“He would tell me if I didn’t take care of him properly,” Jason said with a grin.
“Harumpp!” the stallion responded as the boy led him off.
Lara was eager for a bath and said so as they walked to their apartments. “Bathing is not an option at the Gathering,” she observed with a smile. “I have become used to this more civilized way of living.”
“I have been thinking about what you said,” he told her.
“About what?” Lara pretended it hadn’t been on her mind at all.
“A military force for Terah. We cannot wait until Hetar pays us a visit now, can we? Better to be ready. And I am curious about this dark land you saw to the north. Do you think it is inhabited?”
“Probably, but it is best we not investigate it, Magnus. We do not wish to attract attention. If Usi gained his powers from whoever is there we are better off avoiding the dark land for now. In time I will investigate that place.”
“If you wish to remain unknown you are better served not riding that great golden stallion with his flapping white wings into the region,” the Dominus said.
“Ahh, husband, there is still much you have to learn about me,” Lara told him.
“What?” he demanded to know.
“In time, Magnus,” she promised him.
“Why not now?” he asked her. They stood at the entrance to their apartments.
“You are not ready,” she answered simply. She stepped into the entry chamber, and greeted the serving woman who came forth smiling her welcome. “Ahh, Mila, your Domina wishes a bath.” Turning she kissed her husband lightly on his lips. “Do you want a bath, Magnus?” she purred at him, and her hand caressed his face.
All other thoughts fled him as she had anticipated. They had not been together as man and wife in several weeks now, and he was hungry for her. “Will you give me a child, my faerie wife?” he asked her, his arm wrapped about her waist.
“Have I not promised you that I will in time?” she answered him.
“That is not an answer,” he told her quietly.
“It is all the answer I can give you, Magnus. There are for now matters of greater importance to Terah than a child,” Lara said.
“An heir of my body and blood is paramount to Terah. You are a good mother, Lara. I saw you with your children, Dillon in particular, but even the shy little Anoush who knows not who you are. Your love for that wee girly surmounts your own need for your daughter, my faerie love. Your sacrifice is magnificent,” he told her.
“Because of my destiny I have deserted my daughter even as my own mother deserted me, Magnus. My sacrifice is a selfish one for all the nobility of my destiny,” Lara said bitterly. “I was happy with Vartan, with our children. And then with his murder, my destiny called once again. I will always wonder if I had not stayed with him, let him make me his wife, if he might not be alive today. He was a great leader of his people, and they needed him. I am happier with you, my love, than I have ever been. But when my destiny calls again and I must leave you behind, I do not want to leave another child as well. There are perilous times coming, Magnus. I sense it.”
“Vartan’s destiny was to be your mate for a time, to father Dillon who is a unique boy, and Anoush, and finally to die as he did,” the Dominus replied. “But I am your soul mate, your life mate, Lara, my faerie wife. If there are perilous times coming we will face them together, surmount them together. This I promise you. Now go and have your bath. I will join you shortly.” Then he turned and left her while he hurried off to find Corrado.
Reaching the apartments where his sister resided with her husband he was greeted most effusively by Sirvat, who was beginning to show her belly.
“You are home!” Sirvat flung her arms about his neck, and kissed her brother.
Magnus Hauk laughed. “Aye, and it was a grand adventure. These clan family folk are good people, little sister. I like them, except perhaps for the lord of the Aghy who enjoys flirting with Lara, and has several wives nonetheless.”
Sirvat laughed. “Is he handsome?” she asked. “You would be jealous of an ugly man, Brother.” Sirvat had been finally told of the clan families, and was fascinated.
The Dominus nodded. “Red hair, muscles and flashing black eyes,” he said.
“Ohh, sounds fascinating,” Sirvat cooed.
“Where is your husband?” he asked her.
“With his father and brother preparing for a voyage. As soon as he heard you were back he hurried to Ing’s chandlery to begin provisioning his vessel. He wants to do one voyage before the Icy season sets in again,” Sirvat said.
“Then I will go and find him,” the Dominus responded. He kissed her forehead. “Keep well, Sirvat. Lara will probably come and see you tomorrow, and tell you all.”
“Why are you so anxious to see Corrado?” Sirvat wanted to know.
“Because then he will not come banging at my apartment doors this evening when I am making love to my wife. We have not been together in weeks, Sirvat, and I do not want my longed for pleasures being interrupted by Corrado,” the Dominus told his sister.
His explanation made sense to Sirvat, and she asked nothing further of him as he departed her apartments. And it was the truth, Magnus Hauk thought. Perhaps not all the truth, but then Sirvat had asked nothing more than why he chose to see Corrado. The Dominus grinned to himself as he stepped onto the platform that would take him to the fjord. “Fjordside!” he snapped to the unseen giant who operated the platform, standing quietly as he was lowered down the platform shaft. When his brief journey came to a halt he stepped off the wooden platform, but he did not go out onto the docks. Instead he turned left into a corridor lit by round glass lamps filled with firebugs. These creatures spent their entire life-span within their home globes. They lived, died and mated within the confines of the glass. There were shops located along the corridor. Magnus Hauk nodded to the other Terahns shopping who bowed as he passed. Reaching the establishment belonging to Ing, the chandler, the Dominus stepped inside.
Corrado and his brother smiled as they saw who their visitor was.
“My lord Dominus, welcome back!” Corrado said.
“My sister tells me you plan a season’s end voyage,” the Dominus replied.
“With your permission, of course, my lord Dominus,” Corrado quickly answered.
“How long will it take you?” Magnus Hauk wanted to know.
“Eight days if the weather holds,” Corrado replied.
“Will it hold?” the Dominus asked.
“At this time of year, aye. Four times yearly, at the changing of the seasons, Sagitta has perfect weather with no storms, my lord Dominus. This period lasts approximately ten days. It has just begun,” Corrado explained.
“Can you go today?” his lord wanted to know.
Corrado looked to his brother, Ing. “Can I?”
Ing, a man of few words nodded to the Dominus.
“Go then,” Magnus Hauk said. “Today. Return quickly. Pick up any gossip you can from the Coastal Kings. Report to me immediately upon your return, no matter the hour of the day or night.”
“My lord,” Corrado said slowly, then turned to his brother, “leave us, Ing.”
Ing said nothing, but disappeared into the back of his shop.
“I am preparing a new venture,” the Dominus said, “and I am going to need your counsel, Corrado. I want my plans in place before the Icy season begins. That is all I choose to say to you for now.”
“I trust you, my lord Dominus,” his captain of captains replied. “My ship and my crew are waiting. Tell Sirvat I will see her in a few days.” He bowed.
“Send Ing to her with that message,” Magnus Hauk said. “I have not been with Lara in weeks now. I am going to join her in her bath, Corrado. Travel in safety.” Then turning the Dominus left his brother-in-law in the middle of the chandlery.