she said. “Will I meet the Dominus now?”
“Probably,” he replied. “I am always expected to present myself to him immediately when I return from a voyage. He and I are kin.”
“It is a steep climb,” Lara noted as they walked down the gangway, and began to traverse the quay.
“We need not climb,” he told her. “You will soon see.”
He led her to the entry in the stone cliffs. Inside he took Lara’s hand, and they stepped through a wooden gate onto an open platform enclosed by a railing. Almost at once the platform began to rise up through the interior of the cliff. Surprised, Lara watched as the platform passed by several open gates in the stone walls. As they approached the top of the cliff, she could see through to corridors, each one a bit grander than the one before it.
“How is this done?” she asked the captain.
“The conveyance is drawn up and lowered back down again by a mountain giant. We employ them for this purpose. They are not very intelligent, but they are quite strong and good-natured,” he explained. “You mentioned that you have known giants.”
“Only one, and he was considered small for his breed,” Lara replied.
“These are big fellows,” Captain Corrado said. The platform stopped, and a servant was there to open the gates for them. They stepped into a well-lit corridor. “Lady, our men are not used to the sound of a woman’s voice. Try to remain silent. And be warned that the Dominus is a stern man. Please be discreet, for your own safety.”
“Thank you,” Lara responded, touched by his concern. Then she followed him down the corridor accompanied by the servant who had helped them into the hallway.
“The master is in his private quarters,” Lara heard the servant say to Captain Corrado. “He was not certain you would arrive today.”
“The weather was good, the seas fair. I have a surprise for the Dominus,” Captain Corrado answered the servant.
“The woman?” The servant cast a quick glance in Lara’s direction.
“She is half-faerie, and Hetarian,” the captain said. “She is a gift.”
“And a fine one!” the servant responded enthusiastically. “I wish someone would gift me like that, my lord Captain.” And the two men chuckled, sharing the jest.
At the very end of the corridor were a pair of double doors fashioned from bronze. There were no guards before the door, Lara noted. Clearly the Dominus was entirely secure in his castle. The servant opened one of the doors and ushered them into a large chamber. To their left were great tall windows overlooking the fjord. Before them was a massive hearth with great andirons holding several large logs that burned brightly.
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