The Golden Barbarian (2 page)

Sacha’s blue eyes gleamed with mischief. “Another conquest, Galen. A little young, but in a few years she’ll blossom into—”

“Pay no attention to him,” Tess told Galen in disgust.

“Have no fear.” Galen cast Sacha a disparaging glance. “I do not.”

“Where is Pauline, Tess?” Sacha asked. “I trust you’re not wandering in the forest alone?”

“Of course not.” Tess didn’t look at him as she knelt by Apollo and tried futilely to scrape some of the mud off his long hair. “But she and Mandle are busy. They stopped as soon as we entered the forest and won’t miss me for a while.”

“Busy?”

“Fornicating.”

Sacha chuckled as he saw the faint ripple of shock cross Galen’s face. “That certainly should keep her busy enough. Once is never enough for Pauline.”

“Who is this Pauline?” Galen asked.

“Pauline Calbren is Tess’s loyal and virtuous nurse,” Sacha said. “And Mandle is one of my dear uncle’s grooms.”

“This is doing no good.” Tess gave up on Apollo’s coat, stood, and slipped her hand into Galen’s. “Come with me. There’s a lake beyond that hill where we can bathe off this mud.” She turned toward his horse and stopped short, her eyes widening in delight. “Sweet Mary, he’s beautiful.” She dropped Galen’s hand and took a step closer to the stallion, who shied away
from her. “Why didn’t I notice how lovely he was?”

“It’s understandable. You were a tad busy trying to stay alive,” Sacha said.

Tess ignored his flippancy. “What’s his name?”

“Telzan,” Galen answered.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Telzan,” she crooned softly as she took another step forward. The horse gazed at her uncertainly and then stood still under her hand as she touched the white diamond on his muzzle.

“Amazing,” the young sheikh murmured. “He doesn’t usually let strangers touch him.”

“He knows I like him.” She rubbed the spot between the horse’s eyes that was particularly sensitive. “He wouldn’t have shied away from me in the first place if I didn’t smell so foul from that bog.”

“Now that you’ve brought it to my attention …” Sacha wrinkled his nose. “I believe I would shy away from you too.”

Galen smiled quizzically. “You’re very good with horses.”

“When she’s not falling into bogs, the brat spends most of her time sneaking away to the palace stables,” Sacha said.

“This horse wasn’t in the stables.” Tess’s tone was positive as she turned to glance at Galen. “I would have noticed him.”

“I’ve been keeping him near my lodging in town. I arrived at the palace today.”

“Is he from Sedikhan?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve never seen a horse that has so much power and grace. Are there other horses like this in—”

“Tess.” Sacha wrinkled his nose again. “Now!”

Tess nodded. “We’ll walk to the lake. You won’t want to mount your horse and get him all muddy.”

“Yes, heaven forbid you should get your horse muddy, Galen,” Sacha said solemnly.

“I believe you’re enjoying this a little too much,” Galen said silkily. “I may have to toss you into that bog to even matters out.” He lifted Tess easily in his arms and set her on his horse, then mounted behind her. “But not until I can get clean enough to feel properly superior.”

“I’m dripping that funny green slime on your saddle,” Tess protested. “I told you we should walk.”

He kicked the horse into a gallop and headed toward the hill she had indicated. Apollo skittered after them, barking joyously. “A little mud on his withers? That’s as nothing to Telzan. He’s accustomed to far rougher treatment.”

She looked disapprovingly at him over her shoulder. “You don’t use spurs?”

“No, and I don’t make it a practice to listen to the commands of children.”

“I didn’t command you. I simply told you it would be better.”

“It’s much the same thing.” Galen rounded the
hill and a moment later stopped before the small lake bordered by stands of tall pines. “Is the water deep here?”

“No.”

“Good.” He scooped her from the horse and dropped her into the lake.

The cold took her breath as she fought her way to the surface.

He was still sitting his horse, watching her with a faint expectant smile on his face.

“Oh, that’s good.” She gasped. “Thank you.”

His smile faded, and he looked at her speculatively. “It appears you have more gratitude than your hound. I expected you to be outraged.”

Apollo jumped into the lake after her, splattering mud and water in her face. She laughed and ducked her face and head in the water again. Then, shaking water from her hair, she asked, “Why?” She gazed at him, the water running down her cheeks, her face alight with laughter. “I was muddy, and you took care of the matter. Why should I mind?”

“Let’s just say I haven’t found the ladies of the Tamrovian court to have your lack of sensibility.”

“But I’m not a lady of the court.” She ducked her head into the water again and then briskly wrung out her mop of auburn curls. “And I won’t have to worry about being one for at least four years. I’m still in the schoolroom.”

“I see.” He swung off the black stallion. “Then you won’t be offended if I bathe with you.” He jumped into the lake and waded out farther into
the water until it crested his chin. “Lord, it’s cold.”

“It’s only April.” She scrubbed her hair thoroughly and then ducked her head again. “Are the lakes not still cold in your country?”

“Not this cold. Tamrovia is in the Balkans, and Sedikhan is principally desert country.” He dipped his head into the water and scrubbed it as vigorously as Tess had hers. “Though the lakes in the hills near Zalandan are not overwarm.”

His wet hair shone ebony in the sunlight, and his face was ruddy with cold beneath a rich tan. The strong rays burnished his bronze skin to a shade nearer to gold, and Tess found herself staring at him in fascination. The sheikh’s features were not comely as Sacha’s were. His high cheekbones seemed carved with the same boldness as the granite of the rocks scattered around the lake’s edge, and his dark eyes were deep-set and heavy lidded. He looked as different from the other courtiers as the wolves her father hunted were different from her gentle Apollo: harder, stronger, fiercer. Galen’s actions also set him apart. He had not hesitated to plunge into the smelly bog to save her, any more than she had hesitated going in after Apollo. Even Sacha, who was fond of her, had tried to find a way of avoiding the quicksand.

Galen startled her by asking suddenly, “Why are you gazing so intently at me,
kilen?”

“Kilen?”

“It means ‘little one’ or ‘little girl’ in my language.”

“Oh.” She looked away. “I was wondering if they called you ‘golden’ because of the color of your skin.

He didn’t answer for a moment, only smiling sardonically. “Do they whisper about me in the schoolrooms too? No, they call me ‘golden’ because of the color of the gold in my purse, and the quantities of lucre therein.”

She glanced back at him. “You’re very rich?”

“As Midas. My hills near Zalandan are filled with gold.” His lips twisted. “I’m so rich, my barbarian presence is tolerated and even occasionally sought out here in your august court.”

He was hurting. She could feel it, and instinctively moved to soothe his pain. “Barbarian means wild, doesn’t it? I would not think it so bad to be wild. The forest is full of beautiful wild things.”

“But they are not invited to the most fashionable salons.”

“Then they should be,” she said staunchly.

“You won’t say that in five years’ time.”

“Yes, I will.” She waded out of the water and plopped down onto the bank, and Apollo clambered after her. She had lost both shoes, and her brown velvet gown was ruined. She would most certainly get a whipping for her misadventure. However, she would not worry about that now. She was not often allowed to talk to grown-ups, and Galen Ben Raschid was quite the most interesting one she had ever met. “I won’t change.”

“We shall see.” Galen waded to the bank and then levered himself down beside her. “It will surprise
me if you don’t. Your enchanting mother is not one of my advocates.”

“She’s afraid of my father, and I don’t think he likes you.”

“Why is she afraid of your father?”

She looked at him in surprise. “Because he beats her when he’s displeased.”

“Really?” Galen tilted his head to look at her. “And does he whip you when you displease him?”

“Of course,” she said matter-of-factly. “My mother says it is the way of all fathers with their children. Do you not whip your children?”

“I have no children,” Galen said. “And it’s not the way of the El Zalan to beat the women of our families. There are better ways of chastising them.”

“What ways?”

“Never mind.”

“You probably beat them but do not wish to admit it. My mother says some men don’t like it known, but all of them beat their wives and children.”

“I do not have a wife either.” He frowned. “And I do not beat helpless women.”

“Don’t be angry. I won’t speak of it again.” She reached out and stroked Apollo’s sopping coat. “I didn’t mean to displease you. Actually, I believe I like you.”

“I’m honored.” He smiled crookedly and inclined his head.

She flushed. “No, truly. I mean it. I do not like many people, but I think I like you.” She
added awkwardly, “I thank you for not letting me die in the bog. It was most generous of you to go to the trouble.”

“I was only being selfish. I have an appointment with His Majesty, and it would have ruined all my plans, even spoiled my entire day, if I’d had to stand by to watch the bog being scoured for your lifeless body.”

“You’re joking.” She smiled uncertainly. “And you saved Apollo too.”

“Why do you call him ‘Apollo’? Because he’s so handsome?”

She shook her head. “Because of Daphne.”

“Daphne?”

“Those aren’t really their names. About a year ago my father bought Apollo and Daphne from a Russian count who called them ‘Wolf’ and ‘Sheba.’ My father wanted them to have babies and raise a whole pack of hunters.” She sighed. “But Daphne won’t have anything to do with Apollo.”

Galen burst into laughter. “And you named her Daphne after the nymph who turned herself into a tree to avoid Apollo’s amorous advances?”

She nodded. “But perhaps Apollo will be able to change her mind soon.” She frowned worriedly. “My father is becoming very angry with them both.”

“And he will be angrier still if you do not get back to your maidservant soon.”

They turned at the sound of an approaching horse. Sacha rode at a leisurely pace over to them and dropped Galen’s boots onto the ground. “You
look little better than when I last saw the two of you.”

“We look
much
better,” Tess protested indignantly. “We’re clean, and we don’t stink anymore.” She reluctantly got to her feet. “But I must go.” She hesitated. She did not want to leave them. Sacha always made her laugh, and as for his friend … She did not quite know how he made her feel. Most people were easy to put in nooks, but the sheikh puzzled her. He was … dark inside. Not black, as in evil. He was night dark. But Tess had always liked the night far better than the day. When darkness fell, the boringly obvious was deliciously transformed, shrouded in mystery, exciting. She dropped a curtsy and smiled tentatively at Galen. “Good-bye, my lord.”

A flashing white smile lit up his face. “It’s been an interesting experience meeting you,
kilen
.”

She turned and started at a trot toward the forest.

“Wait,” Sacha called. “Let me take you up on my horse and we’ll—”

“No!” She shook her head adamantly. “It’s better that I go alone. Pauline will say I shouldn’t have troubled you. She’ll be angry enough.…” The next moment she had disappeared into the forest, with Apollo at her heels.

“Go after her,” Galen said tersely. “You can’t have a child wandering around in the forest. She’ll get lost or fall into another damn bog.”

Sacha shook his head. “She knows the forest too well to become lost. She’ll be fine.”

Galen’s lips thinned. “With a maid who fornicates under the child’s eyes? Are you going to tell her mother?”

“No, she would dismiss Pauline.”

“Good. An action much to be desired.”

Sacha shook his head. “Bad. Tess, the poor imp, has little enough freedom. You’ve met my dear uncle Axel. His Highness has the distinction of being one of the most arrogant bastards on the face of the earth. He treats Tess little better than a chattel.” He grimaced. “Worse, when she angers him. At least with a careless strumpet like Pauline as a servant, Tess gets to escape that prison of a schoolroom occasionally.” He glanced curiously at Galen. “Why are you so concerned? You’re not one to worry about the morals of serving wenches.” He chuckled. “Unless it interferes with you having your way with them.”

Galen’s reaction was as much a surprise to him as to Sacha. Something about Tess Rubinoff’s honesty and matter-of-fact acceptance of the world around her had oddly touched him. “Your cousin has courage. It’s a quality I admire.” He shrugged as he tugged on his left boot. “But it’s of no concern to me. I only mentioned it because the child is your kin.” He glanced at Sacha. “Though you seem to know overmuch about the lack of virtue of this Pauline.”

Sacha nodded with satisfaction. “Last summer.” He puffed up his chest and beamed blissfully.
“For four splendid weeks I gored her every night like the bull I am, and she loved every minute of it. I had her screaming with pleasure.”

“And where did this goring take place?”

“In her chamber.”

Galen pulled on his other boot. “Beside the nursery?”

Sacha frowned. “Yes. Why?”

“No special reason. Just curious.” No wonder Sacha had not been worried about talking out of turn in front of his cousin. His presence in the slut’s bed had contributed as much as Pauline’s other partners to the child’s worldly education. Galen stood up, struggled into his silk coat, then swung up onto Telzan’s back. “Let’s get back to the palace. These wet clothes are beginning to feel uncomfortable, and I must be ready for my audience with your father in three hours.”

Sacha nodded. “You know I would help you more if I could?” He shook his head. “A second son has little power in a monarchy.”