Bertrice Small - Crown of Destiny

“But you needed to let go by yourself, Lara,” he said.

“But now I fear I may have given Kolgrim an advantage,” she answered.

The Shadow Prince shook his dark head. “Nay, my love. Everything is as it should be. With this decision you have finally shed that last bit of your mortal skin. Once you make the magic world your home you will become entirely magic. But that is a decision that was yours alone to decide. I am pleased that you have finally made it.”

They walked back to the pavilion where Cadi awaited them, smiling. “I have your breakfast, mistress, master,” she said. Then she magicked white silk robes with necklines and cuffs trimmed in delicate gold threads and miniature transmutes, smiling when the little jewels glowed crystal clear with a faint golden cast. Transmutes, mined by the Jewel gnomes in the Emerald Mountains, were gemstones that changed color according to the wearer’s mood. Their color showed Cadi that both her mistress and the Shadow Prince were happy.

Lara and Kaliq sat down again among the pillows to eat. Their meal consisted of creamy yogurt, apricots, melon and green grapes, warm new bread, butter and a sweet hot tea, pale purple in color, brewed from the tiny new leaves of the Umbra trees that grew at Shunnar. Only the Shadow Princes had access to this tea for the Umbra trees were rare. Their fruits made a purple dye used for painting the nipples. The sweet flesh was coveted, for it also possessed an aphrodisiac quality.

“I am returning to the castle today,” Lara told Cadi. “When I have done what I must, I will leave Terah behind. We shall live in Shunnar. You may come with me or go with Prince Kaliq now. I am sending Dasras with my lord and will travel by magic.”

“I’ll come with you,” Cadi said. “I don’t even want to think what your mother would do to me if I left your side.”

Lara didn’t bother to argue the point. She was glad her serving woman would be with her. Terah was lonely enough now as it was. “We will not linger, Cadi. I promise.” When she had finished her meal, Lara left the pavilion and went to where Dasras stood shaded by the palms beneath his own silk awning.

The great white stallion looked up at her from his bin of oats. “Good morning,” he greeted her. “Less than a day, and you already look relaxed once again.”

“The time has come for me to depart Terah for good,” Lara began.

“All praise to the Great Creator!” Dasras said with a nod of his head.

Lara laughed. “But first I must return there to conclude one final bit of business. Then I shall collect Andraste and Verica and make Shunnar my home. I want you to go with the prince. Cadi and I shall travel by simple magic this day.”

“As you will, mistress,” Dasras responded. “As always, you have made a wise decision. There is, however, a boon I would ask of you.”

“Whatever you desire,” Lara told him.

“The great-grandson of my original groom, Jason, is called Leof. He is only a boy. He attempted to care for me when my former groom died. The older men were jealous and drove him away, yet none of them wanted to take responsibility for my care for they feared me because I am magic. Leof has managed to sneak into the stables now and again to bring me apples and carrots, but the last time the head groom caught him and beat him badly. I promised the boy that if I ever left Terah for good I would take him with me, mistress. Will you bring him with you when you return to Shunnar?”

“You have my word on it, Dasras. And he will take care of you. Og will teach him all he needs to know. His mortal kin are grown, and prefer the nomadic life of the desert dwellers. His wife is long dead. Leof will make a good companion for Og, as well. What of the boy’s family? Do they need him?”

“He was the youngest of his generation. Jason was quite old when he was born, but he lived until the boy turned five. I remember him bringing Leof to the stables with him. Of course he was no longer caring for me, but he oversaw those who did. And he began to teach the boy. But once Jason was gone it all changed. The boy was driven away. His family is large. They will not miss him.”

“Then I see no impediment to his coming. Has he learned, like all the others at the castle, to fear me?” Lara asked Dasras.

“Nay, his grandfather told him how kind you were, and I have reassured him the same,” the stallion said.

“I’ll have Cadi find him and bring him to me. The choice to come must be his, Dasras. You do understand that, don’t you?” Lara said.

“I do, but he will come,” Dasras responded in positive tones.

“Then I will leave you in Prince Kaliq’s hands, my faithful friend,” Lara said, patting the beast and giving his velvety nose a rub. She then hurried to find Cadi.

Her serving woman was clearing away the dishes. She looked up, smiling. “Are we ready?” she asked. Cadi waggled her fingers and the dirty dishes disappeared.

Lara nodded, then she called, “Kaliq, we are going now.”

He was immediately at her side, his arm about her supple waist, drawing her close. “Do not linger long, my love,” he said, brushing her lips softly with his own.

Reaching up, Lara caressed his strong jaw. “I won’t,” she promised.

Smiling into her faerie green eyes, the Shadow Prince released her.

With a wave of her hand Lara opened the Golden tunnel that magic folk often used to transport themselves from one place to another. Then she and Cadi hurried through into the swirl. It closed behind them as they moved along, shutting entirely as they exited into the small windowless room that Lara had always used for her magic. Lara looked about her then turned to Cadi. “Pack this room up and send it to Shunnar. Then join me in my apartments,” she instructed her serving woman.

As she departed the little chamber, she heard Cadi already murmuring the spells that would render the space empty as it had not been in over one hundred and twenty years. She realized that she felt no sadness in this at all and smiled a small smile. Encountering a guardsman on her way to her apartments, she asked him, “Is Prince Amren still in the castle?”

“He is, my lady.”

“Tell him his grandmother would see him in her apartments,” Lara told the man.

To his credit the man-at-arms bowed politely. “At once, my lady,” he replied.

Lara gave him a smile and moved quickly by him, finally reaching her apartments. They were empty, for only Cadi served Lara now. The faerie woman looked about her. Everything was in order, neat and clean, but the sensation of love, of life, was no longer there. She shook her head. Aye. ’Twas past time she left Terah. The memories here had long ago faded, leaving in their place a melancholy. Why hadn’t she noticed it until now?

Then she sensed an approach and turned quickly, even as the door to her apartments opened, and her grandson Prince Amren entered. “Come in, my lord,” she invited him pleasantly. “Sit down. We must speak on matters that concern you.” Going to a painted sideboard Lara poured a goblet of dark red wine for her grandson and another for herself. Handing it to him, she sat down opposite Amren.

“What matters?” he asked her, taking the goblet with a nod of thanks.

“The Dominus Cadarn plans to dismiss you, and replace you with his brother, Prince Cadoc,” Lara said bluntly.

“How can you know this?” Amren demanded, surprised.

Lara raised a delicate dark eyebrow. “Really, my lord, how can you even ask such a question of me?” she replied. “Do you think because you have been raised to fear me and ignore what I am that my powers are lessened to any degree? When something concerns me, I make it my business to know what I must.”

“You must be mistaken, Grandmother,” he said, but he did not sound very sure. “I have served Terah well since my youth.”