Savage Splendor (Savage Lagonda 2) (23 page)

"Did my father give me a golden medallion with hieroglyphics carved on it?"

"No, that was given to you by an Indian called Sagas, but that would be getting ahead of my story. Our mother and father moved us to St. Louis when they returned to the United States to live. That is where you spent most of your growing-up years." He paused. "Our parents are now dead."

"Oh," Mara said, waiting to feel grief that her mother and father were dead. She could not picture what they had looked like, it was as if she were hearing about the death of two strangers.

"How did you meet your Indian princess, and why did I go with you to this city you speak of?"

Jeffery knew that, leaving out the part about Tajarez, he would only be telling half-truths, but he would follow the doctor's orders until such time as he handed Mara over to Tajarez. It would then be up to her husband to tell her what he wanted her to know.

"Mara, when we first journeyed to the Cities, you were very excited. I will tell you something about them, and perhaps you will better understand why I have been so secretive. They are rightly called the Seven Cities of Gold. They are inhabited by a highly advanced and intelligent tribe of Indians. The Lagonda are ruled by a mighty king, who lives in a magnificent palace. No one outside the tribe knows the location of the Cities, with the exception of yourself and me."

Mara looked unsure. "I cannot credit what you are telling me, Jeffery, and yet, if Palomas is an example of the Lagonda Indians, I can almost imagine how different they are from all other tribes. Even Jake and Zeke pointed out the difference."

'I know it is hard to believe, for if I had never been there, and you were sitting here telling me about the Cities, I would not believe you."

Mara took a sip of her coffee and found it cold. Her eyes moved across the campfire, to where Palomas sat. She did not know if he could speak English. His eyes kept moving to the tent where Andrew slept, and she wondered what he was thinking.

"Tell me more about this wondrous place, Jeffery."

He took her cup, emptied the cold coffee, and filled the cup from the pot before he spoke.

"There is sheeting on the walls of the anteroom of the palace, with ancient hieroglyphics carved on it. Before you were . . . lost you had been transcribing them. You had discovered that the Lagonda tribe is descended from a pharaoh and his family who fled Egypt under fear of death, thousands of years ago. They landed in the new world, and eventually found their way to the hidden valley, where they built the great Cities. The king, whom you will meet shortly, is a descendant of that Pharaoh. Of course, over the years there was much intermarriage with the Lagonda tribe and that is the most prominent heritage of the king."

"How extraordinary. I am excited to see this place! This king you speak of, he must be the father of your wife."

"No, the king is Sasha's cousin."

"Is there a queen?"

Jeffery took a deep breath. "Yes, there is a queen, and she and the king have twins. A prince and princess."

"I must admit to being anxious to see that place. Do I live with you and your wife."

"We all live at the palace," Jeffery said without hesitation.

"You spoke of an Indian man who gave me the medallion. Tell me about him." She was beginning to think that the man who had given her the medallion might be Andrew's father.

"His name is Sagas the wise, and if I told you of his powers, you would think me mad. He is well over a hundred years old, and he can foretell the future, although he does it reluctantly."

Mara drew in her breath. She did not think him mad. She thought of the old man who had come to her in the visions. For some reason she did not want to tell her brother about him, he was too closely related to the beautiful Indian man of her dreams. She began to wonder if that man also existed, and if she would see him when she reached the Seven Cities.

"Tell me about your wife," she said changing the subject.

"Sasha is lovely. You and she were very good friends. She and I just had a son . . . actually it's six months ago now. The day after he was born, I left to search for you."

"You left your wife and newborn son because of me?"

"Of course. You are my sister. There was a wide search made for you. Tajarez ordered that no one return until there was some word of your whereabouts."

"Tajarez?"

"Tajarez is the king. He and a group of warriors are also searching for you, although Matio would have told Tajarez that you have been found by now"

Mara laughed. "Am I so important that the king himself searched for me?"

"You are very important to the Lagonda." "Because I can translate the hieroglyphics?" "The past is very important to the king and his people," Jeffery told her, thinking it would do no harm if she thought the Lagonda tribe wanted her back to finish revealing the past for them.

17

My heart reaches toward him, my body declines.

It is he the dark Indian, whom my heart sought to find.

Matio jumped from his horse and walked toward the big white tent. Many of the warriors called out him, but he paid them no heed. He must first see the king and tell the queen had been found. Stopping at the tent opening, he did not enter. No one approached the king without first seeking permission.

"It is Matio, my king, I wish to speak to you on a matter of great importance."

The tent flap was thrown aside and the king himself stood just inside. "I heard you were dead."

"I was no more than wounded, my king."

"Enter, Matio. Where have you been? Why did you not return to the Seven Cities?"

"I was trying to find the queen."

Tajarez sank down wearily on a fur robe. "We have all tried to find her, Matio, but without success."

"But my king, I have located her. She is alive."

Tajarez stood up slowly. "Where is she? Is she with you?"

"No, she would not return with me," Matio said, wishing he did not have to report the information he had.

"What do you mean she would not come with you? Tell me where to find her and I will go to her."

"I have a message from Jeffery. He said to tell you to wait by the river where she was taken and he would bring her to you."

"Sit down, Matio, I would hear all you have to tell."

Matio complied, and he began telling Tajarez of his long, fruitless search, and how he finally found the queen with the white man. He told him about seeing Mara in the white man's arms.

"You lie!" Tajarez hissed. "Mara would never "betray me. Why do you say these false things about your queen? The men were obviously holding her against her will. Why did you not see this for yourself, slay the men and bring her to me?"

"I would have, had I thought she was being forced to stay with them, but she told me to leave." Matio lowered his head. "There is more, my king, there is a child."

"What are you saying, what child?"

"The queen's child," Matio said.

Tajarez swallowed convulsively. Standing up, he turned his back. Mara loved him, he knew that, but if she loved him, why had she not come back with Matio? A child! Had he been betrayed by her? He spoke in an uneven voice. "You are sure the child was hers?"

"Yes, my king. The child suckled at her breast."

"What did the child look like? How old was it?" Tajarez asked in a calm-sounding voice, his mind racing backwards, trying to calculate if the child was his. But no, not unless the child had been conceived the last week they were together.

"I did not see the baby very well, my king, but she told me it was the white man's child."

"Leave me now. And tell the others I do not want to be disturbed." Tajorez said in a voice that shook with emotion.

"Yes, my king," Matio replied, bowing.

Tajarez waited until he heard Matio leave, and then his broad shoulders drooped. There had to be some explanation. Mara would not betray him, he felt it in his heart. She had not wanted to leave him, it had been his decision for her to go. She would never desert Tamera and Hamez, she loved them too much. But why would Matio say it if it were not so? Matio had said that Jeffery would bring Mara to him. Tajarez remembered the law that if ever the king or queen sought out another to lie with they would forfeit their life. Questions with no answers whirled around in his mind.

If Jeffery brought Mara to him he had better not bring the child. But suppose it was his child? No, if Mara had borne his child, she would have returned with Matio. He was heartsick. "I would rather have found your dead body, Mara, than to have had you betray me," he said to the empty tent.

During the next weeks Tajarez's mind was troubled. At times he would convince himself that Mara loved him, and that the child was his. At other times his old hatred for the white race returned, and he swore that they were deceitful and unreliable. He was angry that his body still craved Mara. The long months of separation had been hard on him, for he was by nature a very passionate man. If only he were not king, he would find a woman, any woman! He would hurt Mara as she was now hurting him.

Weeks passed, and all signs of civilization disappeared. Jeffery and Palomas kept a watchful eye on Mara, who had become strangely silent the last week. They were able to travel faster now, and Jeffery's fear that Mara might not be able to keep up the strenuous pace—since she had so recently given birth—disappeared as she easily kept up with him and Palomas. Jeffery and Palomas took turns carrying little Andrew, and one day around noon they finally reached the river where they were to meet Tajarez.

Jeffery wanted a chance to talk to Tajarez alone before he saw Mara, so he and Palomas pitched the tent on the far side of the river.

Leaving Palomas to guard Mara and the baby, Jeffery made his way across the icy river, knowing he would find Tajarez waiting on the other side.

As he urged his horse up the steep embankment he was met by two of his warriors.

"The king awaits you, my captain," one of the men told him. "He is in his tent."

Jeffery stopped at the tent opening. "Tajarez, it is Jeffery. May I enter?"

"Enter."

No torch burned to lend its light to the darkness inside the tent. When Jeffery's eyes became accustomed to the faint light, he saw Tajarez reclining on a fur robe.

"I have word that Mara is camped on the other side of the river. Was she afraid to come to me?"

"She was a bit apprehensive."

"I am told she has the child with her."

"Of course."

"Did she send you to plead for her life?" Tajarez said, throwing the golden goblet he had been clenching in his hand across the tent and watching as its contents spilled on the white fur rug.

"Tajarez, what are you talking about?"

"I know about the child. I also know about the white men she was living with. Did you think Matio would not tell me?"

"I have no idea what Matio told you. Perhaps you would care to enlighten me."

Tajarez rose abruptly and towered over Jeffery. The look on his face was murderous, and his dark eyes sparkled dangerously. "Do not take me for a fool, Jeffery. You would have done better had you not brought your deceitful sister to me. But no matter, had you not, I would have found her myself."

"You had better explain that remark. Mara is not deceitful," Jeffery said, unafraid. He had always spoken his mind where Tajarez was concerned.

"You should have left the child with its father." Suddenly Tajarez's voice broke, and he looked at the ceiling of the tent. "You are a fool, Jeffery. Did you not know I will have to order her death once we get back to the city? Why did you bring her to me?"

Jeffery frowned. "I think I am beginning to see what you are saying. My God, what did Matio tell you?"

"The truth, Jeffery. He told me the truth."

Jeffery went over to the tent opening and threw it aside. "All right, if you want to shed blood, you can start with the child, Gaord, go to the other side of the river and tell Palomas I want you to bring the child to me."

"Right away, my captain," came the quick reply.

"You dare bring that child to me?" Tajarez said, grabbing Jeffery by the shoulders and whirling him around.

"Apparently you do not love my sister as you have claimed you do. I will show you the child, and then if you want his life, you can take it."

"Do not think that because he is a baby I will hesitate, Jeffery. I can assure you I could drive my knife into his heart as easily as I could through the heart of my worst enemy."

"I do not doubt it. You have no faith, do you, Tajarez? It must be lonely for you sometimes in your kingly world, suspecting those that you claim to love. I wish I had not brought my sister back. Had I known your reaction, I would have hidden her where you would never have found her," Jeffery said angrily. He could not believe that Tajarez thought Andrew belonged to a white man. Only Matio could have planted that thought in his mind.

"You forget to whom you are speaking, Jeffery," Tajarez said in an ominous voice.

"I am angry, Tajarez. I will wait outside, and when Gaord returns, I will bring you the child."

"I have not dismissed you."

Jeffery stood up to his full height. "I will wait until you do so."

"You act like Mara is the one who has been betrayed. Your loyalty to your sister does you credit, but what she did is unforgivable. You are dismissed, but do not bring the child into my presence."

A muscle twitched in Jeffery's jaw, and he quickly withdrew. He walked to the river's edge. He could already see Gaord returning with the infant in his arms. He waited impatiently for him to reach shore, and when he finally did, Jeffery took the child from him and walked purposefully toward the big white tent.

He threw open the flap.

Tajarez, hearing him enter, whirled around to face him. His dark eyes went to the bundle Jeffery carried in his arms. He watched silently as Jeffery laid the child down on the white fur, withdrew his knife and handed it to Tajarez.

"I give you the weapon to end this child's life."

Tajarez's anger was unbounded. His dark eyes narrowed and he grabbed the knife from Jeffery. "I will do it, Jeffery. I will kill the white man's child, and you cannot stop me."

"Did I say I would stop you? Did I not give you the knife to do the deed with? What are you waiting for?"

Tajarez dropped to his knees and pulled the blanket aside. The hand that clenched the knife wavered and the knife fell onto the robe.

"Great Father!" Tajarez cried out. "This is my child." With trembling hands, he picked up the baby, whose skin was as dark as his own. Long black hair covered the child's head. Black eyes wandered aimlessly across Tajarez's face.

"Damn right, he is your son," Jeffery said in English. "Do you no longer wish for the child's death?"

Tajarez held his son against his face, too overcome with emotion to speak. "I ... am confused."

"What you are is a bastard, Tajarez. You were ready to believe the worst about Mara, condemning her without ever giving her a chance to defend herself."

"Matio said Mara told him this child belonged to the white man. He said Mara ordered him to leave, that she would not return to me. What was I to believe?"

"How about believing in Mara?"

"Do not go too far, Jeffery. You have said more to me today than any man has ever dared, and you are still alive. But do not push me more."

"I left Mara on the other side of the river so I could explain some things to you. Right now I do not much care if you hear the truth, since you are so willing to believe a lie."

"I will have Matio's death."

"He is innocent, Tajarez. He told you what he saw. He could not know what had happened to Mara."

"What are you saying? She is well, is she not?"

"Physically, yes, but she does have a problem. After what I have witnessed here today I fear to tell you, thinking you will not understand. She needs gentleness and understanding."

Tajarez looked down at his sleeping child. "You are frightening me, Jeffery. What is wrong with Mara?"

"She has lost her memory. She does not remember me; she will not know you. She did not recognize Matio when he tried to get her to go away with him."

Tajarez looked at Jeffery suspiciously. "I have never heard of this happening to anyone. Mara would not forget me and our children."

"A moment ago you were willing to believe she had betrayed you. Why is the truth so hard to believe?"

"How could this happen?"

"The doctor says it was apparently something that happened to make her want to forget. I suspect it was when she thought Palomas and Matio had been killed right before her eyes."

"It could explain many things if she has lost her memory. I want to see her."

"In a moment. I want to tell you what the doctor told me first. He thinks it would not be wise to tell her that you are her husband just yet. He said it could be very dangerous for her if she were to become unduly upset."

"She will know me when she sees me," Tajarez said confidently. "You watch the child. I will go to her."

Tajarez handed his son to Jeffery and left before he could dissuade him.

Palomas stood guard outside Mara's tent. Tajarez clasped his arms in greeting. "It is good to see you, Palomas."

Palomas suppressed a happy smile, knowing this was Tajarez's way of saying he was forgiven for allowing Mara to be taken.

"Is Mara inside the tent?"

"Yes, my king, but she is sleeping."

Tajarez opened the flap and stepped inside. His eyes softened as they fell on his golden-haired wife. She was even more beautiful than he remembered. Her eyes were closed, and he watched the even rise and fall of her breasts that were swollen with milk for his son.