks. What if she had appeared a few moments ago as we labored together?"

"I suspect," Kaliq said, "that her education would have been quite furthered, at least in the areas of pleasures." The prince chuckled. "What did you tell her about Kolgrim and Kolbein?"

"I said you had sent them to me for questioning in the matter of the Hierarch," Lara told him. "It was all I could think of to say. And of course, Kolgrim, with his usual vile humor, called me Mother. But I don't think Marzina heard him."

"Nay, it would not have been very good if she did," Kaliq agreed. "It will be better if Marzina never knows who sired her, my love."

But Marzina had heard Kolgrim call Lara Mother, and, returning to her grandmother's castle, she told Ilona of the two young men with the same face who had been with Lara when she arrived. "Why did the one with golden hair call her Mother?" she asked the Queen of the Forest Faeries.

"I have absolutely no idea," Ilona replied, pretending puzzlement. "If Kaliq had sent them to your mother for questioning perhaps the young man was being sarcastic. Did you not say you greeted your mother properly? He heard you call her mother, saw your mother's surprise at your arrival. He was taunting her, Marzina. And did she not send them immediately from her presence?"

Marzina nodded. "She addressed them as Dark Lords," the girl said.

"And they probably were," Ilona responded. "Your mother and the Shadow Princes are seeking those behind the Hierarch. They are certain to come from the Dark Lands, Marzina. Your mother has been known to obtain information when others could not. This is a serious and dangerous business. A powerful Darkling is involved."

"What exactly is a Darkling, Grandmother? Is it faerie?"

"Aye and nay," Ilona said. "This one is a particularly beautiful female. She will have magic in her veins, and her mother or a grandmother was probably faerie, but from the dark side. She uses her beauty among her other skills to seduce men in order to gain power and wealth. But particularly power. We are not all light, my child."

"Could I not help my mother in this endeavor, Grandmother?" Marzina asked.

"One day you will be strong enough, and you will be skilled enough to help your mother should she require your aid, but you are still too young, Marzina," Ilona said.

"Did my mother not begin her adventures when she was about my age?" Marzina responded pertly.

"Your mother was sent into the world by her father not understanding the heritage she possessed. She had no magic then and was helpless. It was her brave spirit that helped her to survive to reach the Shadow Princes, who, learning she was my daughter, Maeve's granddaughter, trained her in the ways of magic. Once they unlocked the barrier she bloomed even as you bloom under my tutelage, Marzina." Ilona stroked her granddaughter's dark hair affectionately. "I know how much you love your mother, and that you want to help her. But right now your presence would weaken her at a time she must have and use all of her strength."

"Why?"

"Because she loves you, my child. Because as long as you are safe with me your mother does not have to fear. Anoush is safe with her father's family in the New Outlands. Taj is safe in his castle. Both are surrounded by spells your mother and Prince Kaliq have woven to protect them. Only your foolish sister Zagiri in Hetar is in danger from the chaos about to descend upon that unfortunate kingdom. Lara will do whatever she has to to safeguard Zagiri. She cannot have you to worry about, as well, Marzina. Once she has taken Zagiri from harm's way her entire concentration must be upon exposing this mortal who dares to pretend he is Hetar's savior. If he is not removed then Hetar will be taken into the darkness. Escaping the darkness is never an easy thing, my child. Do you understand now?"

"Aye, Grandmother, I do. But it still will not prevent me from wishing I could help my mother," Marzina said.

Ilona smiled. "I know," she said, completely understanding her granddaughter's desire. Then she grew serious. "You must promise me you will remain here with me until this matter is cleared up, or until your mother sends for you herself. And no more surprise visits, Marzina. What if you had intruded upon your mother in an intimate moment? She would have been very distressed by it."

Marzina giggled. "Prince Kaliq is her lover," she said. "He is so handsome and kind, Grandmother. I hope I have a lover like that someday."

Ilona made a very un-faerielike sound, quite like a snort. "I have no doubt you will have many lovers, Marzina. The women in our family quite enjoy taking pleasures. One day you will, too, but not until you have grown up a little more. You have centuries ahead of you, my dear child. Centuries!"

"I am only half-faerie, Grandmother. My father was quite mortal, and of the three children my mother bore him I am the only one with magic," Marzina said.

"Which is exactly why you will survive far longer than your mortal siblings," Ilona pointed out.

Marzina, of course, was incorrect. She was almost pure magic. Her mother had been newly pregnant with Taj when Lara was attacked upon the Dream Plain by Kol, the Twilight Lord, and impregnated by him for a second time. Marzina's natural father was Kol. Lara had become his weakness, and to his misfortune he loved her.

That first time she had been stolen from Magnus Hauk, and her memories taken. It had all been part of a plan by the powers of light to stop the Twilight Lord from bringing his darkness into the mortal worlds of Hetar and Terah. When she was pregnant with Kol's child, Lara's memories were returned to her, and she divided the child in her womb into two sons, not one, thus causing chaos in the Dark Lands, for each Twilight Lord had by tradition the ability to produce but one son.

Ilona had been present at the birth of the twin children believed to be Magnus Hauk's offspring. No one had been more surprised than Lara when having birthed her husband's longed-for son and heir, she then birthed a beautiful little girl who looked nothing like her blond mother and father. The Queen of the Forest Faeries had loudly proclaimed that Marzina looked like a distant relation, a Nix, and nothing more had been thought about it. Magnus Hauk never knew his littlest daughter was not his natural child, and Marzina never knew, either.

When she showed a talent and ability for magic naturally at a very early age neither Lara nor Ilona had been surprised. Given that his two other children were as mortal as could be, Magnus Hauk was amazed by Marzina's talents, but accepted them. And the few months that Marzina had spent with her grandmother had already proved successful. Marzina was already writing her own spells, one or two of them quite advanced, especially for a faerie girl of her age. She was more than proficient at casting spells and mixing potions. She had learned much about herbs from her oldest sister.

"She has a knack for sorcery," Ilona said to her consort, Thanos.

Lara came to visit her mother at moonrise as she had promised.

"You have been with Kaliq," Ilona noted. "I smell his sandalwood."

"Hours ago," Lara murmured, but she felt her cheeks warm.

"Tell me what is happening, and why were Kol's sons with you, Lara?"

"I needed to know what they knew of Ciarda's recent actions. Kolgrim knows little or nothing. Kolbein is another matter. I have managed to expose his duplicity to his brother, which should keep them at each other's throats. It has become obvious that Ciarda is behind the Hierarch. We will observe and then destroy him. Now, I have not told you of Anoush." And Lara went on to explain to her mother how she had put her daughter into a deep sleep to protect her from Cam because of his association with the Darkling."

"Why would Ciarda be bothered with someone like Cam?" Ilona said. "He is a common Fiacre cattle herder. Of course, these rough brutes all seem to have large and talented manhoods. The Darkling would appreciate that. Or is it something else?"

"What else could it be?" Lara said, and then her hand went to her mouth to stifle the cry of sudden realization. "Cam! She has made Cam the Hierarch! He is a perfect cat's paw for her to use. And if indeed she has chosen Cam she has made a fatal mistake by doing so, Mother! She is so eager for power, foolish Darkling!"

"What mistake?" Ilona wanted to know.

"You know how the Hetarians have always despised the Outlanders? They consider them savages and barbarians. Do you believe that Hetar can accept a Hierarch who is Outlander born and raised? I do not think they can. If they learn that their savior is one of the despised they will reject him."

"And what then?" Ilona said. "It is true we must keep Hetar from being swallowed by the darkness, but will not exposing their Hierarch send them tumbling into the void even faster? Their Hierarch has brought them hope."

"He is turning them back to what they were. Overproud and greedy. A Hetar where men rule, and women are little more than objects for pleasure, bearing children or hard work. I helped the women of Hetar to find their voice, Mother. I cannot allow that voice to be stilled."

"It does not have to be, Lara. What if we, the faerie kingdoms, and the Shadow Princes help the Hierarch to see the Darkling's evil? What if we make Cam believe that he really is the Hierarch? We will give him powers greater than Ciarda's. Temporary, of course, but enough to convince him, and possibly to convince her. We can keep her from bringing the darkness to Hetar by making her cat's paw ours. We will help him to reinterpret Hetar's old laws and traditions for the better not the worse. We will see that he gives the women of Hetar even greater autonomy."

"Mother, it is a brilliant plan!" Lara cried. "And if I can manipulate Kol's sons a tiny bit more we can close the Dark Lands to her, as well."

"You are both extremely clever," Prince Kaliq said, stepping from the shadows of Ilona's privy chamber where the two women were sitting.

"We cannot let Hetar retreat into its past," Lara said. "But the misery there now is terrible. If the population of The City should rise up against those who live in the Golden District, innocents could suffer."

"You think of Zagiri," Ilona said.

"Aye, I do," Lara admitted. "Zagiri is Terahn. She should not have to suffer because she has been foolish enough to marry a Hetarian against my will."

"We have not been able to get close enough to the Darkling," Kaliq said, "but we know her basic plan. I will send my brothers among the people of Hetar to learn more about the Hierarch."

"And I will approach Cam, for he is an ambitious man, and when he learns my powers are stronger than the Darkling's powers I will be able to win him over," Lara said.

"Will you keep Anoush sleeping for the interim?" Ilona asked.

Lara nodded. "I will. In matters like this she is an innocent. And I do not want Cam to have any advantage over me, or believe he has an advantage."

"I will speak with the King of the Mountain Faeries, the Empress of the Meadow Faeries and the King of the Water Faeries to see if they will help," Ilona said.

"And if they will not?" Kaliq asked her.

"If they choose not to aid us they will at least keep silent," Lara said.

"Agreed!" Ilona replied. "Know, my daughter, that each of these monarchs owes me a favor. I will not force their compliance, but their silence is another matter."

The trio dispersed. The Shadow Prince to Shunnar to speak with his brothers and bring them up to date. Lothair and Coilin joined them to tell them how things were progressing in Hetar "There is talk," Lothair, the elder of the two, said, "of taking ownership of the Pleasure Houses back from the Pleasure Mistresses, and putting them once again into the hands of male owners."

"And of closing the new male Pleasures Houses that have been opened for women clients," Coilin added.

"That will not bring prosperity back to Hetar," Kaliq said. "The Pleasure Houses have flourished twice as well since the females took them over. And opening houses with male Pleasure Slaves for the women was a brilliant idea."

"I know," Coilin agreed. "Many young women are now celebrating their fourteenth birthday by taking pleasures for the first time in them. There is even one that caters to such birthdays. It has an excellent group of male sex slaves who specialize in the uninitiated. It is considered quite fashionable to say that you first took pleasures with one of these sex slaves."

"We must work with those who are reasonable, and would modernize Hetar's traditions without scorning them," Kaliq said, and his brothers nodded in agreement.

"What is Queen Ilona doing to help in this matter?" Prince Eskil asked.

"See for yourself," Kaliq said, offering Eskil a round crystal ball.

Taking it up, Eskil gazed into the sphere.