The Shadow Queen (25 page)

“You will not stay?” He looked disappointed.

“I have a kingdom to rule, my lord,” Lara told him softly.

With a reluctant sigh the Shadow Prince put his hand, palm down, over the oblong bowl and said, “Bowl empty.” Then he handed the vessel to her with one hand while drawing her to him for a kiss with the other.

His lips on hers were both tender and passionate. Lara kissed him back. Then before he might say another word she evaporated from his arms, and was gone. She reappeared in a small windowless room within her castle where she came to work on spells and other magical pursuits. Carefully she set the bowl upon a shelf. It would not be disturbed for the door to her chamber always locked behind her, and would open to no hand but hers. As she walked toward her own apartments she could see the sun had already set, and she was glad. It had been an exhausting few days.

Taj was waiting for her. “Where have you been, Mother? I was worried,” he said.

“I had business to discuss with Prince Kaliq,” she answered.

“You are always with him,” the young Dominus replied, and she heard the jealousy in his voice.

“Kaliq is my mentor, and has been for many years,” Lara said quietly.

“What business did you discuss?” he demanded to know.

“Magical business, my son, of which you are unfamiliar,” Lara replied. “And of which you will remain unfamiliar. I may have birthed you, Taj, but you are pure mortal as was your father. I am glad of it. Being magical is a great burden to bear.”

“I hate being alone,” Taj told her, and they sat together. “I miss my sisters!”

“You always complained about your sisters,” Lara said with a small smile. “You said Anoush was too dreamy, Zagiri too vain and Marzina too magical.”

“They were!” Taj insisted. “But they were here, Mother. If my head hurt Anoush always had a remedy for it. And Zagiri always helped me when my lessons were too hard. And my twin sister could make me laugh with her magic when she would turn a servant into some creature, and then turn it back again. The creatures always looked like the person, too, Mother. I miss her.”

“I know, Taj. The castle seems empty to me, too, now, but Anoush wanted to remain with her father’s people for she is happiest with them. And Zagiri ran away from us, and it was time for Marzina to go to your grandmother Ilona. It was necessary she learn the strict discipline that someone with great magical powers needs. It is those magical beings who have not that discipline who fall into the darkness,” Lara told him.

“We will go to The Gathering this year, won’t we, Mother? And my sisters will be there, won’t they?”

Lara ruffled her son’s dark gold hair. “Anoush will be there, and I know your grandmother will send Marzina to be with us. As for Zagiri, Taj, I do not know when you will see her again,” Lara said.

“Could I not send a message to the Lord High Ruler of Hetar demanding that he send my sister to The Gathering?” Taj asked. “I am, after all, Dominus of Terah.”

“And Jonah is Lord High Ruler of Hetar, Taj,” Lara replied. “He believes his status is equal to yours, my son.”

“My lands are vaster, and richer,” Taj bragged.

“Which is why Hetar covets Terah,” Lara pointed out. “You must learn not to be boastful, Taj. Envious people will stop at nothing. You should remember that. A wise leader is gracious, and has no need to vaunt himself above others.”

“You should remain home, Mother,” Taj said. “I learn much from you.”

Lara laughed. “You sound like your father,” she teased him. Then she grew serious. “Your father knew I had a destiny, Taj, which is why he never held me too closely. You will have to learn that lesson, too, my darling. It is part of your growing up.” Then she kissed his brow. “Go to bed, Taj. I can already see Belmair glowing brightly in the night sky. I will be here in the morning when you awaken, I promise.”

He returned her kiss, and then went off to his own chamber. What a difference, Lara thought, between Kolbein, Kolgrim and her son Taj.

The other two are your sons, too,
Ethne reminded her.

Lara’s hand went to the crystal star resting above her heart that was now glowing.
How can I think of them as mine?
she said.
They are Kol’s, not mine. He forced his seed on me, Ethne. Only in having my memory restored was I able to thwart him by dividing that seedling into two. But I did not want them!

And Marzina?
Ethne asked.
She is Kol’s child yet you love her with all your heart, Lara.

I have never considered Marzina
his.
She is Magnus’s daughter, and Taj’s twin!

Who came from the Twilight Lord’s seed as did Kolbein and Kolgrim,
Ethne said.
Now you are being asked to choose one over the other, my child. It will not be easy.

You must help me,
Lara responded.

I am always here for you,
Ethne replied. And then the magical spirit’s flickering flame dimmed as it always did when she had said what she must.

For the next few days Lara would go to her little privy chamber to view the twin sons she had borne the Twilight Lord. She kept the bowl filled with the clear liquid so she might quickly view them. As Kaliq had said, they were Kol’s get without a doubt. Selfish and cruel, ignorant, libidinous and vicious. She could find few redeeming qualities in either of them. Kolbein and Kolgrim lived for themselves. Though they were not quite two and a half years older than Taj, their maturity was far greater than the young Terahn Dominus. And then word came that Chancellor Alfrigg had left the Twilight Lord’s castle and taken to the road leading to the home of the renegade Forest Giant, Arild.

Lara watched both, repelled and yet amused as the golden-haired Kolgrim charmed the old dwarf with his exquisite manners and pleasant demeanor. Kolgrim could not know that the Twilight Lord’s chancellor was at first quite taken aback by him. But then Alfrigg saw the boy viciously punish a servant who had spilled a drop of soup on his hand, and he was reassured. He remembered that Kol had had beautiful manners when it pleased him, too. But the golden hair continued to trouble him.

Alfrigg left the Forest Giant’s house promising to return, and next traveled to the Wolfyn Thorolf to see Kolbein. The dwarf was actually shocked by Kolbein’s behavior. The boy was rude. He was crude. There was a question in Alfrigg’s mind of whether he could be retrained so that he ate like a great lord, and not an animal. But the boy did have his father’s penchant for cruelty, and his lust was truly awe-inspiring, the old dwarf concluded as he watched Kolbein amuse himself with three serving women in a corner of the hall. It could be a difficult decision. And then Kolbein forced the chancellor’s hand.

“Thorolf tells me that you know who my parents are,” the boy said. He showed no respect for the dwarf’s position as chancellor to the Twilight Lord.

“Thorolf says what he should not,” Alfrigg responded. He glared at the Wolfyn.

“Who are they, then, little man?” Kolbein demanded to know.

The Wolfyn females gasped at the boy’s bold demand, the one who had mothered him chiding gently with a low warning growl.

The boy turned and struck her a fierce blow. “Be silent! This is not the business of females, nor should you dare to reprimand a male of the pack.” Turning back to Alfrigg he snarled, “Well? What answer do you have for me?”

Alfrigg looked coldly at the boy. “Your parents were in service to the Twilight Lord. When they died shortly after you were born he put you out to be fostered in hopes that one day you might be of service to him as they were. However, I see no future for you, boy.”

As the scene unfolded Lara watched it all happen in the oblong bowl. Alfrigg had solved her problem, she thought relieved. But then a burst of laughter erupted, and the Darkling Ciarda appeared in a flash of bright scarlet flames.

“Tell him the truth, my lord Alfrigg. I see much promise in the boy,” she said.

Kolbein’s mouth dropped open in surprise. Never had he seen such a lovely maiden, and his lust was almost instantly engaged. But her words had also penetrated his brain.
“What truth?”
he asked in a hard voice.

The old dwarf drew himself up. “Darkling!” he thundered at her. “You do not know what you do. Stay out of this matter, or be punished.”

“You have not the power to punish me,” Ciarda said. Then she turned to the boy. “You are not the spawn of servants, boy. You are my half brother, and our father is the Twilight Lord himself.”

A look of pure evil lit Kolbein’s handsome face briefly. He swiveled to look down at the chancellor. “If I am the Twilight Lord’s son then I am his heir,” he said softly. “And when my father learns you have lied to me, old man, it is you who will be punished. Perhaps he will even let me do the deed. It will be a slow and painful death I can assure you, and I will enjoy every minute of the process.”

The Darkling laughed. “What a lad he is!” she crowed. “Our father would be proud of him.” Ciarda moved next to Kolbein and he stared boldly at her full breasts. “There are ways of prolonging agony that I can teach you,
little brother,
” she purred at him. “Alfrigg is old, and you wouldn’t want him to die quickly and cheat yourself of your fun.” She laughed again. “But you would do better to keep him alive for he has served our sire for eons, and is most useful.” She whirled about again to face the chancellor. “Tell him the rest of it, my lord.”

“What rest of it?” Kolbein wanted to know.

“You have begun the tale, lady,” Alfrigg said quietly. “You tell him.”

“You are a twin!” Ciarda said. “You have a brother.”

“He must be killed,” Kolbein declared without sentiment or hesitation.

“Yes, darling lad, he must be. But not yet,” Ciarda replied. “Not at least until we have met him. That would not be polite at all, little brother.”

“Where is he?” Kolbein demanded to know.

Now Alfrigg spoke up. “We will go tomorrow,” he said.

“My magic could take us now,” the Darkling replied.

“Tomorrow,” the chancellor repeated in a firm voice.

“Oh very well,” Ciarda acquiesced prettily. Reaching out, she took Kolbein’s hand in hers. “Shall we get to know one another better, little brother?” she asked him.

“Aye!” he said. “Come!” And he led her from the hall.

“We have been responsible for raising Lord Kol’s son,” Thorolf finally spoke in a hushed tone. “We shall be in great favor when Kolbein becomes the Twilight Lord!” Then he raised his head up and howled. The cry was taken up by all in the hall.

“You might have at least seen he had better table manners,” Alfrigg grumbled when the sound had finally ceased. “His father would not be pleased at all.”

“You say
would?
” Thorolf said slyly.

“Would! Will!” Alfrigg snapped. “What difference does it make to you?”

“Would is the past, will the present, my lord Chancellor,” Thorolf replied.

“Very well, Lord Wolfyn. His father will not at all be pleased. Does that satisfy you?” The chancellor was very angry. He had planned an orderly transfer of power, and now thanks to the Darkling all had become chaos.

Lara watched it all. She heard Alfrigg’s thoughts, and briefly felt sorry for him. But he was right about Ciarda. She had brought discord into what should have been an easy process.
Prince Kaliq, hear my call. Come to me from out yon wall.

A golden light appeared in the center of the blank stone wall of the chamber. It quickly revealed a tunnel and Kaliq hurried through it into Lara’s little privy chamber. It closed behind him. “What is it, my love? What has happened?”

Lara quickly explained what she had just heard and witnessed in the oblong bowl.

“We must go to Arild’s hall,” Kaliq said. “There is no help for it. We cannot be certain that Alfrigg will be allowed to live long enough to tell Kolgrim the truth.”

“I cannot,” Lara said. “I cannot face those two nightmares. I am brave, but this I cannot do. You ask too much of me, Kaliq.”

“There is no other choice,” he responded.

“Why can you not go alone, my lord? I bore them, for that was a part of my destiny, you said. You put me in Kol’s hands. Allowed him to steal my memories and impregnate me. Now you will have me decide their fate? I bore them. Was that not enough? Nay! It is not fair! I cannot!” Tears filled her emerald eyes.

“Kolgrim and Kolbein are a part of your destiny, Lara. And you are a part of theirs,” Kaliq told her. “This task is a part of what you must do.” He put an arm about her. “I will be by your side. If your strength falters I will give you mine.”

She stood silent for several long moments before she said, “Very well. Let us go and attempt to put an end to this disaster.”
Andraste, to me!
Lara called to her sword, and the scabbard and sword were suddenly upon her back. “I am ready,” she told the Shadow Prince. She felt his kiss atop her head, and then he enfolded them both in his long white silk cloak. The cloak smelled of sandalwood, and Lara breathed deeply of it, taking in his essence, calming her nerves. When Kaliq flung back the fabric they stood in a stone hall.

With a roar Arild leaped from his High Board towering above the strangers. “Why do you invade my hall uninvited, Shadow Prince?” His hand was on his sword.

Lara stepped from the protection of Kaliq’s cape. With a slow, deliberate motion, she drew Andraste from the scabbard, and planted it before her. The sword hummed softly, menacingly. “I am Lara, Domina of Terah, Arild, kin to Skrymir, Lord of the Forest Giants, kin to my friend, Og. I come to you in peace, but if you do not remove your hand from the hilt of your weapon I will remove your hand.” She looked up at him boldly. “Where is your fosterling? I have business with him.”

Kaliq stood silent, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he watched Lara take charge of the situation. He was pleased to see her years in Terah as a wife and a mother had done nothing to take away her ability to command a difficult situation.

“What business have you with Kolgrim?” the giant demanded. “He was given to us by the Twilight Lord’s chancellor as a little one.” He took his hand from his sword.