Savage Splendor (Savage Lagonda 2) (28 page)

Mara's thoughts were troubled and she did not think she could easily fall asleep, but she was mistaken.

Tajarez listened to her even breathing and knew she slept. Great Father, he prayed silently, let there be an end to this farce, this torture.

He felt angry that Mara had begun to view him in an unfavorable light, thinking he only wanted to use her body, while in truth he wanted all of her. He wanted things to be as they once were between them. He wanted her to look at him with love and recognition sparkling in her green eyes. He wanted her to know he was the father of Andrew, and he wanted the right to take her body without feeling guilty.

Mara could not understand why everyone had left the camp. Palomas told her that Jeffery had departed the night before, and the rest of the warriors had entered the mountain early in the morning. To her it seemed that the sensible thing was to make the journey up the rocky hillside with the aid of daylight.

Andrew was fretful, almost as if he could sense his mother's restlessness, so she held him until he fell asleep.

Time weighed heavily on her hands, and the day seemed to drag on forever.

Laying Andrew down she walked over to the tent opening and threw the flap aside. Only one tent besides hers still remained, and she knew Tajarez and Palomas were inside of it. Glancing up at the sun, she saw there was not much more daylight left. Tajarez had left her alone all day. She knew he was still in camp though, because Palomas had told her so when he brought her her food.

How different Tajarez was now from the man whose arms she had lain in during the first part of the trip. Most of the time he seemed angry and brooding. Mara sighed heavily and pulled the tent flap together. Glancing at Andrew to make sure he was covered, she sat down and rested her head on her folded arms. Would this day never end, she wondered.

As the tent began to darken with the dying rays of the sun, Palomas called to her from outside. "Mara, it is time to prepare to enter the hidden valley. You must bundle Andrew up warmly."

Mara pulled on her fur wrap and bundled Andrew up, then walked outside. She noticed that there were two warriors starting to dismantle the tent. Tajarez was not in sight. There would only be Palomas to escort her into the city. What did she expect, she scolded herself, a brass band and trumpets? Her brother was with his wife and baby, and Tajarez would be with his queen.

As they rode into the darkened night an icy wind blew down the mountainside with a punishing force. Palomas was carrying Andrew, and Mara rode just behind him.

She tried to push her fear aside. She thought this was what it must feel like to be led to the guillotine. In spite of her fear, she urged her horse to follow Palomas's. They rode single file up to the seemingly unyielding mountain. Suddenly Mara saw a ribbon of light pierce the darkness. When she rode closer, she saw the light came from a tunnel. As they entered the tunnel Mara noticed torches hung on the walls. Halfway through she halted her mount and noticed that someone was extinguishing the torches as she and Palomas passed. There was no going back. Mara felt her fate was being sealed just as the entrance to the cave would soon be sealed.

Seeing Palomas had halted his mount and was patiently waiting for her, she moved forward to join him. The length of the cave seemed endless. The silence was shattered only by the sound of the plodding horses, which seemed to echo and re-echo through the long tunnel. After what seemed like hours, but had, in fact, been only minutes, Palomas led Mara out of the cave into the inky-black night.

From somewhere up above a lone sentinel called down to them. "Who enters the hidden valley?"

"It is I, Palomas."

"Pass in safety, and welcome home," came the reply.

22

I feel this web unbroken.

My love's voice has not yet spoken.

Mara looked down into what could only be a deep valley. She could see many lights twinkling in the distance. The lights seemed to beckon to her, like a lighthouse sending out its beacon to an oceangoing vessel, showing the way to a safe harbor. Which of her conflicting emotions should she trust, she wondered. Her fear, or the promise of a haven from the storm?

At one point the lights towered over the rest of the City, and Mara did not need to be told that she was viewing the palace and her destination.

She paid little heed to the punishing winds nor to the snow that had begun to fall, but set her eyes on the distant lights, and rode toward that goal. As they reached the outskirts of the City, the streets appeared to be deserted. How strange, Mara thought. The hour was not late, and yet there was no sign of life. When they reached what could only be the palace, Palomas halted his horse, dismounted, and helped Mara down. With Andrew in one arm, and the other about Mara's shoulder, Palomas led the way up the wide steps.

Mara wished it was not such a dark night. She would have liked to be able to see her surroundings. Even in the dark she could tell it was a great city, with paved streets and stone buildings. For sure, it was no obscure Indian village.

She paused when they reached the top step and looked at the huge doors. She gasped when she saw the doorway was inlaid with gold and turquoise. There were two warriors standing guard, one of them opened the door and then stood aside so Mara and Palomas could enter. It did not escape Mara's notice that neither of the guards had even looked at her.

On entering the room, Mara stared in awe. She could not believe her eyes. The room was huge, with very high ceilings that rose at least twenty feet into the air. The floor was of highly polished marble. There were many white leather couches scattered about the room. The tables were made of polished wood and had gold edging. A raised dais was at the end of the room, with two golden chairs that had a crimson-colored canopy above it. The room was dimly lit, only a few torches burned from golden wall sconces. Mara noticed a wide stone staircase that led up to the second floor. There was a guard stationed at the bottom to prevent anyone who did not belong from climbing the stairs. No doubt they led to Tajarez's living quarters, Mara thought.

Mara had half hoped her brother and his wife would welcome her on her arrival. She knew Tajarez would not be there to greet her. She was alone, with the exception of Andrew and Palomas, and the guard, who seemed to ignore their presence.

"Come, you will be quartered in the room off of the anteroom," Palomas said as he led her forward.

Mara looked about her as Palomas steered her through the huge anteroom. Jeffery had been right, there was great wealth in this city. Gold, silver, and precious stones were in evidence everywhere she looked. Eyeing the gold sheeting on the wall, she saw that it had something engraved on it, but the room was too dimly lit for her to see it in detail. That would be the hieroglyphics Jeffery had told her about, she thought.

They left the great room and Mara followed Palomas down a corridor. He stopped before a door and opened it, allowing her to pass before him.

Mara was stunned into silence as she glimpsed the lovely room. There was a wide bed covered with white ermine skins. Silver sheeting ran the length of one wall, polished mirror-bright. Soft Indian rugs covered the white marble floor. At the foot of Mara's bed was a large cradle, with a royal cobra carved into the wooden surface.

What a contrast to the loft room she had occupied at the cabin with Jake and Zeke! Suddenly she wished she was back in that loft. There had been no impressive furnishings there. She had felt loved and wanted in that cabin.

A young Indian girl rushed in and smiled nervously at Mara. Mara noticed that the girl watched her closely. Perhaps she should know her, perhaps she was Jeffery's wife, come to welcome her, after all.

"You must be Sasha," Mara said, smiling brightly.

The young girl bowed her head. "Oh no, I am Falon. It is my duty to wait upon you."

"I am pleased to know you, Falon. My name is Mara."

Falon looked at her as if undecided for a moment. Palomas handed Andrew to her, and gave her a guarded glance.

"Did you not hear her, Falon—she said her name is Mara," he said quickly.

"I have a message to you from my king, M . . . Mara. He told me to bid you welcome, and to inform you that the medicine man will shortly call on you and your son, to make sure the long journey was not harmful to either of you."

Palomas walked to the door, then turned to her before he left. "Mara, I shall be across the hall from you. Should you need me, you have only to call and I will hear you."

"Thank you," Mara said, somehow comforted by the fact that Palomas would be nearby. She had become accustomed to his presence and was glad he was not abandoning her as everyone else had.

When Palomas had gone, Mara looked at Falon. "Will my brother come to see me tonight?"

"I was told that no one will disturb you tonight but the medicine man. The king thinks it best if you rest, since you have had such a long journey."

"How kind," Mara said sarcastically, but Falon did not seem to notice the bite in her tone. She was staring at Andrew.

"Your son is truly wonderful. I did not know if you wanted me to put his bed in my room, which is just next-door, or if you would prefer to have him in the room with you. The king said you would want him with you."

"The king was right, Falon. I would not like to have Andrew anywhere but with me," Mara said, taking her baby and laying him down in the cradle.

"Mara, I took the liberty of having a bath prepared for you," Falon said, opening a door that led to a small room just beyond the bedroom.

"That sounds wonderful," Mara said, removing the heavy wrap she wore.

Falon took the wrap from her, and when Mara entered the room where her bath was waiting she saw the tub was made of solid gold.

"I have brought all of your clothes and hung them up for you, and here are many things that Vista sent for Andrew."

"Who is Vista?" Mara said, eyeing the golden bathtub in disbelief.

Falon felt the sting of tears in her eyes. Oh, the poor queen, she did not even know the woman who looked after her twins. She had been told what to expect, but it hurt her to see her queen look at her through the eyes of a stranger.

"Vista is the woman who looks after the royal prince and princess."

Mara glanced over her shoulder at Falon and could feel her temper flaring. "What kind of things did Vista send for my son?"

"Merely some clothing the royal prince had outgrown. She thought they might be useful to you."

Mara clamped her mouth tightly together, not wanting to vent her anger on this gentle Indian girl.

How dare this woman send her son the cast-off clothing of Tajarez's son? She did not want Andrew wearing anything that had belonged to his son. There was no reason to make an issue of it, she thought bitterly. It would be childish for her to send them back. She would simply not use them.

As Mara reclined in the warm, scented bath, she felt her body begin to relax. How good it felt to close her eyes and let the soothing water wash the soreness from her body!

Evidently she was to be pampered as a guest in the palace. At the moment she was too weary to offer any resistance. How good it would feel to awaken in the morning and know she would not have to mount a horse and ride all day in the cold.

When she stepped out of the bath, she saw a white cotton nightgown and robe. It was lovely, she thought, as she slipped into it. There was lace at the wrists and collar, and it had evidently cost a great deal of money. Walking into the bedroom she saw Falon turning the covers down.

"Falon, who does this belong to?" she asked, indicating the gown and robe she wore.

"They belong to you, Mara. You left them behind when you went to visit your brother. There are many others for you to choose from if this one is not to your liking."

"No, this one will be fine." Mara climbed into the soft bed, and Falon set a tray across her lap.

"Mara, I have seen to it that Camdon, the cook, prepared your favorite honey cakes. Knowing you do not like to eat a heavy meal at night, I told him to prepare something light."

“Falon, as I am sure you have been told, I have lost my memory. I do not remember you, nor do I know why you know all my likes and dislikes. Are . . . were you and I good friends?"

Falon bowed her head, and when she raised it to look at Mara, Mara saw sadness in the young girl's eyes. "I am saddened that you have this forgetfulness, Mara. I was your servant girl before you went away, as was a maiden called Minet."

"I am sorry, I did not know. Where is Minet?"

"Her parents live in one of the other Cities, and her father is gravely ill. The king gave her leave to be with him."

Mara looked down at the tray and tried to remember that the food it contained was supposed to be her favorite. She picked up the honey cake and took a small bite. It was indeed delicious. She was surprised to see that there was a cup of hot tea, and, taking a sip, she found it to be very much to her liking. Seeing that Falon still stood beside her, she smiled at the girl.

"Sit beside me Falon. I have many questions to ask you."

Falon pulled up a stool and sat down, folding her hands in her lap. "I will try to answer some of your questions, if I can," she said, remembering the king had said Mara was to be told nothing about her life as queen.

"Is this the room I occupied before?" Mara asked, taking another sip of the hot tea.

"Yes, you did sleep in this room at one time."

"Do my brother and his | wife have quarters nearby?"

"No, they reside on the third floor," Falon answered, fearing Mara would ask her a question she had been forbidden to reply to. Standing up she picked up the tray, since Mara had pushed it away from her, indicating she was finished with eating.

"I will remove the tray and send the medicine man, Tabo, to you now," Falon said as she left the room.

Mara conjured up a mental picture of the medicine man. Perhaps he would have feathers in his hair and even a ring through his nose, and would be waving a stick about and screeching incantations.

There was a light tap on the door, and Mara called for the man to enter, preparing himself to face him. She was speechless when she saw the tall, distinguished gray-haired man in a pale blue robe. He smiled at her kindly.

He sat down on the stool and took her hand. Falon had returned and stood at the front of the bed with her hands folded in front of her.

"I cannot tell you of the happiness I feel, that you are back with us again, Mara," Tabo said kindly. "I am told that you have suffered a memory loss, so I would like to ask you a few questions."

Mara nodded her head. She had still not spoken to the man.

"When you first awoke, and did not recall who you were, had you received a bump on your head?"

"No, nothing like that," Mara replied, thinking that this man was asking her the same questions Dr. White had asked her.

"Have you had any flashbacks, any thoughts of your past life?"

"No, nothing, it is as if I was born the day I was found by the two trappers."

"I see," he said, examining her eyes. He stood up and smiled at her reassuringly. "Try not to let it upset you unduly. Sometimes these things take time."

"Tabo, I wish you could help me. Sometimes I am very frightened."

"I will do all I can, Mara. Let's just give it more time."

"Time seems to be the one thing I have plenty of, Tabo."

He smiled and patted her hand. "Mara, the mind is one thing that has stumped the medicine man of the Lagonda for a very long time. I am capable of treating many parts of the human body with great success, but the mind must cure itself." He looked over to the cradle where Andrew lay. "I was told by the king to examine your son. I hope you will not object, Mara."

"No, of course not," she said, biting her lower lip. Even if she wanted Andrew to be examined, she resented the fact that the order came from Tajarez.

Mara watched as Tabo poked and prodded her son. He was very thorough, examining every part of Andrew's body, while the baby gurgled and cooed at the man.

"He is in fine health, and no worse for the long journey he has made. A fine boy. You must be very proud of him."

"Yes, I have great pride in him," she replied.

Tabo smiled warmly at Mara. "I will see you tomorrow. I must now go to report to the king. There is no need for my skills here; there are no sick people in this room."

"Tabo, are you certain there is nothing you can do to help my memory return?"

"Mara, I cannot say when or even if your memory will ever return. I do not want you to be unduly distressed. Should your memory return, it will happen without anyone's help." He folded his hands in a hopeless gesture. "I must caution you against becoming too upset. I want to observe you for a few days, then I may have some suggestions."