Savage Splendor (Savage Lagonda 2) (34 page)

The snow clouds had moved on, and Mara was grateful that a full moon now lit the countryside, enabling her to see where she was going. The snowfall on this side of the mountain must have been heavier than in the valley, for there were several more inches of snow covering the ground than there had been in the City.

She pointed her horse in a northerly direction, and her spirits soared. She was free!

The horse raced forward into the night. Mara could feel the strong muscles of the animal as its powerful legs covered the ground at an astonishing pace. She had chosen her mount well. She could not imagine any horse's being capable of outdistancing this one.

Mara did not know how long she had been racing the horse, but she could feel he was tiring and she slowed him to a walk. Glancing skyward she saw the clouds had moved over the moon again, and a light snow began to fall. She did not mind the snow, for if anyone had discovered she was missing and come after her, he would be unable to track her.

It soon became too dark to try and guide the horse, so Mara gave the animal its head and allowed him to take her where he would. The horse seemed to sense Mara's urgency and renewed his effort. On and on the great horse thundered into the night.

Once again the clouds moved away, giving Mara a clear view of the moon. Judging from its position, she estimated it was somewhere around midnight.

The cold wind whipped at Mara's cape, its icy fingers stinging her cheeks. Pulling the cape more securely about her, she tried to make her mind a blank, but was not entirely successful. She kept remembering the night before, when Tajarez had held her in his arms and whispered love words in her ear. Tonight he would hold his queen in his arms. Would he also murmur words of love to her?

Tajarez opened the door to Mara's room without knocking. He scanned the room, only to find it was empty. He smiled to himself. Tonight would be special for he would tell Mara that she was his wife.

Walking out into the hallway he rapped on Palomas's door. When there was no answer, he was not unduly concerned. Most probably Mara was with Sasha.

Falon came running down the hallway and almost collided with her king. "Palomas has been searching for you, my king, we cannot find the queen anywhere," she said in a voice bordering on hysteria.

"When was she last seen?" Tajarez snapped.

"I served her the noon meal and she told me she would not have need of me anymore today. That was the last anyone saw of her."

"Have you checked with her brother?"

"Yes, he and Palomas searched the palace, but no trace was found of her."

"Where are Jeffery and Palomas now?"

"Palomas is searching the garden. She could not have left the palace by the main entrance."

"Find Jeffery and tell him to report to me immediately."

Falon did not hesitate, but ran down the hallway to find Jeffery.

Tajarez had just reached the anteroom when Palomas rushed up to him. "I have found no sign of her, my king, but the gate in the garden was open, and one of your horses is missing," he said, grim-faced.

"Great Father, she has done it, she said she would get away, but I did not believe her. Have you sent someone to the cave entrance?"

"Not yet. I waited to report to you first."

"See that three horses are made ready, and try to arouse no suspicion. You, Jeffery, and myself, will ride to the entrance at once."

"I have already had the horses brought around to the front. I anticipated your order, my king. It seems once again I was lax in my duty. I did not think she was this desperate."

Tajarez looked past him to Jeffery, who had just entered the anteroom. "No one is at fault but myself, Palomas. Knowing Mara as I do, I should have seen this coming."

The three men raced to the door and down the steep steps, each fearing that Mara might have made it through the entrance to the valley.

When they reached the cave, Tajarez and Jeffery waited below while Palomas climbed up to question the guard.

"Your sister has made me very angry, Jeffery," Tajarez said grimly.

"You knew the pressure she had on her. Knowing Mara you should have expected something like this."

"My first mistake was in listening to you and Tabo. Had I told Mara the truth of her identity when I wanted to, this could have been avoided."

"Perhaps, who can know?"

Tarjarez's horse was prancing about restlessly, and he restrained it with his powerful leg muscles, and finally brought it under control. "If she has managed to leave this valley, her life is in great danger. Not only could she freeze to death, there are wolf packs that roam the countryside."

Palomas ran down the mountainside and jumped on his horse. "She passed this way hours ago, my king," Palomas told him.

Tajarez jabbed his horse in the flanks, with fear in his heart. Great Father, he prayed silently, let me find her in time!

27

I feel as if the very air about me has drawn a breath.

He will come, the wind whispers, he will come.

Mara dismounted and rubbed her hands over the flanks of the stallion. In spite of the cold the animal was lathered and sweating from the fast pace at which they had been traveling.

"I have used you sorely," she said, looking about for some place where she could find them shelter from the cold. "You are sure to become ill if I do not get you out of this wind." She was surprised that she had spoken to the horse in the Lagonda language, which seemed more familiar to her now than English.

In the distance she could hear the howling of wolves, and she shivered from fear. She realized that she feared the wolves more than any other danger she could imagine.

Picking up the trailing reins, Mara led the horse over to two large boulders that came together in a vee shape, thinking they might offer some protection.

Forcing the animal down to its knees, she sat with her back to the rock and pulled one edge of her cape over the horse's back, trying to offer him some warmth.

"He will never find me," she said, as she rested her face against the sleek neck of the horse.

It had begun to snow again and Mara huddled closer to the horse, hoping to borrow some of his warmth. She was totally exhausted. She knew she had been foolish not to plan her escape better, but there had been no time. She wished she had at least had the foresight to bring a warm blanket, or a fur robe.

How long could she last without food, she wondered. If the snow melted she knew she would find green grass underneath for the horse to graze on, but what about herself? Perhaps she would be fortunate enough to find a trapper, someone like Jake and Zeke, but she discarded that thought. This was too far west; she doubted there was another white person within hundreds of miles. The only other people she was likely to encounter would be Indians. Mara considered for a moment if she would rather become the captive of some savage tribe of Indians, or be found by a Lagonda warrior who would take her back to Tajarez.

What was Tajarez doing now? Was he lying beside his queen? Was he at this very moment making love to his wife? Tears scalded Mara's eyes. Why could she not put him out of her mind? She thought of Andrew, and was glad he was safe and warm. He would grow up never knowing how much his mother had loved him.

Thinking was too painful. What she needed was sleep. She closed her eyes, but the image of Tajarez's face flashed before her. I will never see him again, she thought.

The cold seemed to seep into her body, and her hands and feet felt numb, but she tried not to think of her discomfort. Instead she wondered what Tajarez's reaction would be in the morning when he discovered his prisoner had escaped. She almost wished she could be there to witness his anger when he found her missing. Again his face flashed before her, and the look he wore was not one of anger, but of sadness. Mara, groaned, "Leave me in peace, Tajarez, I do not want to think of you."

Suddenly the horse raised his head and rolled his eyes wildly. Mara moved out of his way as the animal stumbled to his feet, and whinnied. Mara looked about trying to determine the reason for the animal's fright. It was impossible to see more than a few feet because of the falling snow. The horse reared up on its hind legs and pawed at the air. Mara grabbed at the trailing reins, trying to soothe the frightened animal.

Was it possible that Tajarez had found her already? she wondered. She did not pause to consider, but jumped on the back of the horse. The animal did not need any urging, he leaped over the rock and landed on the other side with a jolt that almost unseated Mara. She hugged the side of the horse's body with her legs, and held tightly to the reins.

Suddenly a new and terrifying sound reached Mara's ears. It was the sound of growling and snarling and it came from close behind her. Looking back over her shoulder, she saw the reason for the horse's fear. They were being pursued by wolves! Mara could not make out their number, all she could see were the menacing eyes that seemed to glow like hot coals in the darkness.

Leaning low over the horse's back, she prayed they could outrun the wolf pack. Her mind was in a frenzy. She wondered what it would feel like to be torn apart by hungry wolves. Did they kill their prey first, or would they eat them while they were still alive? Mara fought against the bile that rose in her throat—the taste of fear!

Why had she been so foolish as to try to run away from Tajarez? Was her only escape from him to be found in death? she wondered. At that moment she wished she could see him.

Would Tajarez be glad that her escape from him had ended in tragedy? Or would he grieve for her? Casting a quick glance over her shoulder she saw that the wolves were gaining on her. They had spread out and were circling the horse. Their eyes gleamed menacingly in the darkness.

Mara could just make out the shadowy shape of the lead wolf, when her mount reared up on its haunches and pawed at the air. Mara gripped the reins tightly, not wanting to be unseated. By now a lone wolf was nipping at the heels of her horse, and the animal kicked out in pain. The horse seemed to sail into the air, and it came down so forcefully that Mara's hands slipped from the reins, and she went flying through the air to land with a thud in a deep snow bank.

She rolled over and over, then down a steep embankment. By the time she had jumped to her feet, she could hear the agonizing sounds the horse was making and knew it was being torn apart by the wolf pack.

Tears wet her cheeks as she stood helplessly, unable to save the horse that had served her so well.

"Tajarez, Tajarez, come to me," she cried out. "Oh, my love, I am so frightened!"

There was the sound of the wolves fighting among themselves, and Mara knew they the horse and she knew it was dead. She hoped its death had been quick and merciful.

Mara could not see what was happening on the other side of the steep embankment. She strained her eyes in the darkness.

A gasp escaped her lips as she saw a pair of red glowing eyes peering down on her from the top of the embankment. One of the wolves had broken away from the pack and had spotted her.

Taking a step backwards she bumped into the trunk of a tree. Without taking her eyes off the wolf, she groped above her head trying to find a handhold. Her fingers were numb, and she could not seem to hold on to the branch. She could see the wolf more clearly now as it came slinking toward her. Her heart missed a beat as she noticed that a number of snarling wolves were now charging toward her behind the first one.

With renewed strength, Mara grabbed the tree branch and swung herself into the tree just as the first wolf reached its base.

The tree was not a big one and the branch she was on dipped with her weight. Mara feared that the branch would snap and she would fall to be devoured by the snarling beasts below. One of the wolves seemed to be more daring than the others. It leaped into the air, almost reaching Mara's haven.

Reaching over her head Mara grasped a higher branch, but it dipped downward, and she knew it would not support her weight. She could climb no higher. The venturesome wolf seemed to sense her plight and lunged at her with renewed courage and daring. Mara began crying hysterically as she saw the snarling fangs that could easily rip their prey apart.

"Tajarez, help me!" she screamed, knowing it was but a matter of time before the hungry wolves reached her.

Tajarez was the first to hear the wolf pack as they fought over their kill. He did not slacken his pace as he strung his bow and placed a silver-tipped arrow between its rawhide strings. His mind drew a picture of Mara being torn apart by the wolves, and when he came in view of the wolf pack, tearing at the flesh of the dead horse, that fear did not diminish. He released the arrow and it found the heart of one of the wolves with deadly accuracy.

Tajarez was aware that Jeffery and Palomas also fired at the blood-crazed animals. Tajarez had dismounted and was running among the wolves before his horse had come to a halt. Looking around frantically for some sign of Mara, he did not know whether to be relieved or even more fearful when he did not see her.

Jeffery and Palomas had joined him and were driving the angry animals back with flying arrows that never failed to hit their targets. The surviving animals fell on their wounded companions and began to rip them apart, showing no discrimination in their lust for food. They had no qualms about eating one of their own species.

"She is not here," Tajarez yelled. His eyes were wild as he looked at Jeffery. "Great Father am I too late!" he cried out.

"Listen," Palomas said. "I hear more wolves in the gully."

Tajarez stood listening, and he too heard the sound. Leaping across the space to reach the gully he peered into the darkness, but he could see nothing. All he could hear were the ominous sounds of the snarling wolves. Not bothering to arm his bow, he raced down the embankment. Palomas and Jeffery, seeing Tajarez going unarmed among the wolves, followed in close pursuit. Tajarez was unmindful of the danger he was charging into. All he knew was that Mara could be the victim of the hungry wolves. Palomas and Jeffery tried to overtake him so they could cover for him, but he was much too fast for either of them.

At first Tajarez thought he heard only what he wished to hear. He did not pause to think but charged blindly onward.

"Tajarez, help me!"

He heard it clearly now. He felt relief wash over his body as he neared the tree where Mara had sought safety. He prayed that he would reach her before the wolves did.

Mara was trying to press her body tightly against the trunk of the tree. She was back as far as she could get. She closed her eyes expecting to feel the sharp teeth rip into her skin at any moment. The lead wolf had managed to pull itself into the tree. Hearing one of the animals yelp in pain, she opened her eyes to see the wolf sliding down the tree trunk with an arrow in its back from Palomas's bow. She saw Tajarez charging toward her, but between her and him was one over confident wolf. She held her breath as the animal lunged at Tajarez. It was met with Tajarez's knife thrust, which found the animal's heart. Tajarez tossed the dead wolf aside as if it weighed nothing.

Mara was making whimpering sounds as Tajarez leaped into the tree that sagged with the weight of their bodies. He pulled her into his arms and covered her face with kisses, then he just held her against him until her body stopped trembling. He then leaped to the ground with her in his arms. Jeffery and Palomas had driven the wolves back in the meantime.

"See to our horses, Palomas," Tajarez ordered. "We do not want to provide the wolves with another kill." He pulled Mara's cape tightly about her and stared at her with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Is she harmed?" Jeffery asked fearfully, coming up beside them.

Mara laid her head against Tajarez's shoulder. "I ... I am unharmed," she whispered.

Tajarez could feel her slight body tremble and gathered her tightly against him. "We ride for home at once. Your sister is half frozen."

Jeffery walked beside Tajarez as he climbed the steep incline. "Why is it, Tajarez, that when you are displeased with Mara, she becomes my sister?"

Tajarez gave Jeffery a dark look, but did not bother to answer him.

Tajarez mounted his horse and looked down at Mara as he urged the animal forward. Raising her head Mara could see the scowl on his handsome face. She waited for him to reproach her, but when he did not, she spoke:

"It is because of me that your horse is dead. He was a fine horse."

"Yes, it is your fault. I am not pleased with you, Mara."

"Was he your horse?" she said, hoping to hold his anger at bay.

His dark eyes settled on her lips. "No, Sagine was a present I once gave to my queen."

Mara buried her face against his shoulder. "I am so sorry," she sobbed.

"It is of little importance. I will see that the queen has another to replace the dead one," Tajarez said dryly.

"W . . . what are you going to do with me? Will I be punished?" she asked in a small voice, for she could feel the anger Tajarez was trying to contain like a taut bowstring ready to fly.

He bent his dark head and rested his lips against her forehead. "I should beat you, but I could never harm that which I love'," His voice was passionate, as his lips brushed against hers. "I would much rather take you to my bed and drive my ownership into your body. You have been nothing but trouble to me since the first day I saw you."

"I am sorry."

"Are you? I doubt that you are. I was going to talk to you tonight and straighten out some things between us, but when I sought you out, I found you had gone."

"I know what you wanted to say to me."

"Do you?"

"You wanted to tell me that the queen had returned."

"Mara, would you just keep quiet. I am weary of this conversation."

"What will you do with me?"

"Be silent, I am angry with you."

Mara turned her face against his chest and was comforted by the sound of his steady heartbeat. How she loved this man. She had no idea of what she was going back to, but it did not matter, if she could just be near him, see him once in awhile, she thought. She fell asleep in his arms.