The Shadow Queen (23 page)

“Where did you find him?” Kaliq asked her.

“He came upon me in the main corridor as I looked down into the valley, and was assailed by memories,” Lara told him. “Sometimes my memories seem like just yesterday, and at other times they seem so long ago. Why are you doing this feast, Kaliq?” Reaching out, she put a hand upon his silk-clad arm.

“We will need my brothers’ aid to find Kolbein,” he said. He was wearing a loose-fitting white silk robe trimmed in gold thread and tiny sapphires that matched his eyes. He took the hand she had laid upon his arm, kissing both its back and palm.

His eyes met hers, and Lara smiled. “Why is it I am always happy here in Shunnar?” she said.

“Because you belong here,” he told her quietly.

Do not break his heart with a hard word, child,
Lara heard her guardian spirit say.

“Will your brothers involve themselves in this matter?” she instead asked him.

A quick, brief smile touched his lips as she avoided his passion. “Some will. Others will not,” he told her. Then, looking about his banquet hall, he saw that all his guests had arrived, and signaled with his hand to his majordomo for the feasting to begin.

Kaliq’s efficient serving staff came forth with bowls of oysters, prawns and other crustaceans, offering crocks of mustard and dill sauces along with the seafood. The guests all reclined upon couches as they ate. Each Shadow Prince was accompanied by one or more beautiful women gowned in sensual garments all meant to entice. They were of every skin hue with beautiful long hair in all colors. Some fed their male companions, some were fed by them.

Platters of poultry, ham, beef and game followed as a second course along with green salad, hot fresh breads, butter and cheeses. Lara ate sparingly, for she knew she would take pleasures soon with Kaliq and some of his brothers. She feasted upon two fat prawns, some capon, ham and salad. She nibbled a few bites of bread and cheese. And when a servant offered her a platter of fresh fruits she picked an apricot and some cherries. Her silver cup of wine was never empty it seemed. When a servant brought a small bowl of scented water and a towel, she washed the remnants of her meal from her hands and face.

Kaliq stood up then to speak. “The darkness threatens to rise again, my brothers,” he began, looking about the banqueting hall.

“There must always be a balance of good and evil, Kaliq,” one of his brothers said. “You know that better than any.”

“The Dark Lands grow restless, and need a ruler once again,” Kaliq said.

“Has Chancellor Alfrigg grown too weak, then, to control it?” came the query.

“He grows old, and is tired of the responsibility. He had maintained a charade no one believes, but no one has dared question until now. Kol’s daughter, the Darkling Ciarda, is about to challenge the natural order of things. One of Kol’s sons must take his place as the Twilight Lord before she does so, my brothers.”

“Would not a female strong enough to gain the Twilight Throne be an advantage to us all?” a Shadow Prince asked. “A civil war to unseat her would be more to our advantage than one of Kol’s sons would be.”

“The Darkling means to complete her father’s plan of conquest, my brothers,” Kaliq said quietly.

“She has not the power to disturb us,” someone said.

“Nay, she does not,” Kaliq agreed, “but should Hetar and then Terah fall into her hands, my brothers, the darkness would rule our world.”

“What do you want us to do?” Lothair asked.

“We have already located one of Kol’s sons. And we know the region in which the other dwells. Alfrigg has been clever. Neither of the twins knows his heritage. It will be up to Lara to choose which one shall rule in his father’s place. As for the other, he will never learn of his heritage and war will be avoided. If Kol’s son comes forward the Darkling will be defeated.”

“Will he not be a danger to us, too?”

“Each of these boys has been raised as the children of their foster parents. They have no idea how to rule. Alfrigg will have to teach them to be royal. It will take time. We will see that they are corrupted by the sudden power, the wealth and the women who will be available to them. The Dark Lands will always accept a male heir over a female one. If the Darkling Ciarda tries to take over it will cause civil strife, which would also be to our advantage, my brothers, but she is more dangerous.”

“Then what do you want of us, Kaliq?” Lothair asked.

“There are only a few families where the twin, Kolbein, may be hidden. I need to know which family has fostered him. It is a simple enough task, but time is of the essence, and so I come to you, my brothers, for help.”

There was a murmur of discussion among the Shadow Princes in the hall. Finally one of them, Eskil by name, said, “You seem to involve yourself much in the affairs of these mortals. Can they not evolve on their own?”

“Did we?” Kaliq asked in return.

“Blasphemy!” came the brief cry, but he who spoke the word was shouted down by the others.

“It is written that the fates of those of us in the magical worlds are inexorably intertwined with the mortal races,” Prince Nasim reminded the others. “It has always been our duty to guide, but some of you have forgotten that. You prefer to live comfortably in your palaces with the women who attract you, raising horses and existing in utter idleness. Many of you will not even take your turn on the Hetarian High Council, leaving that duty to just a few of us.”

“The darkness cannot be allowed to prevail over the light,” Kaliq reminded his guests. “We need to keep these forces of evil off balance. I will seek among the Wolfyn for Kol’s son Kolbein. Who will join me?”

Nasim, Eskil and Lothair called out that they would come. Kaliq’s stern gaze swept the banqueting hall until two other of his brothers, Gaszi and Terriss, volunteered to help seek for Kolbein, as well.

“We will go on the morrow,” Kaliq announced. “Now, however, my brothers, it is time for us to partake of the pleasures we all enjoy so very much.” He clapped his hands thrice and at once all the guests were rendered naked. Good-natured laughter followed and the servants began bringing in sweets and making certain the wine cups were well filled. Within a very few minutes the princes and their women began partaking of passion.

Lara lay back, her golden head in Kaliq’s lap. She smiled up at him lovingly. Two of the princes availed themselves of her breasts. They began to suck upon them eagerly. The sweet juice of the Umbra tree that had been painted upon her nipples had upon contact with her flesh become a powerful aphrodisiac. Lara could feel their male rods lengthening and growing hard against her thighs, which were spread wide, allowing another of the princes to suckle upon her love bud. She closed her eyes, and sank into the depth of the passion that was beginning to overwhelm her.

“Is it good, my love?” Kaliq asked her, licking at her ear, and then kissing it.

“Aye, my lord, it is good,” Lara murmured.

“They will want you all at once,” he told her.

Lara smiled softly. “I know,” she said.

Then one of the princes lay flat upon his back, and, lifting Lara up, impaled her upon his love rod while pulling her forward so his brother might avail himself of her rear passage. That prince oiled his rod, and Lara’s opening. Then, holding her hips in a firm grip, he pushed into that tight passage. Now the prince who had suckled upon that tender bit of her flesh stood before her, lifting her head up to put himself into her mouth. Then the three Shadow Princes began to move in perfect rhythm together. The quartet swam in deepest pleasures, releasing their juices at the exact same moment, sending Lara into a deep swoon of delight. When she came to her senses once again she was lying in Kaliq’s arms while around her the sounds of the taking of pleasures arose. There were moans of contentment, and soft cries of fulfillment as the princes and the women enjoyed each other’s bodies. A handsome prince that Lara did not remember seeing before came and stood before her.

May I?
he asked in the silent language.

Kaliq?
Lara said.

I am content to wait, as you will be mine for the remainder of the night, my love,
Kaliq told her.
His name is Coilin.

Lara held out her arms to the handsome prince, and he came into them. His lips touched hers, and she was afire with restored lust. A new lover was always exciting. Lying in Kaliq’s arms, Lara’s hands slipped beneath her breasts, and she offered them up to Coilin. With a smile he lay on his side, and, taking one of her breasts, fondled it, caressing it with light touches, finally closing his lips over the nipple. The sweetness of the Umbras juice quickly roused him, but he continued to suckle her as he pressed two fingers into Lara’s sheath, moving them back and forth until she was writhing and eager for him. She whimpered her need.

Roll over, and kneel to me,
he ordered her.

Lara complied, and sighed with pleasure as he thrust deep into her female passage. He continued to thrust until she had peaked twice, and her juices were flowing copiously. Only then did he release his own juices. Withdrawing from her, he thanked her for the pleasures she had given him and left.

Now it is our time to be together, my love,
Kaliq said.
There is no need for you to share yourself any further.
He arose from the couch where they had been sprawled together.
Come!

Where?
Lara wanted to know.

Kaliq smiled, and took his long white cloak from the servant who had suddenly appeared with it. Wrapping it about them, he said aloud, “The Oasis of Zeroun, my love.”

Lara felt the faint rush of their transport, and then Kaliq threw back the silk cloak, and they were there. A wave of his hand and her pavilion appeared. “Oh, my lord Kaliq,” she said softly. Above them the moons of Hetar in their various phases beamed down upon them. “I would bathe,” she told him. “I do not want the scent of other men upon me when we take pleasures tonight.”

He led her into the water of the pool, and it was warm against her flesh. They swam together, and then Lara stood beneath the little waterfall for a few minutes before diving back into the water to join him. Kaliq took her into his arms, and kissed her a deep kiss that seemed to go on and on and on. Lara sighed, slipping her arms about his neck as he lifted her up, her body molding itself to his. Breast to chest. Belly to belly as they kissed again in the moonlight.

He carried her from the little pool, across a carpet of warm sand and into his tent. He dried their skin with a thick towel and brushed her long golden hair, which had long since come loose, shedding the filigreed jeweled chains plaited earlier into it. Taking a lock of her hair between two of his fingers, he kissed it. And when his sapphire eyes met Lara’s emerald ones a new understanding bloomed suddenly between them.

What is happening, my lord Kaliq?
Lara asked him silently.

Even I am not certain, Lara, my love,
he replied.
The Celestial Actuary plays with us, I believe. Do not be afraid. We will follow our instincts.
Putting the hairbrush down, he wrapped himself about her, kissing her shoulder first, the side of her neck and finally her ear, which he tongued teasingly, and then nipped the lobe.

Lara leaned back against him. His arms felt strong and comforting. She did not have to be strong with Kaliq. She could be merely female. Turning her head, her lips met his in another passionate kiss. The tip of his tongue encircled her lips. She followed his lead then surprised him by pushing her tongue into his mouth to find his and play with it. Their mouths were fused as he turned her so they were facing each other.

His hands fondled her breasts, tracing their shape with his fingers, tickling the nipples, which were now free of Umbra juice. Laying her back, his mouth closed over one of those tempting nipples, encircling its pointed nub with his tongue, then biting down gently upon it. Her fingers kneaded his neck as he did, her nails pressing into the flesh as his teeth scored her. “Faerie witch!” he groaned, taking her head between his hands, his fingers deep in her golden hair as he kissed her again.

Lara’s hands ran down his body. She petted him with skillful fingers until she felt him shudder with delight at her touch. Her hand stroked his love rod, moving gently up and down its length, slipping beneath it to cup his love sac in her warm palm. She fondled it, fingers playing with the two large seeds within. The sharp intake of his breath was audible. She tweaked the sac a final time, and returned to caressing his length once more. Then Lara lay back upon the pillows of the large bed, and spread herself open for him. “I have waited for you all this long night, Kaliq, for no one gives me pleasures as you have always done.”

“And I have waited for you, my love. Tonight for the first time I regretted our code of hospitality that requires me to share you with my brothers.”

“It was most pleasurable, but I could be content with only you, my lord Kaliq,” Lara told him. “Your brothers are skilled, but it is you I always want.”

“Do you?” he surprised her by asking.

“Aye, I should not say it were it not so,” Lara swore to him. “That bit of mortal blood that flows in my veins prevents me from being duplicitous with you, Kaliq. Certainly you knew that. I am not Ilona.”

His answer was to lean forward so he might run his tongue along her shadowed slit. Feeling her quiver beneath him, he pressed his tongue between her nether lips. Finding her love bud, he teased it unmercifully until she was writhing, and her juices were beginning to flow for him. Seeing it, tasting her, Kaliq mounted Lara and thrust deep. Her immediate cry of pleasure encouraged him to his best efforts. Her legs wrapped about his torso. Her sharp nails dug into his shoulders. As he drove deeper, rode her harder, her nails raked down his long back.

“Please don’t stop!” Lara begged him. “It is too delicious!”

“I cannot promise,” he groaned. His lust was high, and his genuine desire for this woman was great. “These pleasures may come quickly, but we have the night together, Lara, my love,” Kaliq told her as he pistoned her until she was crying out with the pleasures he was giving her, and he cried out with the pleasures she was giving him as the muscles of her sheath tightened about his thick rod. Finally he could restrain himself no more. Her body had quivered for him again and again, and her juices had flowed for him thrice. Now as they began a fourth journey he released his own juices into her with a shout of pleasure fulfilled.