The Sorceress of Belmair (13 page)

“Her hair is as black as a raven’s wing,” Kaliq answered.

“Then she’ll be fair,” Cirillo said.

“Her skin is like moonlight,” Kaliq told him.

“Eyes? Let me guess? Violet? No. Blue? Perhaps. No. Ah, green! Am I right? Green?” His look was both boyish and eager.

Kaliq nodded. “As green as springtime,” he responded.

“There is faerie then somewhere in her blood,” Cirillo remarked. “If her eyes are green then a faerie once mated with one of her ancestors. And a sorceress to boot.”

“Her sorcery is limited, but on Belmair it is considered unique,” Kaliq said.

“How long will it take us to get there?” Cirillo wanted to know.

A stricken look touched Ilona’s beautiful face. “You will be careful, Cirillo,” she said to him, her hand touching his silken sleeve. “And you must come quickly back, for your father will give me no peace until you are safely again within our forest kingdom.”

“I’m being asked to find a door, Mama, not fight Belmair’s dragon,” Cirillo said patiently to his mother. He patted the hand clutching his sleeve.

“You are sometimes reckless, Cirillo,” Ilona said. “I would simply beg you remember that you are heir to our forest kingdom.”

“I will remember,” he promised her. Then he turned to Kaliq. “Can we go now, my lord?” And he stepped next to the Shadow Prince.

“We can,” Kaliq said, enfolding them both in his cloak, and before either Ilona or Lara could say another word the two men were gone.

To Lara’s amazement her mother gave a little sob. “Mother!”

“He is my baby,” Ilona said, and she wiped a single tear away. “I am allowed a tear now and again, Lara. The last time I wept one was the day I left you.”

“He will be all right,” Lara comforted her mother. “And he will be with both Kaliq and Dillon. He’ll return in a day or two with all sorts of gossip about Belmair, and you will enjoy listening to him spin his tales of adventure.”

“Do not speak to me as if I am some old woman,” Ilona snapped, her composure restored. Then, “Are you going home now?”

“Nay, I think I shall remain with you for a few days, Mother, if you would not mind my company,” Lara told her. “Magnus has taken Taj to visit his uncle at the Temple of the Great Creator, and Anoush is watching her sisters.”

“Well,” Ilona allowed, “I suppose it would be nice to have your company. It has been some time since we have had a good visit. Every time I go to Terah that wretched old cat, Persis, invades your castle, and we have no time together. Yes. Remain if you choose. I do not object,” the queen of the Forest Faeries said. “What gossip do you have?”

“Hetar wants Marzina for Egon, but Kaliq says no,” Lara replied.

“He is right,” Ilona answered. “I hear the boy is a little tyrant. Have you heard that a civil war has broken out in the Dark Lands between the adherents of your twin sons?”

“I don’t want to know,” Lara said in a hard voice. “They are Kol’s, not mine.”

“You birthed them,” Ilona reminded her daughter. “Everything is going quite nicely, my daughter. Kol remains imprisoned where none can reach him, and his brats have begun a war to further disrupt the Dark Lands. No one knows where they are, of course, but each of them has his adherents. They quarrel for supremacy. Eventually, of course, when they reach maturity in a few more years they will come into the open, and then, Lara, the real fun will begin. One of them will have to be killed, and since neither of them under their own laws can destroy the other it will be both fascinating and exciting to learn which one will survive. It could take years before the Dark Lands are again in a position to threaten the rest of Hetar. You did a great service, my daughter. Because of you the light is stronger than the dark,” Ilona concluded.

“It is a part of my life I can never forget, Mother,” Lara told her parent, “but I do not wish to remember, either. Please do not remind me of it.”

“Then we will speak on your half brother, Mikhail. He has been elected to the High Council as a representative for the Crusader Knights,” Ilona said. “And he is, it seems, quite respected. Your wretched stepmother, of course, is not satisfied. She wanted him to follow in your father’s footsteps. Her other four roughnecks are all in training, for as the sons of John Swiftsword they are entitled to places within the ranks of the Crusader Knights. Mikhail holds a position among them, but prefers to serve within the political venue as opposed to the military. Of course none of your stepmother’s brats will ever be the swordsman your father was,” Ilona said smugly.

“Hopefully the Crusader Knights will never be needed again,” Lara told her mother. “The women of Hetar are slowly but most surely gaining equal power with the men. But it is a waiting game, I fear. In the meantime it is good that young men like Mikhail are willing to serve on the council. We speak now and again, and he is a forward-thinking man. I will forever be grateful to my father for telling him of me when Susanna would not. When he came to me on the battlefield after we had defeated Kol’s army of darkness to tell me that John Swiftsword was dead, and that he had been proud of me…” Lara own eyes grew teary with the memory. “I promised myself then that I would stay in contact with him no matter my stepmother, and I have.”

“He is a fortunate mortal to have you as his half sister. Did you tell him of your father’s faerie blood?” Ilona asked.

“Aye,” Lara said, “and he laughed when I did. He said it would be our secret, and he would not reveal it to his brothers or his mother. Mikhail is a good man.”

“How long do you think Kaliq will keep Cirillo away?” Ilona said, changing the subject. “I imagine if it is not too long Thanos need not know until after the fact.”

Lara laughed. “I think you are safe keeping Cirillo’s whereabouts from his father. As long as Thanos is involved in his arboretum you will be safe from his curiosity, Mother. The trees are his passion, aren’t they? So let us, you and I, enjoy ourselves these next few days while our men are about other things.”

Ilona smiled. “I never thought to have a friend in my daughter, Lara, but I can see that I do. Aye! We will drink wine and eat sweetmeats and do the outrageous things that women love to do. I have these two marvelous mortal masseurs I have enchanted. Shall I call upon them?” And the queen of the Forest Faeries smiled wickedly.

Chapter 5

C
IRILLO
OF
THE
Forest Faeries was enchanted by the beauty of Belmair. “Oh, yes,” he said. “There be faeries here. It is too lovely a world for our race not to inhabit.” Then he embraced Dillon. “Hello, Nephew! It is good to see you again.”

“Uncle,” Dillon welcomed Cirillo with a grin. “My lord father,” he greeted Kaliq.

Cinnia stared openmouthed at Cirillo. Never in all her life had she ever seen such a beautiful creature. Unable to help herself she reached out to touch his pale gold hair, for she had not seen its like before. It looked like spun silk, or perhaps spider’s silk or milkweed floss. It felt like… She gasped as his hand grasped hers. Her eyes met two crystal-green eyes. Cinnia swallowed hard, and a deep blush suffused her pale skin.

“You will be my new
niece,
” Cirillo purred seductively, and he placed a warm lingering kiss upon Cinnia’s small hand.

“Is it not possible for you to meet a woman without trying to seduce her, Cirillo?” Dillon said, his tone just faintly tinged with irritation.

Cirillo sighed. “I suppose since she is your wife you will be jealous if I do,” he said, his tone sorrowful. He smiled at Cinnia as she snatched her hand away from him. “I am very sorry, my beautiful one, but I cannot oblige the longing I see in your eyes. You are, alas, now family.”

“What you see in my eyes, my lord, is shock that you would be so forward with a woman you have not even yet met,” Cinnia said outraged, and frankly embarrassed by her own girlish and gauche actions.

“Indeed,
Uncle,
” Dillon teased Cirillo. “But let us have do with the formalities. This is Cinnia, my bride and my queen. Cinnia, this is my uncle, Cirillo, prince of the Forest Faeries, who has come to lend us his aid.”

“My lord,” Cinnia said, dropping him a curtsey as Cirillo bowed politely.

“I think Nidhug should join us,” Kaliq said.

“I’ll go and fetch her myself,” Cinnia said, and hurried away from the hall.

“You did not exaggerate, my lord Kaliq,” Cirillo said. “She is a great beauty.”

“And she is my wife,” Dillon reminded the faerie prince once again.

“It will be difficult,” Cirillo admitted, “keeping my hands off of her, but I will. It would never do for us to quarrel.”

“The dragon is a female,” Dillon said drily to his uncle. “Charm her.”

“Does she have a weakness?” Cirillo asked seriously.

“She is a serious gourmand,” Dillon replied, half laughing.

“I have promised your grandmother that I would return Cirillo as quickly as possible,” Kaliq said. “And unscathed. Once Nidhug joins us we will go to the Academy to seek the hidden room and its forbidden books within its library.”

His two companions agreed, and wine being served they descended in to small talk until Cinnia returned with the dragon. Coming into the hall, they made their way to where the three men sat. Looking at the faerie prince, Nidhug murmured something low to Cinnia, and then the two laughed.

Dillon came forward to welcome the dragon into the hall. “Nidhug, I greet you,” he said, holding his two hands out to accept her elegant paws into them.

“My lord king,” the dragon said, nodding in return. Then her shimmering gaze turned itself to Kaliq and Cirillo. “Kaliq of the Shadows, I greet you. And this beautiful fellow will be Prince Cirillo.” Her voice had gone a trifle more seductive as she spoke.

“I greet you, Nidhug,” Kaliq said.

“Madam, I greet you,” Cirillo said. “No one told me a dragon would be so…so beautiful. I have never seen your like before.”

“Of course you haven’t, my dear boy.” Nidhug simpered, her heavy, thick purple eyelashes fluttering just slightly. “There are no dragons in Hetar.”

Cirillo was delighted by her response. The dragon knew how to flirt. He held out his hand to her, and upon the open palm was a small silver plate covered with candies.

“Ohhh,”
the dragon said delightedly. “Truffles! I adore truffles. How did you know, my dear boy?” She reached out with her paw, and Cirillo saw her gold claws had painted red tips. Nidhug used those elegant claws to impale several truffles, and then she popped them into her mouth. An expression of utter bliss bloomed within her eyes. “Delicious!” she pronounced. “The best I have ever eaten, dear boy. Faerie made, I have to assume, are they not?”

He nodded.

“Put them away for now,” Nidhug said. “But I shall want them later. Can you arrange that for me?” The eyelashes fluttered again.

The flat silver plate disappeared from Cirillo’s hand. “I can arrange anything you desire, madam,” he told her.

“Nidhug,” the dragon practically purred at him. “Do call me Nidhug.”

“Are we all ready to visit the Academy now?” Dillon asked impatiently. “I think we should use our magic to get there.” Taking Cinnia’s hand in his, they disappeared. The dragon followed immediately.

Kaliq looked at Cirillo. “I recognize that look,” he said.

“Have you ever?” Cirillo asked.

Kaliq shook his head. “Never,” he said.

“I am tempted,” Cirillo admitted.

Shaking his head, Kaliq flung his robe about them and they quickly reappeared in the main foyer of the Academy, where Dillon was now taking the key to the chamber of forbidden books from Byrd. The head librarian looked askance at Kaliq and Cirillo, who were strangers to him. He frowned when Prentice joined the group.

Following Dillon and Cinnia, they entered the beautiful library. It was a large round white marble chamber filled with rows and rows of tall oak bookcases holding the manuscripts and volumes of the history, fiction and poetry of Belmair. Its roof was domed and pervious, allowing the light to pour into the chamber.

“Where do we begin?” Dillon asked Cirillo. “Prentice, stay near.”

The faerie prince began to slowly encircle the room facing the smooth walls as he did so. He stopped once. Shook his head and moved on. He stopped a second time, and when he did he was smiling. “It’s here, Dillon.”

“How do you know?” Dillon asked him. “I don’t see anything.”

“That’s because you aren’t all faerie,” Cirillo said.
“Door appear. Here!”

And before their surprised eyes a small paneled oak door with a rounded top became visible.

“Give me the key,” Cirillo said, and receiving it he put it into the lock and turned it carefully. The door opened easily. The faerie prince held up a warning hand. “Wait. I need to know exactly how the door is enchanted.” He pulled the portal closed and turned the lock. The access immediately disappeared again. “Dillon, you say the spell, and let us see what happens.”

Dillon took Cirillo’s place and said,
“Door appear. Here!”
Nothing happened, and the doorway remained invisible to them.

Cirillo shook his golden head. “Whoever fashioned this spell didn’t want just anyone gaining access to this chamber, for only a faerie prince can open it.”

“Can you imbricate the spell?” Dillon wanted to know.

“I don’t know,” Cirillo answered honestly. “I must attempt another small trial.
Door appear. Here!
” The door revealed itself once again. Cirillo turned the key, and flung open the entry. Turning to Prentice, he asked, “Are you the king’s scholar in this?”

“I am,” the scholar said, bowing.

“Are you brave enough to enter this chamber, and allow me to close the door again? I want to know if you can exit the room from your side,” Cirillo told him. “If after a few moments you have not come out, then I will reveal the door once more on this side, and open it up for you.”

“I will go with him,” Dillon said before Prentice could answer. Taking the scholar by the arm, the two men stepped across the threshold into the small chamber.

Cirillo immediately closed the door, turned the lock and once more the portal was invisible to their eyes. After a few moments both Dillon and Prentice stepped through what appeared to be solid wall, but the door was not visible to them at all.

“We were able to open it from our side,” Dillon said.

“It’s an amazing piece of magic, isn’t it, my lord Kaliq?” Cirillo said.

“It is indeed,” the Shadow Prince agreed.

“Can you undo it?” Dillon asked his faerie uncle.

“I won’t know until I try,” Cirillo said. “I must think on it. In the meantime I will open the door for your scholar so he may begin his studies of the books inside.”

“My lord,” Prentice spoke. “With Your Majesty’s permission I should prefer to remove a few books for study in my own quarters. They will be safe there, and so will I. I am not comfortable in that chamber,” he said nervously.

“You will need time to look about the volumes here,” Dillon said. “I do not want you to have to hurry yourself because you are afraid. Will you feel safe if my faerie uncle remains with you? After all he is the only one among us who can control the portal.”

Prentice nodded. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I have never before been this close to powerful magic. It is both wonderful and frightening.”

Dillon smiled at the scholar. “Aye, it is,” he agreed, “but my faerie uncle will keep you safe. And he will see the books you wish to peruse further transported to your chambers when you have had the time to select them.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” the scholar said.

“I will remain, as well,” the dragon said. “My magic is small, but in the event of danger even a little extra magic helps.”

“I welcome your company,” Cirillo replied with a smile.

The Shadow Prince raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

“I will tell Byrd he may close the Academy doors when he chooses. That you will keep the key, Uncle,” Dillon said. Then he, Kaliq and Cinnia departed. As they walked back through the gardens toward the castle Dillon told his father, “He wants to seduce Nidhug. Is there no female safe with him, my lord?”

Cinnia gasped. “What do you mean he wants to seduce Nidhug? He is faerie. She is a dragon. It is not possible.”

“He will shape-shift himself into a male dragon,” Kaliq explained to her. “Or he may turn her into a woman for a brief time. He is a faerie, Cinnia, and faerie lusts can be far greater than mortal lusts. Do not fear for Nidhug. She is more than well aware of his interests. If she does not desire him, she will discourage him in most dragonlike fashion.”

“Oh, my,” Cinnia said softly.

“Your husband is half-faerie,” Kaliq murmured.

Cinnia’s pale cheeks grew pink again, but she said nothing.

“Do not tease her, my lord,” Dillon said with a small smile. Then he gave a small chuckle. “Trust my faerie uncle in a world lacking in young women to find a female to fuck. Cirillo is truly a wonder in many ways but his instincts for women is unfailing.”

“Ilona will have a difficult time finding a queen for him when the time comes,” Kaliq noted.

“If faeries are lustful then why would Cirillo’s wife care?” Cinnia asked.

“Faeries are faithful to their mates for they mate for life,” Kaliq explained. “They do not wed young as you and Dillon have. And not all faeries wed. Most enjoy the freedom to take lovers, and sometimes if they love the lover they have they will give that mortal a child. Dillon’s mother came from his grandmother’s love for a Hetarian man.”

“Are you certain, my lord Kaliq, that Nidhug will be safe with Prince Cirillo?” Cinnia continued to fret. “I do not know if she has ever had a lover.”

“You may rest easy on that account,” Kaliq assured the girl. “She tells me that she has an egg with her successor secreted in a cave somewhere. She has entertained a dragon lover now and again although dragons are few on Belmair.”

“Dragons can create their own successors without the aid of another,” Cinnia surprised Kaliq by saying. “This Nidhug told me once when I asked where the next dragon would come from, and she wished to reassure me.”

The Shadow Prince smiled. “Nidhug did not lie,” he replied. “But I believe from what she disclosed to me once that her egg was the result of a love affair with a male of her species. Cirillo will not harm your dragon, Cinnia, and if she refused his overtures he will cease them. His charms are such that he need force no female to his will.”

“But what if he puts a spell upon her in order to force her to his will?” Cinnia worried. Her lovely face was truly distressed.

“He would never do such a thing,” Dillon responded this time. “His ego would never allow it. My faerie uncle takes great pride in his own personal allure. From the time we were boys together at Shunnar females of all ages were attracted to him.”

“It is apparent that Cinnia knows little or nothing about faeries,” Kaliq observed thoughtfully. “There is faerie magic at work in Belmair, yet no one realizes it. Why, I wonder, has the knowledge of faeries been expunged from Belmair’s history?”

“It is to be hoped that Prentice can learn that from the books he takes from the Academy’s hidden library chamber,” Dillon said. “Did you note that there were at least a thousand books in that room?”

Kaliq nodded. “It will take time to sort them all out,” he said.

But Prince Cirillo was already doing just that. Shortly after the others had left the faerie man noticed something that neither the dragon nor the mortal with him could see. It was an eye hidden in the intricate decoration of the ceiling above them. His acute faerie senses had alerted him to the fact that they were being watched. Surreptitiously gazing about as he appeared to examine a book he had spotted the open eye before it realized he had discovered it, for having seen it he quickly looked away.

Oh, yes,
he thought.
Faerie magic.
And he would have to outwit it quickly.

Using a thought spell he spoke silently.
Bring the faerie books to me. That Prentice may both learn and see. And keep him safe from those who spy. Especially all faerie eyes.

“Gracious!” the scholar exclaimed as books began flying from the shelves and stacking themselves up on the table before him.

“It would seem you have what you need,” Cirillo said briskly. With a wave of his hand he transported both Prentice and the books back to his own chambers.
“Quickly!”
he said to the dragon, and grabbing her paw he pulled her swiftly from the hidden room whose walls had suddenly begun to close in on them. There was a high-pitched shriek as they dashed through the open door before it slammed shut behind them and disappeared from their view.