The Crown of Minos: The Dreamscape Wars: Minos and Crown of Minos, #2

By Douglas Roff

About the Book

 

Crown of Minos - The Dreamscape Wars is the third novel in the Minos series following Minos and The Crown of Minos - The Qos Empire. 

After Adam St. James discovers he is trapped in Dreamscape, and after discovering the real reason Lord Minos recruited Adam, he sets about exploring this strange new life and its implications. But Adam has a secret, one that even he is unaware of, so while Lord Minos and others plot to use him for their own ends, they soon discover they cannot control him.

Minos at first accepts Adam as a powerful leader, but as agendas are revealed and power plays are made, Adam must rise to the occasion and find a way to co-exist among the toxic leaders of the planet he inhabits. As Adam expands his horizons, he begins to acquire new powers and abilities, enhanced by his own nature. His powers grow.

New characters enter his world as he makes peace with the family of the queen, Athena. Given the threats against him and the people of Minos, Adam is on a path going to war against the other worlds. But rather than resort to open conflict, Adam instead first tries to divide and conquer. He starts negotiations with one of the six worlds, and through the queen governing there, discovers a powerful being named Bindi escaping her own masters. 

As Adam and the Bindi become close, he as a physical being and she as a spirit being, he learns more and more about himself, his powers, and the true nature of the Dreamscape universe. His new goals are lofty and said to be impossible and unattainable, and as he comes to full power, the war against the Six Worlds comes into question.

A far more powerful empire is looking for the Bindi being and is headed for Minos and Adam. In its wake there is death and destruction, while at home Adam experiences deception and betrayal. He is becoming a powerful warlord, but who can he rely on? The Minoans call him the "Outlander", a foreigner who they respect, but who is not "one of them".

The saga of Minos continues with more revelations in store, but from who and why? Who manipulates this Dreamscape reality, and what is Adam destined to do? 

And, can he ever return home?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Douglas Roff
• Release date: Feb 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224415366

Douglas Roff

Douglas Roff is a retired corporate executive. He has lived around the world working in various capacities for government and industry.  Doug has written twenty-nine novels to date, mostly in the mystery, paranormal and fantasy genres, but not exclusively.  He currently resides in Latin America, speaks Spanish, and is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada.  

Book preview

About the Book

Crown of Minos - The Dreamscape Wars is the third novel in the Minos series following Minos and The Crown of Minos - The Qos Empire .

After Adam St. James discovers he is trapped in Dreamscape, and after discovering the real reason Lord Minos recruited Adam, he sets about exploring this strange new life and its implications. But Adam has a secret, one that even he is unaware of, so while Lord Minos and others plot to use him for their own ends, they soon discover they cannot control him.

Minos at first accepts Adam as a powerful leader, but as agendas are revealed and power plays are made, Adam must rise to the occasion and find a way to co-exist among the toxic leaders of the planet he inhabits. As Adam expands his horizons, he begins to acquire new powers and abilities, enhanced by his own nature. His powers grow.

New characters enter his world as he makes peace with the family of the queen, Athena. Given the threats against him and the people of Minos, Adam is on a path going to war against the other worlds. But rather than resort to open conflict, Adam instead first tries to divide and conquer. He starts negotiations with one of the six worlds, and through the queen governing there, discovers a powerful being named Bindi escaping her own masters.

As Adam and the Bindi become close, he as a physical being and she as a spirit being, he learns more and more about himself, his powers, and the true nature of the Dreamscape universe. His new goals are lofty and said to be impossible and unattainable, and as he comes to full power, the war against the Six Worlds comes into question.

A far more powerful empire is looking for the Bindi being and is headed for Minos and Adam. In its wake there is death and destruction, while at home Adam experiences deception and betrayal. He is becoming a powerful warlord, but who can he rely on? The Minoans call him the Outlander, a foreigner who they respect, but who is not one of them.

The saga of Minos continues with more revelations in store, but from who and why? Who manipulates this Dreamscape reality, and what is Adam destined to do?

And, can he ever return home?

Dreamscape and the Six Lords

What is Dreamscape ? Dreamscape is an alternate parallel universe closely resembling the universe of planet Earth and the Milky Way galaxy. The Dreamscape universe can be accessed through the Eye, a portal, of a connected planet in Dreamscape. However, the portal is a one way street. All who enter may never return; people are split into two essences, one remaining anchored to the old world and one trapped in Dreamscape.

While a person may never return home to his or her birth world, a twin Dreamscape world, a replica of the birth world exists which may be visited. While residing in Dreamscape, a person may return to this replica world, separate from events in Dreamscape. No one ages in Dreamscape, though they mature.

Who are the Six Lords of Dreamscape? The Six Lords are the rulers of the six homeworlds of the Minoans who rule over planets, systems and people of their territories as well as vassals and allies. These Minoan societies are feudal slave societies with advanced technology and have abilities and skills making them powerful and aggressive. The Six Lords are all related; there are three brothers and three sisters, each assigned a territory. The Lords are the rulers of their territory.

Who are the Six Queens of Dreamscape? The Six Queens of Dreamscape are the governors of the six worlds ruled by the Six Lords. The lord and the queen are always not married; a lord is not a king. While the lords make all final decisions about the rules of their planet homeworlds, they all share a similar philosophy of governing. Slaves, not gold, are the currency of Dreamscape. While the rule of the Six Lords is strong, as a galactic empire it is small and weak. Other far more powerful empires exist, but are far away in the galaxy.

How and why was Lord Minos put to sleep? Lord Minos was warlike and aggressive, and about to attack the other lords to unite the six under one autocratic and authoritarian ruler. The six realms had once been one empire ruled by a king and queen, then divided between six siblings when they were murdered.

Why were the Minoans of planet Minos punished? How? When Lord Minos was captured by his two brothers and three sisters, he was sent to old Earth with his subjects who were exiled and jailed in the mortal realm never to return to Dreamscape. The Eye, the portal in and out connecting old Earth with Minos, was then sealed. Lord Minos and his xenophobic people were punished for starting a civil war. Lady Athena, thirsting for power as the queen of Minos, found where Lord Minos was interred in old Earth, collected the remains of Lord Minos and talismans to restore him, and re-entered Dreamscape through the Eye. Lord Minos was revived and took control over planet Minos and assumed his position as one of the Six Lords.

The Queen of Minos had been put to death for the atrocities she committed against the empire during the civil war. Athena was the Crown Princess named by Lord Minos.

Dedication

To my son, and occasional collaborator, Jacob Roff.

Prologue

Adam called an early morning meeting with his closest allies to discuss certain recent events related to his return to planet Minos, and its capital, the renamed Luz Knossos . The capture and incarceration of Lord Minos and his secret daughter, Princess Aphrodite, was foremost on the agenda. Lord Minos previously explained to Adam that although he was growing powerful, the power of the Six Lords together was still far more powerful than just Adam acting alone. Adam originally believed Lord Minos, but with one story after another proven false, overstated, or misleading, Adam called into doubt everything he had ever been told by Lord Minos. Adam reasoned there was no longer any good reason to believe anything Lord Minos told him; he doubted that this assertion was any different. Still, he would need to be cautious and careful, just in case.

After all, some things he said might actually be true.

For the six lords to act together, for any reason, meant that the other five lords actually wanted to act in concert with Lord Minos. They had put him to sleep once for good reason, and were now said not to be very sanguine about awakening him again. His reappearance did not give rise to celebration.

In addition, none of the remaining lords had actually threatened either Lord Minos since his reawakening or Adam since his tumultuous rise to power. Adam had no reason, absent provocation, to think that any would. Each seemed content to be the autocratic rulers of their Dreamscape worlds and systems, which seemed to satisfy their voracious need for power and slaves.

He did have one soul who, when she could be trusted, could confirm some of the claims made by any of the lords, queens or royals from any of the kingdoms or empires that comprised the six realms. This claim was one that he might actually be able to confirm.

At breakfast that morning were the sisters, now only five, plus Aliara, former Queen of Qos, Peri Eliopoulos and Stefano, Captain of the Guards. Adam had questions and needed honest answers; honest answers would lead to disclosures he’d prefer not to make, but then he had no desire to die either.

I wish to know and would, for once, prefer an honest answer from someone who actually is familiar with the truth. Not a repetition of something once heard from someone else, or written in some ancient tome by a scribe now long dead.

Seph, who was eating one of her new favorite meals, banana nut pancakes laden with Danish creamery butter and banana syrup, asked a question between gulps. Her obligatory hash browns and bacon were to the side. She liked her pancakes large and with a smiley face on the top pancake, just the way Adam made them for her. Her appetite for such a small woman was amazing, though Adam found it strangely erotic.

What? What is there to know about the six lords that you don’t already know? Do you think we know something and are holding back on you? Feel free to invade my mind after breakfast and stop by my erotic room for a little side visit. I’m almost certain I’m hiding something important in there. Cuff me if you feel the need. Or the inclination.

You’re a doll, Seph my love, but I’ve asked everyone else besides Aliara here for a different reason. Aliara, I ask you, if Lord Minos is dead, do the other five lords have the combined power to defeat me? If they go against me today, who would win?

"Such a thing has never been attempted, though the one time the six lords were challenged, the six prevailed. It was a close battle, and no one actually won. They just drew lines in the galaxy and decided who would conquer and rule a specific territory. Has anything changed? I don’t know. Could the five lords prevail against you? I don’t know that either. But any conflict could be long and bloody with the loss of life almost beyond count. It’s why the Treaty of the Six Lords has held up for so long. Each lord has grown more powerful and wealthy, but each stays out of the other's territory. They are now dependent on each other for trade; war does none of them any good. That, of course, could change. What they lack in trust they make up for in arrogance; each thinks they are superior and stronger than any other, with no need to fight. The truth is that they have all grown fat, lazy and weak. None are ready for war."

Do you know the name of that other empire they fought to a draw, and who rules in that empire?

Sure. If I tell you, what do I get?

To breathe another day.

Besides that. You won’t kill me no matter what you threaten; I know you like me even though I am a terrible person who is untrustworthy, a liar, and quite possibly insane by Earth planetary standards. You like a challenge, and suffer from the deranged notion that one day you will heal my mind and I’ll be ‘nice’. You’re delusional, of course, but I have grown to like you too. So, even though everything you think of me is evil, bad or despicable, all of which may certainly be true, still, I would never kill you. And I’ll do that stupid ‘pinky swear’ if forced to against my will. Now, I repeat, what do I get?

What do you want?

Pleasures. Regular turns, though I understand I’ll be at the back of the line to start. But I get a mercy turn tonight.

You know the rules. The sisters and Peri have to approve, then Athena makes the final decision. I will agree to any of your demands if they do.

Athena, now making her way through the second half of her Eggs Benedict, looked up long enough to say that Aliara had pre-approval given her royal standing. Athena enjoyed Aliara's surly nature, arrogance, and her willingness to pitch in and help out. The sisters and Peri said if Adam thought it necessary, they were good with it too. They never suspected Aliara would be the first to ask for all the necessary consents.

OK, if that’s the decision, the answer is yes.

Aliara said, Now, what’s the question?

Questions, plural, and I have many more.

Fire away. Not literally, of course, but you know what I mean.

Can the remaining five lords collectively defeat me?

"Not alone, but with help from allies, perhaps. That's a huge maybe, not a close call. There is so much about you they still don’t know or understand, but, for sure, none of the five alone would dare attempt war with you."

How about three or four, combined. With or without allies?

I can’t say for sure, but I sincerely doubt it. Of the six lords, there are three with empires and two Dreamscape worlds that prefer not to engage in war. And then there is Minos, long neutral when Lord Minos was asleep in the mortal realm. They trade in slaves and rarities, but their territories are actually very small. Mos and Qos will avoid war unless they are threatened by outsiders. Chen, Mayapan and Aten are the ones to worry about. They’re hostile, belligerent and warlike. Do you expect war?

I do. Now more than ever after a recent conversation I had. I don’t wish to start a war, but I will defend our new civilization and our way of life. If I don’t have to fight five or more, then we can probably avoid war.

Aliara said, You cannot avoid war forever. It’s coming whether you want it or not; as you grow in power and project out from Minos, they will eventually seek to restrain you. Their lords do not like to bargain, they prefer a fight. There are great evils roaming our galaxy; some are small and some are large, most are very far away. The empire that the six lords fought, if they hear that there is civil war among us, may come for a visit with their armies if they think we're weak.

Who is that?

The empire is called the Tatar Alliance and its wartime leader, or so I’m told, is a woman. I doubt that, given its cultural roots, but you never know what's true in the galaxy. She actually claims no title believing it creates some form of false equivalency among leaders. She claims to be a warlord without equal or peer, hence she has no need for a title. Some have suggested it may be more complex than mere titular formalities in that no one is quite sure what she is. It is rumored that she has no mate, no consorts of any kind, and she keeps large harems of men, women and ... other beings at her disposal. Who knows what's true? I’ve never met her, but then she's never met any of the lords or their queens either. She’s a gigantic problem for the six, now five, along with their allies. What else?"

We’ll talk later. For now, I need to ask all of you about a matter that may lessen or even prevent the need for war.

They all looked up at the same time. Aliara stopped eating.

Pray tell. I am most interested in hearing this.

We have Lord Minos and Aphrodite incarcerated, so we control them.

For now, someone said off hand.

Agreed. I have a good relationship, as you all know, with Queen Vandra, so I may be able to impose on her to discuss peace with her lord, who we now know is Lord Arana.

Aliara said, Never going to happen. You can’t negotiate with these lords, any of them, and you probably can’t get close enough to kill them. Asking politely and attempting rationality won’t be enough. Ego, you know.

There is another.

Another who? Queen? Lord? Warlord?

Queen and associated lord, in that order. Before I came to Dreamscape, I visited the Kingdom of Mayapan a few years ago. I became close with Queen Akna, the current queen, and her mother, the former Queen Sufa ...

Now dead, said Aliara.

No, she is still alive.

Impossible. If Akna is queen, her first act as queen would have been to kill her mother and her mother’s royal court.

Didn’t happen. I was there. I met the Lord of Mayapan, Lord Xanta. We became friends, and I was made a cacique in his kingdom, and consort to the new queen. Akna, Sufa and I resided in the capital city together as a family in compressed time. Lord Xanta visited from time to time, but he allowed us freedoms not permitted to others. I’m sure if I asked, Lord Xanta would not go to war against me. We’re family.

No, you may be friends and perhaps even considered family with the queen and her mother, but not to Lord Xanta. It doesn’t matter what you do, think or say; you cannot reason with any of the lords, if that’s what you’re thinking. It just isn’t possible.

Adam thought.

Stefano, call the five districts, the royal court, and the commoners who wish to attend. There will be executions this afternoon. Move quickly, and inform the military and the palace guards. We will discover the truth about something, and it will be Lord Minos and his daughter who delivers it to us.

That afternoon, the market square was cleared, a platform erected and the notables of the realm gathered. The women were seated, and two large stumps put in place. Stefano came out of the crowd with Lord Minos and Princess Aphrodite in chains, and brought them up to the dais.

Lord Minos, you have told me that you cannot be killed by any other lord or being, and not by any weapon known in this universe. I believe that you are wrong. You, Lord of Minos, are a liar. And I, Adam Outlander and consort to the true queen of this realm, will prove it.

Aliara warned, This could backfire and make Lord Minos stronger. Consider what you are attempting and think this through carefully.

Adam asked Stefano to unshackle both Minos and Aphrodite, but bind their hands with rope.

Minos, do you recognize this blade? Is it known to you?

It is not. What is it?

A Sari Blade. It is the most powerful blade ever created; few are known to exist.

I've heard of them. They are Earth weapons. So?

Adam paused, I, an Outlander, possess one. Do you know how I came into its possession?

"If it is the blade of legend, it was given to an immortal being to keep safe on mortal Earth, never to be brought into Dreamscape."

Yes, true. I borrowed it, but here it is today in the Luz Knossos. It came along with me when you divided my essence into two beings at the Eye. You made a duplicate of me, and the Sari blade I possessed. The original is still with my immortal friend on Earth. This duplicate is here with me today.

Adam turned to the people assembled.

All who believe in the invincibility of Lord Minos should stand back. All who believe in me, step forward and prepare to swear your oath to your queen and your new world. Decide now.

Stefano stepped forward. I swear my oath to the Outlander, his queen and this world.

The military, the palace guards, and the royal court, one by one stepped forward, knelt and swore an oath. The leaders of the five districts did not; many of the elites and government officials also did not. The common people swore in unison to the Outlander, though not all were convinced that he would live much longer. They hoped he would; they bet their lives on it.

Adam turned to the pair, who were seething in anger and waiting for a chance to break free to attack and kill Adam.

Adam, in two swift strokes, took first the head of Aphrodite, then rapidly thereafter, Lord Minos.

"It is settled. The other five lords are as vulnerable as was Lord Minos. Prepare yourselves for what is to come. We go to war."

Aliara said, That's one down, but I suggest you not get ahead of yourself. You must contact Lord Xanta and Queen Akna, and ask what they will do first. Don't be surprised by what you learn. Do this now, but do not go to them. Not yet. Then, speak with Queen Vandra. She will want to side with you, but will be put to death by her lord, Lord Arana, if she speaks her support out loud. Do not ask her to discuss this with her lord; if you care for her, know she will even be in danger if Arana discovers your intentions.

Those assembled were shocked by much they heard that day, but Adam’s ties to Mayapan were unknown and he was confident in their support.

Adam left, then returned an hour later.

They will not support me; they will join the other lords and fight to destroy me and Minos. They said to do otherwise was unthinkable. Even Lady Sufa said I just signed my own death warrant and I should not ever return to Mayapan. They said that the very idea that I have killed Lord Minos was absurd, though they felt a diminution in their aggregate power. They said they would gather an armada and come to punish me.

I'm so sorry, Lord Adam, said Aliara. You must have loved them very much, and especially your queen. But as the bearer of bad news, you may punish me as you wish. In Qos, the punishment for bearing bad news to the lord is death.

In Minos the punishment is gratitude, gratitude in any manner you might request. If it is mine to give, it is yours to have. Even freedom if that is what you desire. Harsh words spoken as truth to power should never be punished; instead it should, and shall be, rewarded.

Adam asked, Have you a request?

I do. I wish to join your harem and serve the queen. I would be your advisor and serve you even unto death. I understand that you may still lack trust in me; I accept that. But I will earn your love and trust, no matter what obstacles I face. Enter my mind and discern whether what I speak now is the truth.

I accord you an honor, Aliara, though Stefano will shout at me later. I will not enter and search your mind. If you say you speak truly, and from the heart, I grant all the wishes you ask.

Thank you, lord. I too swear an oath to you, to my queen and to this world.

He turned to his women.

"I must rest now. Today has been harder on me than most. I am weary; and I must gain strength to begin the defense of our new way of life. I will attack Mos then Qos. Then we will see what the remaining lords decide. And I will parley with the allies of the lords. Then, in time, I will find the woman who calls herself Bindi, if a woman she is. She is the warlord of the most powerful alliance in this galaxy. We will parley, then decide the fate of our Dreamscape worlds.

Chapter 1

Aliara said, He is insane, is he not? Attack any of the five lords? Their allies? Maybe even their vassals and subject planets? And as far as this Bindi woman goes, he doesn’t even know where to find her, much less what to parley with her about.

Seph said, "Don’t underestimate him. Everyone who has dismissed him is either dead or fleeing. Perhaps we should encourage underestimation - it may be his best weapon."

Perhaps, yet I fear for him, said Aliara. He is trusting and naïve; the warlords will eat him alive when they parley. Whatever he thinks he can do, he probably can’t. He is young and inexperienced; I want to help, but I fail to understand what he thinks he can do. We can remain on Minos forever, protected by Lord Adam, yet he wishes freedom for others. And by others, he means all species in this Dreamscape galaxy. He has no conception of what this galaxy holds in store for him; for anyone seeking power.

He understands the landscape completely. How, I do not know. But as the new threat, the Pestilence led by Warlord Bindi, moves toward us, and is an evil we never contemplated or understood, he believes our free will requires us to face injustice and stop it. And, he believes, if we do not act, then who will? If free beings such as ourselves do not choose to fight for ourselves and others who are peaceful but weak, are we not simply waiting for powerful empires such as the Pestilence to grow stronger as we grow weaker? According to legend, the gods do not intervene in the affairs of beings with free will. The gods create life and move on. We, who are given free will, must be wise enough to do what is best in Dreamscape. It is why the gods created the Dreamscape planets never to interact, so none could make war or cause conflict. But Adam says it did not turn out as intended and we must therefore begin the process of repair. In this endeavor, he claims, we will find many allies.

Did he tell you exactly what he wants?

Yes.

Does he even begin to understand the enormity of the task?

No. But he says even a tiny pebble can cause a great ripple of change if there are enough small pebbles acting in concert. Our job is to be that first pebble, to begin the ripple that will spread throughout the galaxy.

He’s delusional.

Cass was listening to the conversation. She seldom had much to say on such weighty topics.

I believe that with Lord Adam all things are possible. And if I can only do one thing, make him just a little happier each day, make him smile, then I will have done my part. That’s what Adam said to me when we went on our little trip.

The women all turned, craning their necks.

A trip? Where did you go? And why did we not go too?

It was not that kind of trip. He took me to our very own Dreamscape planet, a place where we can be anything and anybody; where there are no intrusions into happiness. Where we have children, and our parents and his still live, and all is in harmony.

Do we still share?

There is no sharing in this world. Each of us may have our own Dreamscape planet with Adam; it may include any or all of us.

You are alone with him.

It is my world, and I have him all to myself. You may also have the same, if that is your wish.

The triplets asked everyone, including Stefano, to attend dinner in the great hall; they had surprises for everyone and no one could guess what was in the minds of the three young sisters. No one minded; the three were imps and brought smiles to everyone they met. They had never been heard to utter a harsh word and casually referred to Lord Adam as ‘husband.’ Athena was normally a stickler for the rules of propriety, her own personal rules that is, so long as Adam Outlander didn't mind. She growled at Circe if she used the term husband in public, though the triplets asked Athena to relent when they were in private.

Problem solved.

Dinner was served, the plates and table cleared, and the surprise brought out.

The sisters were each giggling.

We baked. We baked! Look at this delicious part chocolate cake, part chocolate brownie, that is filled with chocolate bits and walnuts. And chocolate icing. Doesn’t it look incredible?

Half the table was happy-ish, the other half was in trepidation that death lay just around the corner. The triplets were wonderful and skilled, a delight to be around, but not every ability was in their tool kit. Cooking and baking were not in the realm of their acknowledged skills. Yet they beamed with smiles that would last a week.

Gorgeous, said Adam. I cannot wait to taste the first of what I am sure will be many slices; I shall likely keep the entire cake to myself selfishly.

Seph spoke up.

Before we begin, the scullery girls wish to have a chat with Lord Adam; they say they may have given us an incorrect ingredient, and they do not wish to embarrass themselves in front of such nobility. So before we begin, please Lord, speak to the ladies. In private, as is their wish.

The scullery girls took Lord Adam by the hand and guided him to the kitchen.

He turned to the young women.

Surely you did not permit the triplets to bake? We will need a royal food taster if that is the case.

No, Lord, said Emma, the head baker. They came to us and asked for a favor. As they are your wives, and dear to you, we said yes. It was to be a surprise. They made one cake, but it was truly not edible, though the hounds enjoyed the cake very much. Of course, they are known to enjoy roadkill too. We lied a little and said their cake was wonderful, but as the wives of Lord Adam, it should be left to the bakers to finish up the rest of the bakery work for them. They seemed delighted and left. We baked a new batch, the ones you have now. It is safe to eat as much as you'd like.

Adam smiled his best smile of appreciation, thanked the women, and promised them anything they desired if it was within his power to grant.

We have requests, though we wish not to be presumptuous.

Speak.

Atla, one of my chief bakers, is in love and wishes to marry.

There is an issue?

Her intended is another woman. It is not contrary to religious or secular law, but there will be repercussions. It is frowned upon and they will very likely be ostracized, even by their own families.

Then we shall fix that immediately. Is her sweetheart near?

She is, lord. It is Petra, the assistant baker.

Then have them step forward and hold hands.

The girls were rounded up.

Do you wish to become as one, to marry and be together for life?

We do.

Then you are married. You shall live here in the palace for now, and your formal wedding will be in two weeks. I shall officiate. We shall announce it to the kingdom in the morning. You will invite your parents to the palace for lunch with me tomorrow. Attendance is mandatory. It will be private.

Thank you, lord. We have not the words to express ...

When the time comes, ‘I do’ will suffice.

He paused, looking at the head baker.

What more do I need to fulfill?

That leaves just us three women, not in our prime of life, and not considered marriageable enough for men to seek us out. We would ask a favor, though the truth of it need not be disclosed.

Speak.

We wish congress with you. Each of us. If you do not wish it, if you would just hint that you find us desirable, that would please us most greatly.

I do not lie, ladies. It is contrary to my nature.

Downcast, the women bowed their heads and said they understood.

My ladies, you misunderstand. I will not lie, but if offered, I will lie with each of you and boast loudly afterward. Together or apart. I find you each lovely and irresistible. Especially you, Emma about whom I have often had impure thoughts, as have I with all three of you. If I were not married to Athena, I would be married to my kitchen, and in that kitchen, I would wish for five of the naughtiest girls to fulfill my fantasies. We shall plan accordingly, but I know a lovely little estate not far out of town that can be our hideaway, if you so consent. We shall go there, in an open procession, through town.

Tongues will wag, sire.

You will tell them what an insatiable and demanding master I am, and that you seek relief from my constant demands through marriage to a kind and just man who must be approved by me. That will suffice.

He turned to leave.

"Though in the case of my Emma, I may never give my