Savage Splendor (Savage Lagonda 2) (2 page)

2

I followed my love to a far distant land.

I followed him blindly as he took my hand.

It was the day Tajarez set aside for judgment. The people of the Lagonda tribe brought him their problems, and he tried to help them reach just solutions.

A beautiful young Indian maiden stepped forward and bowed her head. When she raised her head, she looked into the eyes of her king and smiled boldly. "My name is Nina, my king."

Tajarez smiled at her. "How may I help you, Nina?"

"I am very distressed, my king. I am pledged to marry Matio, and yet my heart is engaged to Matio's older brother." She gave Tajarez a seductive smile, and her knees felt weak as her handsome king looked deeply into her eyes.

Tajarez was dressed in a white wrap that was fastened about his waist and fell midway to his knees. Golden sandals crisscrossed halfway up his long, powerful legs. His broad chest was bare but for the golden neckpiece that fastened about his neck and fell to his waist. A golden crown of double cobras circled his ebony hair. Many a young maiden had lost her heart to the handsome king, but he had eyes only for the woman who was his queen.

Mara entered the room and the group of people who had been gathered to receive judgment from their king moved aside to allow her to pass. Palomas, her personal bodyguard, kept a watchful eye so no one would attempt to approach her. Instead of climbing the dais to sit beside Tajarez, she chose to sit on one of the white cushions so she could observe the proceedings without herself being observed, as she often liked to do. She noticed how the lovely Indian maiden was looking at Tajarez, and he seemed to be enjoying himself. Mara felt jealousy burn in her heart as Tajarez gave the girl a warm smile.

"How long have you been pledged to Matio, Nina?"

"Since birth, my king."

"When was it that you first knew you wanted to marry his brother, Harset?"

"This last summer, my king." She gave him a helpless look and Mara wondered what was going on inside her husband's mind.

"A pledge to marry is not easily broken, Nina. What do your parents say?"

The girl ducked her head. "They say I am pledged by honor to marry Matio, my king."

"Are the two men present?"

Two young men moved out of the crowd and approached Tajarez, bowing their heads. "I am Matio," one of them spoke up, "and this is my brother, Harset."

"How say you, Matio? Will you release Nina from her pledge of marriage?"

The young man looked at his king with earnest eyes. "I would not like to give Nina up, my king, for in spite of her fickle way, I love her."

"I am not fickle, my king," Nina spoke. "I love only Harset."

"What say you, Harset? Do you, too, love Nina?" Tajarez asked.

"It is so, my king. I did not mean to, it just happened. If you will give her to me I will give her a better life than my brother can. This past month I have been made apprentice to Drexal, the farmer, who has no sons of his own and has taken me as his heir. On his death I shall be very well off."

Tajarez's eyes narrowed. "Matio, when did Nina become dissatisfied with you as her pledged?"

"It was just after my brother received word that he would be Drexal's heir."

Tajarez leaned forward. "I see. What is your profession, Matio?"

"I am keeper of my father's horses, my king." The young man stepped forward. "I have applied to the royal guards many times but have been turned down because of my youth. But I am very strong, my king, and have won many tournaments. If I could become one of your guards, I know Nina would like to be my wife. She is very conscious of social standing."

"Is that the only reason you would like to be in my guard?"

"No, I would like to serve you, my king."

"I see. I am going to do something you may not understand at the moment, but I believe with the passing of time you will come to see that I have made the right choice for you. The three of you step forward and I will render my decision. Nina, I have decided to overturn your pledge to Matio and give you to his brother, Harset."

The young girl smiled brightly. "You have made me very happy, my king."

Matio looked crestfallen and prepared to leave. He bowed to his king and stepped back a pace.

"Hold, Matio, I have not yet dismissed you. When you leave here, I want you to report to Jeffery, the head of my guard. Tell him that beginning tomorrow I want you to begin training to become one of my royal guards. It will be hard work, and many times you may wish you had never wanted to become a royal guard, but I see in you the makings of a good man, and I would like to have you in my personal guard."

Matio's face lit up and his smile seemed to brighten the whole room. "I cannot believe my good fortune. I am most grateful, my king," he said, beaming happily.

"After you have reported to Jeffery, return home to tell your parents of my judgment. Then bring your belongings and prepare to move into the palace with the other young men in training."

"I cannot believe this, my king. It is what every young man hopes for but does not think will ever happen to him."

"You do not yet have the position. You must first prove your ability and there will be many who will vie for the position. Few ever succeed."

"I will succeed, my king."

"I do not doubt it. I expect to see you wearing the silver and turquoise before too long."

Tajarez's eyes moved to rest on Nina's face, which had lost its color. "Are you not happy with my decision, Nina?"

"I may have been a bit hasty, my king. On thinking about it, I believe I would like to be Matio's wife after all." The young girl smiled prettily.

Tajarez leaned toward Matio. "You can see that I have rendered you a favor, Matio. Would you like me to reverse my decision and allow you to marry Nina?"

The young man looked into the eyes of his king with a fresh understanding of Nina's character. He could now see what his king had seen from the beginning. Nina was ambitious and calculating, and now that he had been offered a chance to try for the royal guard she had switched her loyalty once more, for the wife of a royal guard lived in the lower portion of the palace and was looked up to by all the populace. "No, my king, I would not like you to reverse your decision."

"But Matio, you said you loved me," Nina said, reaching out to him pleadingly.

"I am sorry for my brother, but grateful to him all the same, for my eyes are now open," Matio stated.

Tajarez looked at Harset. "You may withdraw. I trust you will be happy with the decision which was rendered here today. It does not speak well when a man tries to take from his brother. I fear you may live to rue the day."

Harset looked shamefaced and grabbed Nina by the hand, leading her from the anteroom. Tajarez smiled, thinking the fickle Nina would not have an easy time of it.

Mara sat, thoughtful for a moment. Tajarez had learned well from his wise father, for he had looked below the surface of human nature and detected the truth as she had seen Hamez do on numerous occasions. Tajarez was a man worthy to rule in his father's place. He would be a great king, and she was the fortunate woman he had chosen as his wife. She rose to her feet, thinking it was time for the twins to awaken. Tajarez saw her and gave her a special smile that told her he would join her later.

Palomas cleared a path through the crowd so Mara could pass. The people looked on her almost with reverence on their faces, and she smiled brightly at them as she passed. No one dared approach her, however, for it was forbidden to do so without her permission.

When Mara reached the steps that led up to the second story where the royal chambers were located, she saw a woman sitting on the bottom step, holding a young child who seemed to be about the same age as the twins. The woman was startled when her queen sat down on the step beside her. "What a lovely child. I judge her to be about the age of my children," Mara said softly.

The woman would have risen but Mara reached out and touched her arm. "Sit with me for a moment. I rarely get a chance to talk to anyone who has children the age of mine."

The woman tried to speak but seemed speechless from the honor which the queen bestowed on her by talking to her. She was further startled when the queen reached for the baby and held her in her lap.

"What is her name?"

"T . . . Tinka, my queen."

"Tinka. That is a lovely name. Is she teething?"

"Yes, my queen. You must have care or she will dribble on your lovely gown."

Mara laughed and planted a kiss on the child's fat round face. "I can assure you that I am used to being dribbled on. You must remember that I have two babies, so I have twice as much of everything."

The woman looked at Mara in awe, and the look was one of worship. She knew her friends would never believe that she had spoken to the queen, and indeed that the queen had held her daughter in her lap.

"What is your name?" Mara asked as she cuddled the child close to her.

"I am known as Denes, wife of Sanco, the herdsman."

"Tell me, Denes, is Tinka having any pain with her teething?"

Palomas smiled. Trust Mara to do the unexpected. She was so warm and loving that she could not help but reach out to people. How young and unqueenlike she looked at the moment with the Indian child curled up in her lap. It was his honor to guard her, but her unorthodox behavior sometimes made it very difficult for him.

Mara had not noticed that the crowd of people in the anteroom had moved around her, staring at the sight of their queen sitting on the step talking easily with Denes and holding her daughter in her arms.

"Yes, my queen, I find she has pain sometimes and will cry excessively."

"Palomas, go into the nursery and ask Vista to give you a container of the salve the medicine man gave me for Hamez."

Palomas snapped his fingers to summon the guard who stood near by, and sent him for the salve.

When would Mara learn, he wondered, that he was her protector and could not leave her side when she was among the people.

"Little Hamez seemed to suffer greatly from his teething, while his sister did not suffer in the least. The medicine man gave me this salve to rub on his gums and it seems to help a great deal," Mara said.

"I could never take the medicine of the prince royal, my queen. The honor is too great."

Mara laughed delightedly, and the woman stared at her as her baby drooled down the front of the queen's gown. Mara did not seem overly concerned as she hugged the child.

Mara was startled as she looked up to see the crowd of people that by now surrounded her. She had been so deep in conversation with Denes that she had not noticed that she had become the center of attention. Her eyes widened as she saw the crowd move aside and Tajarez stood over her frowning.

Smiling, she stood up and held the baby out to him, and anyone could have heard his heartbeat as the mighty king took the herdsman's baby in his arms.

"This is Denes, and her daughter, Tinka," Mara informed him.

The woman, Denes, scrambled to her feet and bowed before the king.

"Tinka is having trouble teething. I have sent someone to get a container of the salve the medicine man gave me for Hamez," Mara told him.

Palomas folded his arms across his wide chest and smiled. Trust Mara to upset the judgment proceedings. He watched as his king's frown turned to a smile. Palomas knew his king was no more immune to Mara's loving kindness than anyone else.

"A pretty child. What is her age, Denes?" Tajarez asked the woman.

"She was born not a week before the royal twins, my king."

Tajarez handed the child back to her mother. "I trust the salve will be of help to her." Then he lapsed into English so only Mara could understand. "You have a way of disturbing me even when I sit in judgment."

She smiled sweetly. "I am sorry," she answered him in the same language.

"I doubt that you are. If it is not asking too much, could you refrain from dispensing medicine while I am sitting in judgment?" His words were spoken harshly but the soft look in his eyes told their own story.

By now the guard had returned, carrying the container of salve. Mara took it and handed it to the woman. "I would not give it to her unless her teeth are really bothering her."

"I thank you, my queen, and may I say that I honor you as my queen?"

Mara took her hand. "It is I who am honored, Denes. Now if you will excuse me, I believe my children may be awake and wondering where their mother is."

"We will talk of this later, Mara," Tajarez said as he turned and made his way back to the raised dais where he conducted his business.

Many eyes watched their lovely queen as she climbed the stairs, but none more adoringly than Denes. Word would spread that she had talked to the queen, and she would find favor as a result.

"Tajarez did not seem well pleased that you made a shamble of the morning's judgments." Palomas was one of the few who was allowed to speak so familiarly to the queen. He adored her and had once even saved her life when she fell over a cliff. He had been chosen as her protector by Tajarez's father, Hamez, and had undergone an operation that had rendered him impotent so that he could be her guard. He had never regretted giving up his manhood on her behalf, for his happiness lay in seeing her happy, and Mara had indeed found great happiness with his king.