Savage Desire (Savage Lagonda 1) (36 page)

"But you will do it, will you not, Mara?"

"I will try, Sagas, but I will need your help."

"I will spend every day with you. We will work from early morning until late at night until together we learn the secret."

"What is this?" Tajarez said, standing with his arms folded across his broad chest. "Did I hear you planning to steal Mara's time from me?"

"She has revealed the secret to me, Tajarez," Sagas said, hardly able to contain his excitement.

"Tell me," Tajarez said, catching some of Sagas's enthusiasm. "But, wait. I want my father to hear this."

Soon all three men stood beside Mara, listening to her as she told them what the drawings indicated.

"This is truly a wonderful day," Hamez said, staring at the pictures with new understanding.

Tajarez looked down at Mara from his great height. "I will not allow you to take up all of her time, Sagas. I have equally important plans for her."

"What could be more important than learning the secrets of the past?" Sagas asked.

"Producing an heir for the future," Tajarez said, smiling at Mara.

Mara's face flamed in her embarrassment. She would never become accustomed to the easy way the Lagondas talked about matters that Mara felt should be discussed only between a husband and wife, and then only in private.

"Ah, to be young again," Hamez said.

"To be merely old," Sagas said, laughing, "instead of ancient."

"Look at the way my son touches Mara with his eyes, Sagas. He cannot touch her with his hands, but his eyes make love to her."

Tajarez saw that Mara was feeling uncomfortable. White women were brought up very differently from the Lagonda maidens. He had often noticed that Mara was embarrassed by references to the natural love between a man and woman. His heart raced at the thought of teaching her the love they would share. He reached out his hand to touch her golden hair, then withdrew it. Until she was his wife, he was forbidden to touch her.

Mara, seeing the look in his eyes, felt a longing, a love so strong it cried out for release.

"From the looks of it, Hamez, you had better keep those two apart until you perform the ceremony."

Mara blushed once more. "I am very weary. If you will excuse me, I will say good night," she said.

"I will walk with you to your room, Mara," Tajarez told her.

As they walked across the huge room, Palomas fell in step behind them; Mara waved good night to Sasha and Jeffery, who were sitting together on one of the couches. She wished she and Tajarez could enjoy each other's company as Jeffery and Sasha were allowed to. They needed no guard to stand over them, and they were able to show their affection openly.

Sasha stood up, ready to accompany her, but Mara indicated that she was to stay with Jeffery.

Mara turned to Tajarez at the door of her bedroom. "Will I see you tomorrow?"

"No, it is not allowed. But I will see you the next day when you become my sister, and then the next you will become my wife."

Mara smiled. "Is it usual among the Lagonda to marry a sister?"

"Not if they are of the same blood," he told her. "It weakens the strain; it is forbidden."

"Of course," she said, matter-of-factly. "I will wish you a good night, Tajarez," she said, reluctant to leave him.

"My room is just next door. I will think of you lying so close to me. Will you also think of me?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"Look at me, Mara," Tajarez said in English, so Palomas would not understand what he was saying to her. "You have turned a grown man into your slave. I want to reach out and touch your soft skin. I want to feel you lying beside me with no wall to separate us. I want to kiss your sweet lips, and so much more."

Mara felt herself tremble as he made love to her with words and with his eyes.

Palomas stepped between them, for although he did not understand the words, he knew well the danger to Mara and his prince.

Tajarez shrugged his shoulders. "Sleep well, my beloved. I doubt that I will be able to close my eyes."

Mara did not sleep well at all. She was conscious of Tajarez sleeping in the room next to hers; she felt feverish and restless. Her body ached for his, and it was a long night.

AS IT SEEMS TO ME WORTH RECORDING HERE WHAT THIS INDIAN, SENT TO ME BY ESTEBAN,
SAYS ABOUT THE COUNTRY, I SHALL PROCEED
TO DO SO. HE SAYS AND MAINTAINS THAT, IN
THE FIRST PROVINCE, THERE ARE SEVEN VERY LARGE CITIES, ALL UNDER ONE RULER, WITH
LARGE HOUSES OF STONE AND LIME. THE
SMALLER ONES ARE ONE STORY HIGH WITH A
TERRACE ABOVE; OTHERS ARE TWO AND THREE
STORIES HIGH, AND THE RULERS HOUSE IS
FOUR STORIES HIGH; THESE HOUSES ARE ALL
JOINED IN ORDERLY MANNER. HE SAYS THAT
THE DOORWAYS TO THE BEST HOUSES HAVE
MANY DECORATIONS OF TURQUOISES, OF
WHICH THERE IS A GREAT ABUNDANCE, AND
THAT THE PEOPLE IN THESE CITIES ARE VERY
WELL CLOTHED.

—
Friar Marcos

21

There was a light tap on the door, and Mara opened it to find Sasha with her breakfast tray. Sasha placed the tray on a small table. There was fresh fruit and a kind of pancake made from corn, slices of meat that were tender and tasted delicious, but Mara found she was unable to eat more than a few mouthfuls.

"I do not want any more, Sasha. You can take the tray away."

"You must eat. Today will be very tiring for you."

"No, I could not swallow another bite."

"Shall I have Mahina come in now? I told her you would see her after you had eaten."

Mara stood up and stretched her arms over her head. "If she is bringing more gowns, you can tell her I have more than I need now. Sit down for a moment, Sasha. I want to talk to you. The woman can wait for a while longer."

Sasha sat down, waiting for Mara to speak.

"Sasha, I want to ask you a question, and I want you to answer me honestly. Do you want to continue to serve me? The reason I ask," Mara said hurriedly, "is that now that you and Jeffery are to be married, would you not like a home of your own where you and Jeffery can be alone together? You would not have time to run your own home properly if you spent all of your time waiting upon me.”

"I would not want to give up the honor of being your servant, unless you are dissatisfied with me."

"No, it is not that, it is just that you will be my sister. I would not like you to feel that I expect you to continue serving me."

"The king, my uncle, has given Jeffery and myself quarters in the palace. They consist of four rooms. He has also given us four servants to take care of our quarters and to wait upon us."

"How does Jeffery feel about this?"

"He is very happy. The prince has made Jeffery the leader of his guards." Sasha lowered her head. "It is an honor that belonged to my brother, Anias, before he shamed my family."

"Jeffery does not mind living in the palace?" Mara said, turning the conversation tactfully.

"He told me that he feels it is a great honor. Mara, my mother and father and two younger brothers will arrive today for the ceremony. I will be so proud for them to see me waiting upon you."

"Sasha, what do they think of your brother Anias?" Sasha lowered her head once more. "They think that he is dead. The prince did not want to shame them, so he has told them that Anias was killed with the others when the Kiowas attacked us. He has sworn everyone to secrecy so my family will never find out my brother's shame."

"I want you to put it all behind you, Sasha. It is over." Mara smiled. "We have two weddings to attend; we cannot have any sad faces around here. Now show the woman in. What does she want anyway?"

"She is here to get proof that you are a maiden still." Mara froze. "How is this accomplished?" Sasha looked uneasy. "There must be proof that the mother of the future kings is pure and untouched." "But I am untouched, Sasha. I told Tajarez this." "It has to be done. Why should you object?" Sasha said, not understanding Mara's reaction.

"It is degrading and disgusting, and I will not allow it. Do you also have to submit to this examination?" "Only if Jeffery wants proof that I am a maiden still." "Evidently Tajarez wants proof. I will not do it," Mara repeated. "How dare Tajarez put me through this?"

"But you must," Sasha said, plainly distressed. "You cannot marry the prince if you do not have the examination."

Mara sank down on the bed. She was angry and hurt. "Tajarez will hear about this, Sasha. I will submit to the examination, but I will never forgive Tajarez." It was evident he had not believed her when she told him she had never been touched by any man, she thought angrily. "Bring the woman in, Sasha. I will allow her to do her worst," she said, lying back on the bed. She blinked the tears from her eyes as the woman performed her examination. Mara would not look at the woman; she was too ashamed and humiliated. She did not listen as the woman talked to Sasha afterwards. She lay on the bed long after the woman had gone, feeling miserable. She did not hear Sasha when she called her name, nor did she hear Sasha leave the room and close the door softly behind her.

Sasha found Tajarez and Hamez in the garden. Hamez smiled at her. "How is Mara this morning, little Sasha?"

"She is very upset, my king. She did not like Mahina examining her. She cried, and afterwards she would not even speak to me."

Tajarez frowned. "Why was she so upset?"

Sasha lowered her head. "I do not know, but she said she would never forgive you, my prince. She said it was disgusting and degrading."

Hamez frowned. "Why should she object unless . . ." his voice trailed off.

"No, Father," Tajarez almost shouted. "Mara says she is untouched, and I believe her."

"What did Mahina, the midwife, say?" Hamez wanted to know.

"She says Mara is a maiden still," Sasha told him.

Tajarez shook his head. "Why should Mara be upset? It is nothing to be ashamed of."

"Perhaps the white man's ways are different from ours, my son. You should ask Jeffery if they do not demand such proof before they marry."

"Sasha, find Jeffery and send him to me," Tajarez ordered, feeling that once again he and Mara lacked communication, and not understanding why Mara would be angry with him.

Sasha bowed her head, and hurried to do his bidding.

Tajarez paced up and down the garden walk until he saw Jeffery coming down the path. He was wearing the doeskin breechcloth and silver armband and headband that showed he was leader of Tajarez's guard. His golden hair, so like Mara's, gleamed in the sunlight.

"Sasha said you wanted to see me, Hamez," he said, smiling at the older man.

"Actually, it is my son who wishes to see you. I will leave you two alone. There is much to do." He turned to Tajarez. "It would seem that you will not have such a peaceful wedding night after all, my son. I will see you both in the anteroom later."

Both men bowed to their ruler as he took his leave.

"What did your father mean, Tajarez?"

"Jeffery, I must ask you something. Why would Mara be upset because she had to be examined by the midwife for proof that she was still a maiden?"

Jeffery's face whitened. "Do I understand you correctly? You had someone examine Mara to see that she was a virgin?"

"Yes, it was necessary."

"Dear lord," Jeffery raged, "how could you put her through such an ordeal?"

"It is not accepted practice in your royal families when they marry?"

"In the first place, we do not have a royal family. We have a democracy headed by a president, and we would never submit a young girl to such a humiliation."

"Why should it be humiliating if the girl has nothing to hide?"

"I would never ask Sasha to go through such an ordeal. If she told me she was a virgin, I would take her word for it."

"You have the right to insist on the examination, if you wish, Jeffery, but I do not have that right one way or the other. It is the law. The woman I marry must be proven a maiden; the people demand it."

"Let me guess," Jeffery said angrily. "It weakens the strain if she is not a maiden."

"Yes," Tajarez said, trying to understand why Jeffery was so upset.

"My sister must be devastated. I must go to her at once."

"No, Jeffery. She is not allowed to see anyone except her serving women today.
1
'

Jeffery sat down on the marble bench and studied his sandals. "Poor Mara, I know what she must be feeling. She probably thinks you did not believe her about Anias's not touching her."

Tajarez looked up at the sky. "I did not consider that. Yes, that must be why she is so upset."

"Why did you not have someone explain to her that it was required? Your laws are new to Mara. You should have taken that into consideration."

"Jeffery, believe me, I did not think about it."

"Tajarez, my sister is very innocent. I doubt that she even knows what is expected of her on her wedding night."

"Your mother did not tell her?"

"No, I am sure she did not. Had she known Mara was to be married, she would have explained some things to her, but as you know, my mother died."

Tajarez was quiet for a long while. When he did speak, there was much feeling in his voice. "I can see how this examination would have been a shock to Mara. Jeffery, I will be very patient with your sister. I would never do anything that would hurt or frighten her."

"I am glad to hear that, Tajarez, because in many ways Mara is still a child."

Tajarez nodded. "I will take very good care of her. I love her very much, Jeffery. I have never loved a woman before Mara. I want her, yes, but I will be patient. I will not take her until she is ready." He stood up and let his gaze travel to Mara's bedroom, then he frowned. "Come, my father awaits."

The two men, the tall dark one and the smaller blond one, walked down the garden path, both thinking of the young girl who lay in her room crying.

Mara looked at herself in the mirror. The green robe she wore hugged her soft curves and tightly molded her breasts. Her golden hair was hanging down to her waist. Leather sandals adorned her tiny feet. It was a stranger that stared back at her through the shiny silver mirror.

She hoped her eyes were not red from crying. She squared her shoulders, ready to face the ordeal that awaited her. Taking a last look at herself, she nodded to Sasha to open the door. She walked through the city streets beside Sasha and Palomas. There was an honor guard wearing Hamez's colors marching in front of her, and one with Tajarez's colors marching behind. The people had lined the roadway, pressing forward to get a glimpse of her. Mara was thankful that it was not far to the temple where the ceremony was to take place.

The honor guard stopped at the bottom of the stone stairway that led up to the temple. The ceremony was taking place on the steps so the people could observe it.

Mara walked up the steps to where Hamez was waiting. Tajarez stood beside him, but Mara did not look at him. The crowd was hushed when Hamez took Mara's hand and raised it over his head.

"My people, I present to you, Mara, the Golden One. She has come to us from a faraway place. As you have already heard, she is to be the bride of my son, Tajarez, but as you know my son cannot marry except to royalty. Therefore, I, Hamez, King of the Lagonda and of the Seven Cities, will take Mara as my daughter. From this day forward, she shall be known as a royal princess."

The crowd roared its approval. Hamez held his hand up for silence, and a hush moved over the crowd. "Mara, do you pledge your word that you will abide by the laws of the Lagonda tribe?"

"I will," Mara answered in a clear voice.

"Do you recognize my son, Tajarez, as my true successor?"

"It is so."

"Do you pledge your life and loyalty to the people of the Seven Cities, putting the good of the people before your own?"

"I do pledge," she responded, just as Sasha had told her to.

"My son," Hamez said, turning to Tajarez and reaching for his hand. "Do you accept Mara as your true and legal sister?"

Tajarez looked at Mara. "I do, my father."

Mara went down on her knees as Sasha had told her to do, and Hamez placed a golden circle around her head. She stood up and he placed a golden armband around her upper arm.

"It is over. You are my daughter. From this day forward you shall call me Father." Hamez embraced her and smiled down at her. "No father ever had a lovelier daughter."

"Thank you, my father. I will try to be worthy of the honor."

Mara walked down the steps on the arm of Hamez. Tajarez and Sagas followed behind. When they reached the bottom, the honor guard fell in behind them. Mara smiled at the many faces of the friendly people who reached out their hands to her. One woman thrust her baby in front of Mara. Palomas stepped forward to remove the woman, but Mara forestalled him. She took the baby in her arms. The baby was round and chubby. She kissed the child on its smooth cheek and handed it back to its mother. The crowd roared its approval.

Hamez leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "Very wise, Mara. The crowd loved the sight of the Golden One holding the child. They will talk of little else this day."