Hope of Earth (62 page)

Now he could speak the line he knew, which was religiously ambiguous. “Praise be to God, and blessings be upon the Messenger of God. I accept her in marriage.”

Then they kissed. He had kissed her before, but this time there was magic in it. He had thought of this second ceremony as a formality, but knew that it had made his marriage to her real.

The wedding was done.

“Now the important part,” Toqtamish said. “The feast.”

And it was some feast. The food was brought in on tables of gold and silver, each table carried by four men. There was boiled horsemeat and mutton. There were drinks and pastries. The carver came wearing silken robes overlaid by a silk apron, with a number of knives in their sheathes. He cut the meat into small pieces, together with the bones, and served it on small silver platters in which there was salt dissolved in water.

Ned fed Wildflower tidbits, and she fed him tidbits, and they both drank too much qumys, which was fermented mare’s milk, and honeyed mead. Alcoholic beverages were forbidden by most sects of the Moslem religion, but fermented liquor was held to be lawful by the Hanafites. There must have been something strong in the drink, because both of them got too dizzy to walk straight.

At last it was done, and they were allowed to leave. Wildflower donned her veil and cloak, becoming the anonymous woman again. Several members of the group saluted them in parting. Ned had no idea where they were going, but she did.

They came into the nuptial chamber. It was sumptuous, but he hardly noticed. All he could see was Wildflower, the vision of loveliness.

“I missed you,” he said, taking her in his arms. “I hated being separated from you.”

“Yes,” she breathed.

He lifted aside her veil and kissed her. “I think I did not know how I loved you, until I was separated from you.”

“Yes.”

They were beside the huge bed. He clasped her and fell upon it. She fell on top of him, her gown flaring out, her legs straddling him. “I do love you, Wildflower! I know it now.”

“Yes.”

“And I desire you most ardently. If you—may I—?”

“Yes!”

Then he was driving through her clothing, searching for the flesh beneath. She used her hands to make way for him. They rolled over, and he drove on into her explosively, heedless of anything but the need.

“Yes, yes,” she said, clinging close, squeezing him with internal muscles.

The bliss of it transported him. “Oh, Wildflower, oh Wildflower,” he gasped, buried within her.

“Yes.” She held him close, as if unable to get enough of him.

Only as he subsided did he realize the full implication of what had happened. “I was potent!”

She laughed. “I hoped you wouldn’t notice, until too late.”

“It is definitely too late,” he said, half ruefully. “I have creased and soiled your wedding gown.” Actually it was her dancing costume, but that didn’t matter.

“Then take it off me and do it again more cleanly.”

“I think I shall.”

They disentangled and got their clothing off. He realized that she still wore her little crown. Naked, they looked at each other. Ned’s member had lowered, but now it rose again. “I asked Sahara for a potion to make me potent,” he said.

“You what?” she demanded with a sudden regal flash of anger.

“But I forgot to take it.”

She considered that. Then she burst out laughing, her whole body shaking. “You didn’t need it!”

“I thought I would, and I wanted to please you. But the moment I saw you, there was nothing in my world but you. I love you, Wildflower.”

“You must, because you converted to the Moslem faith for me.”

“Yes.”

Then she seemed to think of something. “I was going to ask you to, but I wasn’t sure you would. My cousin said he would persuade you.”

“He did.”

She turned sober.
“How
did he persuade you?”

“That doesn’t matter. I am glad to be with you in this.”

“I made him promise not to hurt you or threaten you.”

“He didn’t.”

But she was suspicious. “How did he persuade you?” she asked again.

Ned saw that she was determined to have the truth. “He said he would execute you for betraying your faith.”

“He wouldn’t do that!”

“Oh, Wildflower, I couldn’t take the chance. He told me how you protected me by threatening to die the hour after I did. Even though I had been no kind of a husband to you. I couldn’t let you die!”

“You were all the husband I wanted.”

“How could I be the beneficiary of such love, and not return it?”

She flung herself upon him, bearing him back on the bed. He felt her breasts and thighs against him, and this time they were mounds and columns of ecstasy. “I love you, Ned! I always loved you! But you saw me as a little sister.”

“You are not my sister!” he said with mock seriousness as he cupped her tight, soft bottom with his hands. “You never were. I know that now.” He tickled her buttocks, making her squiggle. Then they dissolved into further laughter.

Somewhere in the middle of it, they coupled again. “So strong a passion,” she said. “Are you sure you didn’t take that potion?”

“Absolutely. Do you want me to?”

“No.”

“Do you want to take it yourself?” he asked mischievously.

“No! I want only you, with me like this, forever.”

“You can
have
me like this, forever.”

Her own face turned mischievous. “Was it like this with Wona?”

“No. It’s much better with you.”

“Really, Ned?” Suddenly she was the wondering child again, wanting reassurance.

“Really. With her it was guilty and forced. With you it’s fulfillment. My only guilt with you is waiting so long to take what you offered. I really was a fool, and I thank you for bearing with me so long. You truly are all that I ever needed. Ever really wanted. I know it now.”

She sighed, loving the news. They fell somewhat apart, but she snuggled up against him, within kissing range. “What changed?”

Ned tried to analyze it. “I think it was a combination of things. The separation—I saw myself as such a fool for not—I mean, you
are
a lovely girl, Wildflower—”

“Thank you.” She kissed him. “Go on.”

“Then there was Sahara. She tried to seduce me—”

She stiffened. “What?”

“But didn’t succeed.” She relaxed. “But she did get me, you know, excited.”

“I know.” She stroked him where he was excitable.

“And I thought, how can I be so—so ready to do this with her, and not with you? It didn’t make any sense.”

“Yes.”

“And the khan told me how you risked your life for me. That frightened me. If you had died—oh, Wildflower!” The horror of it burgeoned anew.

“I love you,” she explained. “I did what I had to do.”

“And the khan admired that.” He paused. “Did you tell him about—?”

“Oh, Ned, I didn’t want to! But I had to. He asked for my deepest secret, and I had to give it to him. It’s part of our protocol. But he shouldn’t have told anyone else.”

“I don’t think he did. But that’s why he sent Sahara. To see if I was potent. She reported that I was. And that I was loyal to you. And I knew that I had to be with you again. Then when I saw you—you were nothing like my sisters. You were so regal, so beautiful, so wonderful! The way you danced—I never knew you could do that!”

“I practiced. Sahara helped me.”

“It was as if I had never seen you before, and yet I had. In that moment I really desired you.”

She kissed him again. “As I desired you.”

“Yes. You truly are a princess.”

“I truly am.”

“And I truly love you.”

“And now we are truly married.”

“Yes.”

“And you won’t need Sahara in your bedroom any more.”

“I never needed her there. Now stop being jealous and kiss me some more.”

“I’ll do better than that.” And she did.

There were many discussions, and Toqtamish heeded them, and soon developed a force to be reckoned with. Timur supplied advice and help, but now the khan was becoming increasingly independent. Good commanders were being promoted, and good men recruited and trained. The khan called in levies to raise a considerable army.

It was not long before his leadership was tested. Malik had been defeated and driven out, but he was not dead. The Mongol prince of Serai had refused to ally with Malik against Toqtamish, so Malik had killed him and claimed his lands. Now, using Serai as a base, Malik raised an army to attack Toqtamish. By his side was his companion Balinjak, whose prowess and honor were famous, lending strength where Malik alone would have been weak.

But Malik faced a far more disciplined and powerful force than he had reckoned with. In just a few months the White Horde had become not only strong but savvy. Toqtamish had a number of advisers, and he consulted them all—and chose the course that most resembled Ned’s private advice. He met Malik in the spring of 1378 and destroyed his army. Malik was killed, and Balinjak was captured and brought before the conqueror’s throne.

“How should I deal with such a hero?” Toqtamish asked Ned before the meeting.

“Spare him, if he will make his oath of fealty to you,” Ned said. “You could have no better defender by your side, and he can really help rouse the troops and compel the loyalty of those who once served Malik.”

Toqtamish nodded, then led the way to the audience chamber. Ned followed, carrying the khan’s cloak. By this time Ned’s true place was widely known, but because he was newly converted from the Christian faith it remained unofficial. He was satisfied, because the lowliest position, with the khan’s favor, was more exalted than the highest with the khan’s disfavor. He had married the khan’s cousin, which was a root of favor, but now he had that favor on his own merit.

Balinjak was a fine figure of a man, and he walked with his head upright despite his bonds. He seemed hardly daunted by his circumstance. He ignored the people in the court, and met the khan’s gaze without flinching.

“What do you expect of me?” Toqtamish asked the prisoner.

“A swift death.” He did not grant the khan a title.

Toqtamish made a show of considering. “I am told you are a man of honor.”

Ned remembered a similar remark, when the khan had first interviewed him. The subject did not come up unless Toqtamish was already prepared to deal.

“I am, and I serve my master loyally, or his heir.”

“I am Malik’s heir.”

“You are not his heir. You are his conqueror, because of the support of Tamerlane.”

There was an angry murmur in the court. “We do not call Timur by such a name,” Toqtamish said.

“I do.”

The man was in effect daring the khan to kill him out-right. Toqtamish glanced at Ned, then back to Balinjak. “Will you make your oath of fealty to me?”

“No.”

Toqtamish shook his head. “You are a good man. I would like to have you in my service. But if you will not serve me, I will still spare your life and set you free, if you will swear never to conspire against me.”

Balinjak looked surprised. “You would spare me?”

“Men of honor are rare,” Toqtamish said, glancing again at Ned.

Balinjak shook his head. “I have spent the best years of my life in the service of Malik. I cannot bear to see another on his throne. May his eyes be torn out, who wishes to see you on Malik’s seat.” Then, surprisingly, he dropped to his knees and bowed his head. “Lord Toqtamish, if you would be gracious to me, cut off my head and put it under that of Malik, and let his corpse recline on mine, so that his delicate body may not be begrimed with dust.”

Toqtamish glanced a third time at Ned. Ned shrugged. The prisoner was honorable, but would not yield. He had used an honorific title only when pleading for a special death.

“So let it be,” the khan said with regret. The gallant prisoner was escorted away, to be honorably executed.

Ned regretted it too. He would have liked to come to know Balinjak, who was a much better man than the master he had served. But if he would not give his oath, he was too dangerous to spare. Ned realized that he himself could readily have suffered a similar fate, had he made a similar demand. As a result, he was one of the few men the khan truly trusted. As Malik had surely trusted Balinjak, with good reason.

Later, with Wildflower, Ned confided his deep regret at the outcome of that encounter. “That’s the trouble with honorable men,” Wildflower said. “You won’t bend at all.” Then she kissed him passionately. “It is one of the thousand reasons I love you.”

“You have reasons?” he inquired with mock surprise. She struck him with three more kisses.