The Shadow Queen (19 page)

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.

Picking up speed, Dasras’s great wings unfolded, and he rose up into the cloudless morning sky, circling the temple and then turning toward the high mountain range that separated Terah Prime from the New Outlands. Soon they left the open fields behind, and gentle hills appeared beneath them. Dasras flew on, rising as the hills became the Emerald Mountains. He felt the boy begin to relax, and called softly to his mistress to secure her son so he would not fall.

“If only one of your offspring were winged,” Lara said. “It was easier to bring the children when they were smaller, and we could keep them in saddle baskets.”

“Indeed it was,” Dasras agreed. “We are almost there, however, mistress. See, the mountains are giving way once more to hills, and the plains beyond. How long will we remain this time?”

“Perhaps the remainder of the summer,” Lara said. “I do not know. It will depend upon the information that Kaliq brings to me. But it would be nice to remain until The Gathering is over, wouldn’t it?”

“Aye, mistress, it would,” Dasras agreed. He began to drop down as they approached the meadows of the Aghy Horse Lord Roan, scanning the mares below. “A fine group of pretties,” the stallion said with a small snort. “I think I shall join them as soon as I have delivered you and the Dominus to New Camdene.”

Lara laughed. “You are as randy as a Shadow Prince,” she told him.

Dasras galloped on through the late-morning skies and then below them livestock in the meadows became cattle, and Lara knew they had reached the territory of the Fiacre clan family. From her vantage point she could see the head village, New Camdene, in the distance. Dasras dropped down lower and lower. Then when they were but a short distance from the village, his hooves touched the ground so he might gallop the rest of the distance into New Camdene.

Lara gently shook Taj awake. “We are almost there, my son,” she said.

The boy snapped awake immediately. “Thank you, Mother,” he said.

His father, Lara remembered, had been able to awaken quickly and fully as Taj just had. But she had no time to grow sad with the memory, for there were already shouts of welcome reaching her ears as Dasras reached the village proper. Sitting straight before her, Taj was returning the greetings. Reaching the hall of the head of the Fiacre clan family, Lara was pleased to see Liam, Noss and their children waiting for them.

Dasras came to a stop, and Liam hurried forward. “Welcome, my lord Dominus. Welcome, Domina,” he said. His red hair was showing bits of silvery copper as it faded with age, and there were deeper lines about his blue eyes.

Noss, his wife and Lara’s best friend, pushed her husband aside. “Lara!” She hugged the faerie woman. “It is so good to see you, dearest one.” She turned to young Taj. “Welcome, my lord Dominus, to New Camdene. You will find Sinon and Gare awaiting you in the hall,” she told him.

Suddenly the Dominus was a boy again. “Thank you, Noss,” he said, dashing off.

Lara smiled, and then she sighed. “He is really too young for his office,” she said to Noss as, linking arms, the two women strolled to Noss’s garden where they would spend much of this morning talking. “Thank you for asking his friends to come. Yesterday was very busy for him, and this morning he was officially anointed,” she told her best friend. “He will be officially crowned on the first anniversary of his father’s death according to Terahn custom.”

“But you rule Terah, do you not?” Noss asked.

“The Dominus Taj Hauk rules Terah,” Lara told her, and Noss nodded her understanding.

“Tell me of the girls,” Noss said. “Why are they not with you?”

Lara explained and again Noss nodded.

“Zagiri was always a bit wild,” she told Lara. “You, and especially Magnus, spoiled her terribly. A lovelier girl there has not been, but headstrong.”

“Mayhap it is not unfortunate, then, that she is Jonah’s new wife,” Lara replied dryly. “She will certainly keep him on his toes.”

“You do not mean that,” Noss said as, reaching the garden, they sat down upon a padded bench. A serving woman immediately brought them goblets of cool Frine. “You were probably heartbroken when you learned what that naughty child had done.”

Lara laughed. “You know me too well, but Kaliq convinced me that as Jonah actually cares for her, Zagiri will be safe as long as Hetar is safe. Now with the shock of my husband’s death easing, our son upon his throne and my daughters safe I have returned to the New Outlands to rest, and consider what is ahead, Noss.”

“Anoush’s home has just been completed,” Noss said. “She will be moving into it shortly.”

“Where is my daughter? Why did she not come to greet me?” Lara wondered.

“She had been traveling to the other villages commissioning furnishings for her house, and talking with the various cattle holders about breeding her bull. She planted an herb garden on her property even before the house was finished. I have never seen her happier, Lara. She is Fiacre despite your blood,” Noss told Lara. “Several young men are interested in courting her, but while she is charming with them she seems disinclined to pick a husband right now.”

“Let her be then,” Lara replied. “When the right man comes along she will show no reluctance whatsoever, Noss.”

“Agreed,” Noss said. “It was that way with us, wasn’t it?”

“Aye, and it was so long ago,” Lara answered softly. “The years have flown.”

“You grow no older,” Noss noted. “I am plump with age, and the brown hair that Liam so loved when I was younger grows thinner, and is beginning to be streaked with a gray that is most unattractive. It is not the lovely silver that some get, but rather a dull faded color. I hate it!”

“I will outlive many,” Lara admitted to her best friend. “That is the curse of faerie blood although that drop of mortal blood in my veins will eventually bring my life to an end sooner than if I were a full-blooded faerie woman. Would you like me to fix your hair for you, Noss? I can, you know.”

“I just want it to be the way it was,” Noss said plaintively.

“Then so be it,” Lara said with a quick wave of her hand. “I hope Liam won’t be too surprised.” And she smiled.

Noss ran her fingers into her hair. It was thick again, and the hair was not coming out each time she touched it. She pulled a lock of it, and smiled happily. It was a rich brown once more, free of dullness. “Thank you!” she said, hugging Lara.

Anoush returned from her visits to the other Fiacre villages, and she was radiant and serene by turns in her new life. She invited her mother to stay with her, but Lara demurred, explaining that she was enjoying being with Noss again. She would stay with Anoush on her next visit, she told her daughter. Anoush agreed with a sweet smile. It made Lara happy to see her eldest daughter finally so content.

It was, Lara would recall in later years, an almost perfect summer. While she missed Magnus Hauk, Zagiri and Marzina, Lara delighted in seeing Taj running, riding, hunting with his two best friends, Sinon and Gare. All the cares of his office had dropped away. Boyish laughter filled the air as the trio roughhoused and joked with each other.

Dasras had decided to remain with the herd of mares belonging to the Aghy Horse Lord, Roan, unless Lara needed him. Usually Roan was content to allow Lara’s stallion to roam freely, mounting his mares whenever the magical beast wished. This year, however, the Horse Lord had a new stallion he wished to use as a breeder. Dasras had set the young stallion into a frenzy as he casually moved among the mares, cutting those out who pleased him. The Horse Lord rode to New Camdene from his Aghy lands, greeting Liam as he entered his hall.

“Roan, I had not thought to see you until The Gathering,” Liam said.

“I must speak with Lara,” Roan replied. “Where is she?”

“In Noss’s garden, beneath the pergola,” Liam answered. “She meditates there every day at this hour. You know the way. Go and find her. You will stay the night, of course. Noss would be angry at me if you did not.”

“We cannot have Noss angry.” Roan chuckled. Then he went to find Lara. Seeing her as she sat quietly, Roan felt a bolt of lust race through him. She was as beautiful as she had ever been, and she was widowed now. He held no illusions that she would marry again, and Roan knew she was not likely to remain in the New Outlands, but would she be averse to taking pleasures with him? He had always desired her. “Lara,” he said, coming up to her and bending from his great height to kiss her cheek.

“Lord Roan! I had not thought to see you so soon,” Lara answered him. He was as handsome as ever, she considered. His eyes had always fascinated her. They were so deep a blue as to appear almost black like summer cherries. The flaming red hair that had crowned his head forever was still bright although perhaps it was fading just a little.

“You must ask Dasras to return to you, Lara,” Lord Roan said.

“Why?” She overlooked the fact that Roan had addressed her familiarly. He was not a man who was easy with rules and formality.

“I have a new young stallion who shows promise, and I wish to see the kind of colts he will breed. Since Dasras arrived he has been in a frenzy for the mares all flock to your magical beast. I have penned my animal, but sooner or later he will break out of his confinement, and challenge Dasras,” Roan said. “I do not want the creature slain by your stallion, Lara. Ask him to return to you.”

“Why do you not ask Dasras to choose six favorites and then drive them to a far pasture?” Lara asked the Horse Lord.

“I did, and he was most amenable. But the mares not chosen by your horse refuse to mate with my breeding stallion. They will not settle down until they believe Dasras is gone for the year and their companions returned,” Roan said, running a big hand through his hair.

Lara giggled, and when he looked aggrieved she laughed. “I am sorry, Roan, but it is very funny. Really it is. Why did you not tell Dasras he was not welcome in your meadows this year? He would have stayed away, and been content with his mate, Sakira, who resides among the Fiacre. You know two blooded stallions cannot live peaceably together when a herd of mares is involved.”