Savage Desire (Savage Lagonda 1) (8 page)

Sasha had never dared hope she would be one of the maidens chosen to accompany the prince. She had always held her handsome cousin in great awe. When he sent word that he wanted to see her at the palace, she was full of apprehension, until he told her she had been selected to go on the journey, and she was the one chosen to serve the Golden One once she was located.

Sasha was the envy of all the other maidens, and they looked on her with new respect. Tajarez had told her she must spend much time learning the white man's tongue, which he called English, so she could converse with the Golden One. Her tutelage was under Maga, the old woman who spoke not only the white man's English, but many different Indian dialects as well. In the weeks that had preceded the quest, Sasha had spent every waking hour with Maga. She was eager to learn and was soon speaking the language, if not perfectly, at least understandably. The prince had commanded her to speak only in English while in his presence, thus making her better-versed in the language.

Sasha had been more than anxious to begin the trip. She half feared that something would come up at the last moment to prevent her from going. When at last the day arrived, she could hardly contain her excitement. The people were lining the roadway to see them off. There had been a great fanfare and much rejoicing.

Sasha was the youngest member of the tribe to be going with Tajarez. The prince had told her that she was about the same age as the Golden One and that was one of the reasons she had been chosen to go along.

Sasha tried to picture what the Golden One would look like. Was her skin golden? She knew that she must be very beautiful. She had seen the prince with the faraway look in his eyes when she knew he was thinking of the Golden One, who he called Mara.

"Hold up, Sasha. Where do you go in such a hurry?"

She stopped as Palomas called to her, Palomas had been chosen by the king as protector of the Golden One. He was tall and very strong. He was of one and twenty summers. Not a handsome man, his nose was crooked from being broken in battle when he was younger. His strength and courage had won him the title Protector of the Golden One.

Sasha had heard of the ceremony he had gone through to hold that title. It was said that his manhood had been taken from him. Sasha wondered what that meant.

"How is it that you are up so early, Sasha?"

"The prince sent for me."

Palomas shook his head. "See if you can comfort him, little Sasha. He has a great sadness in his heart. He fears we have failed in our quest."

"Palomas, we must not let him lose heart. I cannot think that the Great Father would let our prince see the Golden One only to have her taken from him."

"You must tell this to him, for when you speak thus you make even me believe it."

"Pray that it is so, Palomas. I think he would be very sad if he does not find her."

Palomas watched as Sasha paused at the entrance of the tent. He did not feel in his heart that they would ever find the Golden One. They had nothing to go on except her name, and the white man's world was vast and covered much land.

Sasha entered the tent to find Tajarez sitting on a white robe, talking to her brother Anias. Her brother was best friend to Tajarez. They had grown up together and bad achieved manhood at the same time. They looked a bit alike, which was not unusual for cousins of the same blood. Sasha and Anias were children of Hamez's younger brother. Their father was chief of one of the lesser cities, and was devoted to his older brother, as Anias was to Tajarez.

"Sit, Sasha," Tajarez told her.

She lowered her head and sat down beside her brother and waited for Tajarez to speak.

"Word has reached me that all is not well between you and Tanka."

Sasha looked up quickly. "Who says this, my prince?"

"Speak English," he scolded her lightly.

"I am sorry, my prince," she said in stumbling English. "Tanka told you we quarreled?"

"Let us just say that I have been told that the two of you do not have any love for one another."

Sasha lowered her head, feeling great shame that the prince was displeased with her. It was true she and Tanka
did not like each other. Tanka was a beautiful woman who had come along to serve the prince, and Sasha knew she was more than a servant to Tajarez. Sasha also knew her to be cold and calculating. Tanka watched the prince with the look of a predatory cat about to spring. She resented Sasha because she was so much in the prince’s company. She said spiteful things to Sasha, who usually managed to ignore her, but last night she had gone too far, and they had quarreled.

"I wonder what your father would say if he knew you spent so much time with the prince," Tanka had said spitefully.

"What do you mean, Tanka?"

"Nothing, but it would not surprise me if when we return your mother will find that you are no longer a maiden."

Sasha, who had a loving nature, was not prone to losing her temper. But Tanka's accusations had cast a shadow on the prince, who had never been anything but respectful to her.

"You are a hateful and bitter woman," Sasha had yelled at her. "You only wish the prince would look at you as he once did."

Tanka had only smiled. "He will return to me in time." They had both said angry words that ended with Tanka's striking Sasha across the face.

Sasha remembered the look of horror on Tanka's face when she realized what she had done. It was forbidden to strike one of the royal blood. Tanka had immediately begged her forgiveness and begged her not to tell the prince. Sasha, being kindhearted, had agreed. She did not like to see anyone punished, not even the hateful Tanka.

"It was no more than a small misunderstanding, my prince," Sasha said, forgetting to speak English.

Anias and Tajarez exchanged glances. "You will say no more, Sasha?"

“No, my prince.”

He smiled at her. "Would that others were as generous in their accusations of you."

Sasha's eyes widened. "Tanka has accused me of some fault?"

"It is of no matter, little Sasha. I have ears everywhere. I know more of what happened than you can guess."

"Are you angry with me, my prince?"

"No, little one. I am proud of your loyalty and your sense of what is fair. You will no longer share quarters with Tanka, but will have a tent to yourself until we find Mara. You are sure you do not want to lodge a complaint?"

"I am sure, my prince."

"Go then, little Sasha. But in the future keep away from Tanka."

Tajarez watched as Sasha left the tent. "She is a remarkable girl, Anias. You should be very proud of her."

"As you say, Tajarez, she is remarkable. I did not understand much of what was said. I take it she did not tell you that Tanka struck her?"

"No, we have only Maga's account of what happened. She did not condemn Tanka to me."

"Tanka can be very dangerous, Tajarez. She is ambitious and cunning. Keep an eye on her."

Tajarez smiled. "I will do that, never fear."

Anias knew that Tajarez and Tanka had lain together. He also knew that anyone would have served Tajarez as well. It was not love he sought from Tanka, merely an outlet.

"Why do we camp in these woods, Tajarez?" he asked, turning the conversation.

"The fort where I left Mara is a short way from here. I cannot just ride into the fort and ask where to find her, but I have a plan that I hope will work."

Tajarez had been watching the fort for six days, waiting to find one of the white men alone. He was becoming very impatient; feeling he was wasting valuable time. He resisted the temptation to storm the stockade and demand that they tell him where he could locate Mara. The day passed and it began to look like another wasted day. He watched as the sun dropped behind the mountains and darkness covered the land. He listened to the lonesome sound the wind made blowing through the tall trees.

Then his keen hearing picked up a new sound— hoofbeats. He could tell this time there was only one rider. He signaled for his warriors to take their positions behind the trees. At last his chance had come. As the rider drew near, Tajarez leaped in front of his horse and grabbed the animal by the reins, pulling him to a stop.

The rider was startled for a moment, but quickly recovered. Shouldering his musket, he aimed it at Tajarez's heart.

"Out of my way, Indian, or I will blow a hole clean through you," he threatened.

"I wish to talk with you," Tajarez said, looking at the man unafraid.

"I know how treacherous you red devils are. It has been my policy where you are concerned to shoot first and ask questions later." He cocked the hammer of his gun.

"White man, look about you before you release that trigger, for once you have fired that gun you are a dead man."

The man hesitated. He saw movement out of the corner of his eye, and soon found himself surrounded by more than a dozen Indians.

Tajarez noticed how the man's hand shook.

"If I go, I take you with me, Indian," the man said in an unsteady voice.

"I intend you no harm, white man. I want only information, which I am willing to pay for.'"

"You have animal pelts?" the man asked, still suspicious.             

"I have better. I have gold."             

The man threw back his head and laughed. “Do you take me for a fool. What would an Indian be doing with gold?”

Tajarez, becoming impatient, grabbed the man by the shirt front and pulled him from his horse, causing the musket to fall to the ground. Holding the man in the air, he glared into his face. "You will remain silent. I will do the talking."

The white man was too petrified with fright to do anything but listen. This was no ordinary Indian, at least not like the usual ragtag lot that sometimes came to the fort looking for a free handout.

Setting the man on his feet, Tajarez pulled a leather bag from his belt and emptied the contents in his hand. He watched as the white man's eyes widened and a look of greed covered his face.

"What do you want to know?"

Tajarez smiled. "I wish to know where I can find Mara Golden."

"The young girl that came to the fort last spring, who was captured by Indians?" the man asked.

Tajarez drew in his breath and let it out slowly. "Yes, that is the one. Where is she?"

"Why would you think I would tell you? Mayhaps you are from the Indian tribe what kidnapped her."

"I am not. If you want the gold you must tell me where I can find her."

The man eyed the gold in Tajarez's hand. Greed was written all over his face. There was more gold than he would earn in a lifetime. He licked his lips and looked at Tajarez. "What you want her for?"

"What I want with her is not your concern. It is enough for you to know that she will come to no harm from me."

The man considered for a moment. There was a fortune the Indian offered him, and he did say he would not harm the girl.

Tajarez watched as the man wrestled with his conscience. He knew the man's greed would finally win.

"I don't rightly know where the girl lives. I wasn't here last spring when she was here. Heard stories, though. Some say she was a real beauty."

"You can find out where she lives?"

"Can I hold the gold in my hand?"

Tajarez handed the man the gold. His eyes met Anias's.

Although Anias could not understand the English that was being spoken, both he and Tajarez knew the man would tell him what he wanted to know.

"I can find out easy enough where the girl is. Can I take the gold with me?"

"Do you think me a fool, white man? You will have the gold when you bring me the information I seek."

Tajarez removed a second leather pouch from his belt and emptied the contents in his hand, showing the man it also contained gold. "Bring me the information I seek. Draw a map I can follow. Also, bring me the white man's clothes that would befit a gentleman. I will need everything, including boots. Look at my size so you will remember. I do not care how you acquire the garments, but if they fit me, and if I am pleased with them, I will add this second pouch of gold as well."

That was the man's undoing. The sight of so much gold had him willing to commit murder if need be.

"I will get you all you need. Where will I find you?"

"Just return here when you have all that I have asked of you. I will find you."

Tajarez took the gold away from the man, picked him up as if he weighed nothing, and plopped him into his saddle. Another Indian handed the man his musket. The man's mind was filled with dreams of all he would buy with the gold.

"Don't forget, I will be back," he called over his shoulder as he rode off toward the fort. He already knew where he would get the clothes the Indian had asked for. There was a young lieutenant at the fort who was a proper gentleman and had many fine garments, and as luck would have it, he was an exceedingly tall man.

Tajarez felt joy in his heart. By this time tomorrow he would know where to locate Mara.

All night Tajarez waited in the woods on the chance that the man might return.