"Give me your juices, Aprika," Jonah panted. "Give! Give!"

"Oh, my lord Jonah, it is too much! Too much! I die!" the female cried dramatically. "Oh! Oh! Ohhhh!"

He grunted, stiffened and then sighed gustily as he stepped away from her, drawing down his robe. "You may go now, Aprika," he said coldly.

The female arose slowly, and, turning, put a hand upon his arm. "My lord, did I not please you?" she murmured. "You said last night that I pleased you." Then she gave a shriek of surprise as her eye met Lara's.

"Go along, girl," Lara told her in a kindly tone. "Your master is a pig who takes pleasures from little slave girls like you, but rarely gives them back. Good morning, my lord Jonah. You are well, I see."

The girl gaped at Lara, then scuttled from the room without another word.

The Lord High Ruler of Hetar strolled around his worktable and looked at the faerie woman. "She is our sex slave," he said. "And my wife was too busy taking pleasures with our two male sex slaves to attend to my needs this morning."

"You really must be firmer with Zagiri, Jonah. She will not respect you if you are not," Lara told him. She almost felt sorry for him but that she knew he was a coldhearted man. "Sell Aprika, and one of the male slaves. Then see that your wife receives and gives pleasures only with you. The slave you keep will be for special occasions, or when you are away inspecting the new roads that are going to be built," Lara said.

"We are building new roads? Who is to build them, and from where is the coin to come, Domina?" he demanded to know. He was feeling irritable. Aprika had not satisfied him at all. Despite her reputation he found her boring. Only his beautiful wife could please him completely. He was a fool, but he actually loved Zagiri, and was terrified she would one day realize she had married a man old enough to be her father, and despise him for it. Or fall in love with another, younger man.

"The coin will come from the taxes you collect from the magnates for their unconscionable profits in these hard times. Odd that they should profit while the rest of Hetar suffers. The workforce will come from the general population who need jobs," Lara told him, breaking into his thoughts.

"The magnates don't pay taxes. They claim no profits," Jonah protested.

Lara laughed. "They lie as well as they cheat. Did you not enact a new law that says they must pay taxes. And instead of taking a percentage of their profits if they have none we shall take a percentage of their losses. The bigger their losses, the bigger the tax to be collected. That should end the lie about no profits. You know they have been cheating you, and you allowed it so your own sin of greed might not be brought to public light."

"You are harsh, Domina," he said.

"You are this kingdom's leader. Behave like a leader!" Lara snapped back at him.

"What of the Hierarch?" Jonah wanted to know.

"I will attend to him next," she said, and then Lara disappeared from his sight.

Jonah swore softly beneath his breath. The faerie woman was very irritating, but now he realized from where his wife got her fire. Lara was right. He would sell Aprika and Casnar this day. As for Doran, they would keep him. Jonah had actually come to like Doran, and he was more talented than his companion. His mind turned back to the Hierarch, who had been silent of late. What could he be planning? Jonah wondered.

Cam, however, was planning nothing, for he did not know what was wanted of him. Ciarda had been strangely absent in the last few days. Cam was beginning to become very frightened. He was trapped in Hetar, and his face was now recognized by every man, woman and child. He could not walk out into the streets for fear of them touching him, begging for his blessing, asking when it would all be all right again. He was actually beginning to wish he were back herding cattle in the New Outlands when Lara appeared in his small chamber.

"Aunt!" he cried.

She saw his fear and smirked inwardly. "Well, Nephew, you seem distraught. What is the matter?"

"Where is she?" he asked her. "Where is my Darkling?"

"The Dark Lands have a new Twilight Lord on its throne. Ciarda has been chosen to bear his heir. The mating has already taken place. Lord Kolgrim has no further interest in you, Cam. Ciarda's powers have been stripped from her. Women in the Dark Lands are not expected to be ambitious or intelligent. They are expected to accept their inferior position. Ciarda is now learning her proper place, Nephew."

"Then what is to become of me?" he shouted at her. "What happens to me?"

Lara heard Andraste begin to hum softly from her position in the scabbard on Lara's back. "You are the Hierarch," Lara taunted him mockingly. She was so tempted to leave him here to be unmasked as the fraud he was.

His bravado crumbled. "You know I am not," he said, low.

Lara nodded. "Aye, I know, but you will have to continue this charade, Cam, for a little while longer. Hetar needs hope, and the Hierarch represents that hope."

"But I have no powers," he said. "What can I do?"

"You will do precisely as I tell you," Lara answered him. "And if you agree to my terms, Nephew, I will see to it that a Shadow Prince stands by your side, invisible to all eyes but his own kind. It is this prince who will perform the miracles that will be attributed to the Hierarch. And Hetar will walk the road to recovery."

"Why do you care what happens to these people?" Cam queried her. "They sold you into slavery. They persecuted the clan families for centuries. Is there any good in them, Aunt, that you would help to save them?"

"There is good in everyone, Nephew, even you," Lara told him. "Yet there is also wickedness. But the light must prevail, Cam. Now, will you agree to my terms?"

"Aye, I will. I just want to go home to Rivalen," he admitted.

"You will, and soon," Lara told him.

"And you will keep your promise to me? You will give me Anoush to wife? Land? Cattle?"

"Land and cattle I will gladly give you, Cam, but remember I have said it is Anoush's decision to wed you or not. If she will have you then I will have you," Lara said to him, and she smiled.

"Then let us do what needs be done," Cam said. "I find I am eager to return to my own life and leave this Hierarch behind." Aye, he had had enough of magic folk, and power games. He had been a fool, but no more! He would have wealth and Anoush.

"So it shall be," Lara told him.

18.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY for Lara and her allies to simply correct the problems that Hetar had burdened itself with, but they did not. The lesson would not have been learned had they done so. At Lara's direction Cam walked through the streets of The City to the palace in the Golden District. He was garbed in a simple long white robe, a black rope girded about his waist, leather sandals upon his feet. His young face was smooth shaven, his short dark hair, which had become ragged in recent days, trimmed neatly, his blue eyes resolute. He trusted that a Shadow Prince walked with him, for his aunt had promised him that he would have a companion to perform the small miracles he needed to perform to reassure the people of The City.

And they came forth to greet him. Touching his robe, calling his name. His heart beating furiously, Cam smiled, stopped to touch an infant held out to him. "Blessings, my child," he murmured with a soft smile before moving on. "The Celestial Actuary be with you all," he called to the crowds that followed him to the gates of the Golden District, where they were barred from entering.

"Hierarch!" a voice in the crowd called out. "Let us come with you!"

Cam turned. "Nay, my brother," he replied. "This is a journey I must make alone. Wait for me here. When I have spoken to Lord Jonah I will come again to you." Then, turning, he was passed through into the Golden District by the guards, whom he blessed as he passed them by.

Nicely done, Hierarch, a voice next to his ear said.

Cam started, surprised. "You really are there," he whispered.

I am, and at the palace you will speak my thoughts to Lord Jonah, was the reply.

"May I ask who you are, my lord Prince?" Cam inquired, politely nodding and raising his hand in blessing to the woman with the two children who passed him by.

I am Kaliq, the invisible voice told him. Now, do not address me again, Hierarch, for those you meet as you reach the palace will think you mad to be speaking to yourself.

Cam nodded but, as no one else was approaching him, said softly, "Thank you." Then he walked on until finally he came to the palace.

Recognizing him instantly, the guards knelt for his blessing, and then allowed him to pass by. A servant notified by a runner from the main gate of the Hierarch's approach hurried forth to greet the Hierarch and lead him to the Lord High Ruler, who was waiting in his privy chamber. As much as it irritated Jonah, he knelt for the Hierarch's blessing, but feeling a little burst of energy from the hands placed upon his head soothed his pride.

Arising, Jonah invited the Hierarch to be seated in a comfortable chair by the fire. He signaled to a servant to bring Frine and cakes. Then Jonah sat down, asking as he did, "How, my lord Hierarch, may I be of service to you?"

"The High Council must be called into session, my lord," the Hierarch said. "Summer is half over, and we have much work to do before the Icy Season sets in again."

"Can you not make a miracle, my lord Hierarch?" Jonah asked him slyly.

"What lesson would you or your people learn from that, Lord Jonah?" the Hierarch asked him. "Hetar has brought itself low. Now you must pull yourselves up by your own efforts even as you brought yourselves down by your own efforts."

"But what can the High Council do?" Jonah wanted to know.

"It can follow the path that I lay out for it to follow, my lord Jonah. All the council members are currently in The City. Summon them now to the council chamber as I have bid you to do!" Cam was astounded by the words he was speaking and the commanding tone his voice had suddenly taken on, but then he remembered that Prince Kaliq had said it was his words that the Hierarch would speak.

Jonah stood up immediately, bowing to Cam as he did. "At once, my lord Hierarch," he said. Going to the door of his privy chamber, he opened it and called to Lionel, his secretary, "Summon the members of the High Council to the council chamber immediately. The Hierarch waits upon them!"

"At once, my lord," Lionel replied.

"We will wait here until they have all come," the Hierarch said. "I find this little fire pleasant, for this late summer day holds a hint of the autumn in it." He picked up his goblet and sipped the grape Frine as he closed his eyes in apparent meditation.

Well done again, Prince Kaliq said, but only Cam could hear him.

Jonah sat silent across from the Hierarch, studying the man. He seemed ordinary enough, Jonah thought. And yet...

When an hour had just passed a knock sounded upon the door to the privy chamber, and Lionel stuck his head into the room. "My lord Hierarch, my lord Jonah, the High Council awaits your coming."

"All of them?" Jonah wanted to know.

"Aye, my lord, all of them," Lionel replied.

Without a word the Hierarch arose, and, jumping back, the secretary held the door open for him and for his master as they passed through. Then Lionel ran quickly ahead of the pair, slipping into the council chamber by an almost hidden side door so he might take his place behind the chair of the Lord High Ruler where it was his duty to listen, and remind his master of anything he might later forget.

The guards at the main door snapped to attention and flung open the double doors for the Lord High Ruler and the Hierarch.

Cam raised his hand in blessing to them, and smiled as he passed by. Then he took Jonah's marble seat, relegating him to a smaller chair next to him with a gracious nod. Cam had almost gasped aloud when he felt himself being gently pushed before the Lord High Ruler's thronelike seat and then held in place as his head was made to nod in Jonah's direction. He almost laughed at the look of outrage on the Lord High Ruler's face, which was quickly masked as Jonah nodded in return and took his assigned seat. The council chamber was silent. All eyes turned to the Hierarch.

Cam felt his two hands being raised. "Greetings, and blessings to you all," he said. "I have asked Lord Jonah to require your presence this day because it is past time we began to plan the restoration of Hetar. With summer almost over we must work to rebuild the infrastructure of both The City and the provinces."

"And where are the materials to come from for this rebuilding?" the Forest Lord Enda wanted to know. "We will not allow you to deforest our lands as the emperor once did. Our woodlands, with the aid of the faerie Lord Thanos, are just beginning to thrive again."

"Surely you have certain areas where the trees can be thinned," the Hierarch said. "Harvest those areas for us, and trim the lumber. As for the rest of the wood we will need, ships are already on the way across the Saggitta carrying lumber for this endeavor."

"And who is to pay Terah for their lumber?" Clothilde of the General Population wanted to know.

The Hierarch smiled benignly. "Why, the magnates will cover the costs, taking the gold from their outrageous profits. I will personally go to each of them to collect each share. The hovels in The Quarter must be repaired as swiftly as possible. Squire Darah-" and the Hierarch turned to the governor of the Midlands "-can you gather enough thatch and workers from your province quickly?"

"The harvest must be brought in first," Squire Darah said. "It is amazingly bountiful this year, and we will be able to feed all at reasonable prices."

"Excellent! But can you spare enough men to teach some here in The City that art of thatching?" the Hierarch asked Squire Darah.

"That I can do, and gladly!" the governor of the Midlands answered.

"We have men to rebuild," Councilor Mikhail said. "And if the Midlands or any of the other provinces need our aid there are men to spare."

"And who is expected to pay these men for their labor?" Cuthbert Ahasferus asked sourly.

The Hierarch turned his blue eyes on the man. "Your guild will be assessed their share, as will the magnates. Sir Philip, Sir Anatol, your Crusader Knights have a large treasury that has lain untouched for years. You will bear the cost of the repairs to the Garden District. Everyone in Hetar must have a sound, dry habitation by the start of the Icy Season. Let us cease now for today. You will all be required to remain here in the palace until we have entirely completed our business. Lord Jonah will see to your comfort, and that my wishes are obeyed precisely. Tomorrow we will meet in midmorning to discuss the fair distribution of foodstuffs until the markets can be reopened. There is also a matter of the Mercenary Guild and the Crusader Knights to decide."

"What matter?" Peter Swiftfoot wanted to know.

"Your futures," the Hierarch replied mysteriously, and then, blessing them, he disappeared from their sight.

The High Council gasped, astounded at this.

"Where did he go?" Master Rupert of the Midlands wanted to know.

"Can there be any doubt now that he is who he says he is?" Prince Coilin said. "Only someone with great powers could disappear like that."

Prince Lothair hid a smile, for he had seen Kaliq toss his cloak about Cam and then disappear.

"Well, I for one will be glad to have Hetar get back to normal," Lady Eres of the Pleasure Women's Guild said. "Without our former prosperity there is little business these days. Only by the careful management of our Pleasure Mistresses have we been able to survive these last few years."

"Aye," Maeve Scarlet from the Guild of Pleasure Mistresses agreed. "I will be happy to see things returning to normal."

"We must do better than we have in the past century," Councilor Mikhail said quietly. "It was our own negligence that caused us to fail as a society."

"I do not see what we did that was so wrong," Aubin Prospero spoke up.

"You do not comprehend that greed for more and more profit caused our kingdom to fail?" Mikhail replied angrily. "You are not shamed to see hunger and want sweep our people to desperation? Despair is not wrong? Ignorance is not wrong? Perhaps, Aubin Prospero, if you lived among the people instead of being insulated from them in the Golden District, you might understand what has happened to Hetar. Do you ever venture into the streets anymore except to scuttle like a rat to your counting house?"

"You are as insulated as I am in the Garden District," Aubin Prospero shouted back at the councilor from the General Population.

"I haven't lived in the Garden District since I was twenty," Mikhail, son of Swiftsword, said. "I own a small house near The Quarter where I was born. I know the people for I am one of them."

"Your words border on sedition," Cuthbert Ahasferus blustered.

"So speaks one of our greatest profiteers," Lady Gillian said softly.

"My lords! My ladies! Enough!" the Lord High Ruler spoke loudly above the din of the council chamber. "The council is dismissed until tomorrow. As the Hierarch has told you, you are all my guests."

"I need to send word to my wife," Aubin Prospero said.

"A messenger will be dispatched to each of your homes to inform those there of your whereabouts," Lord Jonah told them. "No personal messages will be carried for any of you, and the guards will be made aware of my order."

"Do you not trust us?" Aubin Prospero demanded to know. "Has it come to this? Would you side with a stranger over your own kind, my lord?"

"The Hierarch was always expected to come to Hetar in time of great trouble, my lord," Jonah said. "Have you so lost faith in everything and everyone but yourself and your profit that you would ask such a question of me?" Turning, he murmured to Lionel, who nodded, and hurried off. "Each of you will be escorted to your own guest chamber by my guards. You will remain there until your names are called. I will see you at dinner, my lords and my ladies." And, turning, Jonah departed the council chamber.