Savage Splendor (Savage Lagonda 2) (38 page)

Warm flesh melted against warm flesh. If Tajarez had any doubt that Mara had regained her memory, it was soon erased as she touched him and in turn responded to his touch. She remembered all the things that pleased him, and his body reacted strongly to her. She had the power to make a beggar out of a king.

Mara was left breathless by her tall, dark husband's lovemaking. When they both reached the pinnacle of desire, they lay in each other's arms, holding, touching, feeling. It was as if they were both rediscovering each other, and in doing so, they reached a happiness they had never before experienced.

Nothing would ever come between them in the future. No one could tear them apart. Their love was strong and deep, and the future shone brightly before them.

"I will never let you leave me again, Mara. Never! I have been in the depths of despair without you."

"What about the promise you made to David?"

"I have sent a courier to him, stating that if he wishes to see you he will have to come here."

"Would you allow David to enter the hidden valley?"

"Yes, for it is the only way he will ever see you."

Mara smiled to herself. She could not help teasing Tajarez just a bit. "Suppose I should become discontented and wish to visit the white world?"

His hand slid up her shoulder and fastened in her golden hair. "I shall just have to keep you content so you will not want to leave me," he said, smiling.

"I will never want to leave you, Tajarez. The world outside this valley has no appeal for me. I cannot wait to see our children now that I remember who they are. I want to see Jeffery, Sasha, Palomas, and so many others. I have the best of all possible worlds right here. My days will be full and happy."

"And your nights?" he said, quirking his dark eyebrow.

She frowned, as if considering. "I am not sure. Could you give me something to judge by?"

His laughter resounded around the room as he bent his head to taste the sweet lips that were sorely tempting him. "I will be generous with the pleasure I will give you, my queen," he said softly as his lips covered hers.

The next morning Mara and Tajarez were eating breakfast in their room when Palomas knocked on the door. "Sagas has asked if you will come to him in the chamber off the anteroom, my king. He would like you to bring the prince, Andrew."

"For what reason?" Tajarez asked.

Mara smiled. "If I know Sagas, you will not know the why of it until he is ready to reveal it to you. I suggest you do as he ask, my husband."

"Yes, perhaps so." Tajarez stood up and left the room to get Andrew as Sagas had requested.

Mara stood up and approached Palomas, who stood staring at her. "Is it true, my queen, that you now remember who you are?"

"Yes, my dear friend, I remember all. I have much to apologize to you for, have I not? I know what a hard time I have given you lately."

"Not so. The queen need never apologize for any reason," he said, bowing to her slightly.

Mara laughed delightedly. "My, my, are you not the formal one now. Would that you always treated me with such respect. I can remember many times you were displeased with me and did not hesitate to tell me so."

A   smile   eased   Palomas's   irregular   features. 'Welcome home, Mara."

As Tajarez entered the chamber, he saw Sagas rise from the cushion where he had been sitting. Tajarez could not help but notice how old Sagas looked. His back was not as straight as he usually carried it, and his face looked ashen.

"Hand me the child," Sagas said in a voice of authority, and Tajarez complied readily.

He watched as Sagas pulled the blanket aside and stared long and hard at Andrew. "He has the look of you about him, Tajarez. He is an exceptional child. I know now why the spirits have chosen him as my successor."

"What are you saying, Sagas? I do not like what you are implying."

Sagas sank down on one of the white cushions, and his hands seemed to tremble as he touched Andrew's face. "I am old, Tajarez. I have not many days left on this earth. It is time for me to transfer my powers to another. Your son is chosen as my successor."

"I do not want to hear such talk. I do not want to think of your leaving me, and I do not think I want Andrew to have your powers. I want him to have a full and happy life, to one day marry and have children. Besides, if anything should happen to Hamez, Andrew would be
my
successor."

"There is nothing you and I can do about the future. I am ready to depart this life, and you have nothing to say about the power being transferred to Andrew. The spirits have chosen him."

"Mara will not like it, Sagas."

"She will accept it."

"When does this take place?"

Sagas laid Andrew across his lap and placed both his hands on either side of the baby's face. Closing his eyes, Sagas raised his head upward. The room was silent, and Tajarez had the strongest urge to take Andrew into his arms and prevent what was about to occur. He knelt down and looked into Andrew's eyes, and it was as if a flame were burning behind the dark circles.

"Andrew, son of the king of the Seven Cities of Gold, I, Sagas, give unto you the power which once was given to me. Use it wisely; never abuse it. It is given to help your people, and you must follow the path that the spirits have chosen for you."

Tajarez blinked his eyes in total disbelief as a blue light seemed to glow about Sagas's head. It grew in intensity and moved slowly downward to encircle the head of his son.

"Take your son," Sagas said in a weak voice.

Tajarez picked Andrew up and stared at Sagas, who had slumped forward. Laying Andrew down, he reached for Sagas and tried to steady him. "I will get the medicine man. You are ill."

"No, help me stand."

"But you are not well."

Sagas drew himself up and looked at Tajarez with a sad expression in his eyes. "I am returning to the mountains. I shall never see you again. Tell Mara for me that it was not I who chose her son as my successor."

Tajarez did not know how to answer. He hated to think that he would never see Sagas again. Sagas had been his boyhood confidant, and lately his wise counsel, as he had been to Tajarez's father when he was king. "What will I do without you?"

"You will do well, as you always have. I do not have much time, so I want to inform you about Andrew," Sagas said as he wavered on his feet and Tajarez steadied him. "Allow Andrew the freedom he will require while he grows to manhood. Do not question him when he goes into the mountains for long periods of time."

Tajarez nodded. "It will be as you say."

"I leave you now. I have loved you well, my king, as I loved your father before you, and his father before him. Have courage, and rule the people with love."

"And I have loved you, Sagas," Tajarez said, knowing there was nothing he could do to stop what must take place. He watched as Sagas walked across the room with his white robe flapping against his legs.

Sagas turned to him at the door and stood up straight and tall. "Tell Mara to finish the writings on the wall. Tell her I also loved her well."

Tajarez nodded, unable to voice the grief he was feeling. He watched as Sagas disappeared out the door, wanting to call him back, but knowing it would be impossible. He picked Andrew up and looked down at his face.

He seemed unchanged, but for his eyes. His eyes held a look of intelligence and understanding that went far beyond his young age.

Tajarez momentarily felt panic as he kissed Andrew's soft cheek. When he looked into the face of his son, Andrew smiled slightly, and Tajarez drew in his breath at the expression on his face. It was the same look he had seen on Sagas's face many times— sagacious, all-knowing, seeing that which others could not see.

As he climbed the stairs to the nursery, he held Andrew tightly against him, fearing what had just happened to his son. When he reached the nursery and laid Andrew down, his son looked deeply into his father's eyes and Tajarez suddenly felt at peace. He had no fear for Andrew. He was indeed fortunate to have been chosen by the spirits to replace Sagas.

"I understand, my son," he said as his hand touched the ebony hair so like his own. "I go now to tell your mother. She will understand also."