Savage Desire (Savage Lagonda 1) (32 page)

Mara thought it would be ironic if Jeffery were allowed to marry Sasha and remain in the Seven Cities while she returned to St. Louis.

"She is a princess of the royal blood. Palomas tells me she may be unable to marry you."

"She says that only with the consent of her uncle, the formidable king, can she be given to me."

Mara sighed heavily. "I am frightened about meeting Tajarez's father." She leaned her head against his shoulder. "I pray the king will see the love you and Sasha have for one another and allow you to be together."

"I cannot bear the thought of giving her up, and I do not even know if I will be allowed to enter the hidden valley."

"Jeffery, I think it would be a good idea for the present if you and Sasha are not seen together. It could only make matters worse."

"We have tried to stay away from each other, but it is impossible."

"Promise me, Jeffery, that you will only be with her when I am present. Your relationship must be above reproach."

He stared into the distance. "I promise I will try."

ON ONE OF THE MOST SOUTHWESTERLY OF
THOSE MOUNTAINS, THERE APPEARED TO BE
SNOW. I CROSSED A DEEP HOLLOW AND AS
CENDED A PART OF THE PLAIN ELEVATED MUCH
HIGHER THAN WHERE I FIRST VIEWED THE
ABOVE MOUNTAINS. FROM THIS POINT, I BE
HELD THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
...
WHILST I VIEWED THOSE MOUNTAINS, I FELT A SECRET
PLEASURE.. ..

BUT... I REFLECTED ON THE DIFFICULTIES
WHICH THIS SNOWY BARRIER WOULD MOST
PROBABLY THROW IN MY WAY TO THE PACIFIC
OCEAN.

—
   
William Clark

18

The next morning the camp was bustling with excitement. Mara had taken pains with her appearance. She had donned her best gown, a green silk that had flowers embroidered in gold thread. The silk rustled as she walked. She had no idea how she would sit a horse dressed as she was. Sasha had washed Mara's hair, and it fell in golden ringlets about her face and down to her waist.

Mara heard the sound of many horses being ridden into camp, and she felt nervous and excited. "Sasha, could it be that Tajarez has come?" Mara asked, hoping he had arrived to take her to meet his father.

"I will see. You do not heed to be nervous," Sasha said with her usual perceptiveness. "Everyone will love you."

After Sasha had left the tent, Mara paced back and forth. She had been dreading this day, but she had not known just how much until it had finally arrived.

Sasha returned quickly. "The prince did not come, but the king, my uncle, has sent an honor guard to escort you to the city. Palomas says we are ready to leave whenever you say."

Mara buried her disappointment. She should have known Tajarez would not come. She scolded herself for being a fool.

"Mara, the king has sent word that Jeffery may enter the Seven Cities."

Mara sighed. At least that was something. Jeffery would be beside her, lending her his strength, when she met the formidable Hamez.

Mara was not prepared for the sight that confronted her when she walked out of the tent. Lagonda warriors stood in a line on either side of her. Mara's face flushed red when she saw what little clothing the men wore. They were dressed in nothing but fawn-colored breechcloths. Their dark hair was encircled with turquoise and silver headbands, and the armbands they wore on their upper arms were of the same metal and stone. They wore sandals that matched their breechcloths and were crisscrossed up their legs to their knees.

"This is a great honor, Mara," Sasha told her. "This is the royal guard, the king's own personal guard."

The men dropped to one knee as she approached. Mara set her eyes on Palomas at the end of the line and walked toward him. She did not see the dark eyes that stared at her with awe and reverence; she was too frightened.

She saw that her side-saddle had been repaired. She smiled at Palomas as he helped her mount. Jeffery rode on the right of her, and Palomas on the left. The others fell in behind to form three lines of riders. They rode down steep trails and through streams of rushing water. They climbed steep inclines, with the majestic mountains always in sight. As they reached the base of the huge mountain, Mara could see no entrance to the valley beyond. There was only solid rock and an unyielding mountain.

Palomas reined in his horse. "It is time for you to be blindfolded, Jeffery," he told him. "I am sorry it is necessary."

"I do not object, Palomas. Shall I tie it, or will you?"

Palomas bound a white cloth about Jeffery's eyes.

"Shall I not be blindfolded also?" Mara asked.

"No, that will not be necessary," Palomas told her.

Mara watched as the honor guard passed in front of her and seemed to be swallowed up by the mountain. They had to ride single-file to enter the small passage of a cavern that had been concealed by a huge boulder. It was a long, narrow cave that Mara entered behind Palomas, who was leading Jeffery's horse by the reins. The cave seemed endless, and it echoed with the sound of the many horses that rode through it. It was well lit by torches that were spaced along the walls.

Mara saw daylight just ahead and felt excitement. At last she would see Tajarez's home. But she also felt fear at the unknown that faced her.

Coming out of the dimly lit cave into the bright sunlight, Mara blinked, trying to refocus her eyes. She caught her breath at the lovely sight that lay before her— a valley so rich and green that was completely surrounded by huge mountains. There was a river running through the valley. The sight was so lovely Mara hardly dared to move.

Palomas had removed Jeffery's blindfold, and he joined his sister. "This cannot be real," he told her. "It is the most beautiful place I have ever seen."

Palomas pointed to his right and Mara gasped as she saw the city that rose out of the valley—a city such as she had never seen before. The river cut through the heart of the city. There were buildings made of stone. The narrow roadways were paved with stone, and rising majestically above the other buildings was what she knew to be the palace, Tajarez's home. It was an imposing building that gleamed white in the morning sunlight. There were steps as wide as the building itself that led to the entryway. Great pylons supported the huge double doorway. Mara could see many people milling about, but they were too far away for her to tell what they looked like.

She felt a tightening in her stomach. What manner of people was this Lagonda tribe? They were far in advance of all other Indians. This city would rival any city anywhere in the world.

"If you will look to the left, you will see two of the minor cities, and to the right are four more," Palomas told her.

Mara could make out the tops of the tall buildings of the other cities. Nothing she had been told by Sasha had prepared her for today. She felt small and insignificant, as though she was witnessing a way of life that had existed many thousands of years ago, a world that had been transported through time from another place. Mara was once more reminded of ancient Egypt as she saw huge pyramid-shaped objects in the distance.

Tajarez, meanwhile, was walking down the steps beside his father. The people were lined up along the roadway, murmuring among themselves. Sagas the Wise waited midway down the steps. His sagacious old eyes were sparkling with excitement. One could feel the electricity that seemed to charge the air. A prophecy was about to be fulfilled, and everyone present waited eagerly for the first glimpse of her that was coming, the Golden One. Already the story of how she had slain a great chief to save the prince was circulating through the crowds, and it lost nothing in the telling.

"You seem nervous, my son," Hamez said, amusement lacing his deep voice. Hamez and his son stood head to head, the same height. It would have been apparent to anyone that they were father and son.

"You are mistaken, my father, I am not nervous."

Hamez laughed. "Maybe nervous was the wrong choice of words. Let us say rather that you are excited."

"Yes, I am excited. Wait until you see her, my father. Never has there been a woman to rival her. She is brave and kind, softspoken and generous, beautiful. . . ." Tajarez did not know his eyes grew soft as he spoke of Mara. Sagas and Hamez exchanged knowing smiles. "You should see her when she is angry; her eyes flash like green fire. Her skin is a golden color and her hair, Father, wait until you see her hair, it is soft, yet it feels almost alive."

"Enough, my son," Hamez said, raising his hand. "All this in one small girl?"

Tajarez grinned. "All this and more."

"So she has been angry with you, has she?" Sagas observed.

"You cannot imagine how she can rip a man's heart out with one look," Tajarez told him.

"Very dangerous, do you not think, my king," Sagas said in amusement.

Hamez nodded. "Most certainly dangerous. At least to my son. Suppose you cannot convince her to become your bride, my son. You said she will ask me to allow her to return to her home."

"Merely a small misunderstanding. I will set everything right when I see her. I will never allow her to leave me.”

Hamez laughed. "It will be interesting to watch, my son. From what you tell of her, she will be a worthy adversary for you. Which one of you will win, do you think?"

Tajarez smiled. "We both shall, my father. Look, they now enter the city."

Mara had dismounted and walked behind the honor guard, with Jeffery at her side. They were surrounded by a sea of faces. The crowd was silent as they approached. Mara noted that the women were dressed in soft cotton that seemed to be wound around their bodies, with precious stones around their necks and arms, while the men were dressed in the leather breechcloths, with arm and headbands of different colors.

As Mara approached, they dropped to one knee before her.

"If I am dreaming, do not let me wake," Jeffery whispered. "Do you get the feeling that you and I wear too much clothing?"

"Jeffery, hold my hand. I am frightened."

"From the looks I have seen on the faces so far, you need not be frightened. It seems you are the rage this season. It is plain that they have never seen a white girl before. You and I, dear sister, are as conspicuous as a horse with three legs."

The guard in front of them marched in perfect unison. When they reached the wide steps to the palace, one side moved to the right, the other to the left to form a line in front of the great steps.

"Hold your head up, Mara," Jeffery whispered. "I believe we are about to meet the
Great One."

Mara took a ragged breath as the last two guards moved aside, giving her a clear view of the three men who stood on the steps.

The dominating figure Mara knew at once was Tajarez's father. He was tall and lean and very much like his son. He wore a loincloth of white. On his feet were golden sandals. On his head was a golden crown with two cobra heads entwined. Around his upper arm was a golden armband, and around his neck was a golden neckpiece that hung down to his waist.

Tajarez stood at his right. He wore the same white breechcloth as his father. The golden headband that circled his head had a single cobra. He looked like a great god as he stood so tall and proud with his arms folded across his chest. His bronze skin glistened in the noonday sun. His body was lean and muscular. The golden sandals he wore laced midway up his powerful legs. This man was not her Tajarez; he was a prince. His eyes seemed to look right through her.

I cannot handle this, Mara told herself. She felt the pressure of Jeffery's hand, and it gave her comfort. Mara squared her shoulders.

Tajarez saw her raise her head proudly as his father walked down the steps to welcome her. He thought she had never looked lovelier, and he felt renewed pride in her.

"Greetings, Mara and Jeffery Golden, and welcome to the Seven Cities," Tajarez's father greeted them.

"My sister and I are honored," Jeffery said in his newly acquired language.

Hamez held out his hand and Mara slipped hers into it.

"You are even more beautiful than my son has told me, Mara Golden."

Mara felt immediately warmed by his friendliness. He seemed very human to her. His dark eyes were soft and his manner put her at ease. "Your son has told me much about you, but he neglected to tell me how I should address you."

Hamez laughed delightedly. "A few of my closest friends call me Hamez. Would you call me that?"

"It would be an honor to be considered your friend, but I must tell you, it will be hard to call you by your first name."

"Why is that?"

"I have a hard time pronouncing it. Had I known you would allow me to call you by your name, I would have practiced pronouncing it."

Hamez laughed deeply. He was delighted by the beautiful Mara. She was bright and witty. Taking her arm, he led her up the steps. "There is someone who has waited a long time to meet you. Mara Golden, may I present Sagas the Wise, my counselor, chief advisor and friend."

Mara looked into the face of the old man, who was dressed in a long white robe. He wore no ornaments or precious stones, and his hair was as white as the robe he wore. In spite of his humble clothing, she would have picked him out of a room full of people as somebody special. His eyes were bright and alert and seemed to hold in their depths secrets yet untold.

"I am pleased to meet you, Sagas the Wise," Mara told him.

He inclined his head to her, his shrewd eyes fastened on her green eyes. "I have waited long to see you. This is a very great day for me. Perhaps after you have rested we can talk. There are many things I would ask you."

"You will have to forgive Sagas his eagerness to monopolize all of your attention," Hamez laughed.

Mara took the old man's hand. He looked startled for a moment. "I would also like to talk to you. I, myself, have questions that you could answer." Mara did not know why she spoke so familiarly to the old man. She somehow felt as if she knew him.

"It may be that we can find some answers together, Mara Golden."

"Come," Hamez said. "You have not greeted my son. He will be jealous of Sagas and myself if we continue to keep you from him."