Savage Splendor (Savage Lagonda 2) Read online

  Everyone nodded in agreement.

  Palomas led Mara's horse forward and Tajarez lifted her onto its back. His hand lingered about her waist and she knew by the look he gave her that he was reminding her she was the queen. She touched his face softly and he stepped back a pace.

  "Until I see your face again, beloved," he whispered so only she could hear his words.

  Mara urged her horse forward as the warriors closed ranks around her, each knowing he was charged with her safety, and each willing to stand in the way of anything that would harm her.

  Looking over her shoulder Mara saw Tajarez raise his hand to her. She was too far away to see the expression on his face. Was his heart breaking as hers was, she wondered? She resisted the urge to turn her horse around and ride back to plead with him to allow her to return home with him. When she rode up the hillside he was still standing where she had left him, with the view of the tall mountains that hid the Seven Cities rising majestically behind him.

  Mara had a feeling of deep foreboding as she rode down a deep gully and could no longer see her husband.

  Palomas, who was riding beside her, spoke. "It seems to be a warm day, Mara," he said, and she silently blessed him, knowing that he, who never talked much, was making small talk so she could think of something else besides Tajarez.

  "Yes, it is a lovely day." Tajarez would be proud of her she thought, if he knew the tears that were in her heart did not reach her eyes.

  "Look to the left of us, my queen," Falon said. "I see the king."

  Mara looked toward the hills and saw Tajarez sitting on his horse. How alone he looked, Mara thought. She nudged her horse on to a faster pace, knowing she must not weaken. Tajarez would expect her to act as his queen.

  They rode hard all day and Mara could feel every mile that separated her from the man she loved.

  That evening Mara sat on the fur robe while Minet brushed her golden hair. Minet and Falon had been trained by Sasha, and Mara found them to be very sweet and even-tempered. They both watched her now, apprehensively, knowing she was sad at being parted from the king and her children.

  "Tell us about the white man's world, my queen," Falon encouraged her.

  "You will find it very different from our home, Falon, bigger but less densely populated. It in no way compares to our hidden valley."

  "Do all of the people have the golden hair and the green eyes of you and your brother Jeffery?" Minet asked.

  "No, you will find many different shades of hair and eyes. There are people with red, black, brown, and, of course, golden hair such as mine. Then the color of eyes could be green, blue, gray, or brown."

  "How wondrous," Falon said in an awed voice.

  "Will your brother David welcome Falon, Palomas, and myself into his home?" Minet asked.

  "Yes, you will find you will be a very welcome guest, although the housekeeper Tess might frighten you at first. She sounds very gruff at times, but hers is a loving nature."

  "Does your brother live in a big house?" Falon wanted to know.

  "Yes, it is very large, but not on the scale as the palace." Mara stood up and stretched her arms over her head. "I will dress for bed now. It is a long way to my brother's home. I need my sleep, as do both of you."

  "Can Minet and I go for a walk, my queen?" Falon asked as she helped Mara into her robe.

  "Only if one of the guards accompanies you. I have assured both of your parents that I will look after you, and it is not wise for two unattached maidens to be alone with so many men about."

  "None of the warriors would harm us," Minet spoke up. "We are in your service."

  Mara smiled. "I was not thinking that anyone would do you harm. I saw the amorous looks you both received from some of the young men."

  Falon smiled. "We are considered to be quite a catch since we are in the queen's service."

  Mara's laughter bubbled out, and her two servant girls exchanged glances, glad they had caused her to forget her sadness for the moment. "I shall have to keep a wary eye out for potential bridegrooms for the two of you."

  "I have my eyes on the new guard who has been assigned for this journey. He is very handsome, and his name is Matio," Falon said.

  Mara frowned, thinking the name sounded familiar. Was that not the young man who was allowed to try out for the royal guard on Tajarez's orders, she wondered. Tomorrow she would ask Falon to point the young man out to her so she could see if he was the same one.

  Mara lay down on her bed as Minet and Falon left the tent to go for a walk. She was so lonely. Never had she been without Tajarez and her babies at the same time. She did not fall asleep until the two girls returned.

  Minet and Falon slept near the tent entrance, and they were aware of the queen's restlessness. They felt sorrow in their hearts that she was so sad, for she was kind to them and they loved her well.

  Many times during the night Mara would reach out for Tajarez and find he was not beside her. In the stillness of the night she listened to the hooting of an owl and the lonesome sound of a howling wolf. Mara prayed for forgetfulness in sleep.

  The next morning Mara tried to give the appearance of lightheartedness. But the ever watchful Palomas knew that she was putting forth an effort, and he talked to her as they rode along.

  When they made camp that night, Mara climbed up an embankment and looked at the glorious colors of the sunset. The red and purple colors were streaked across the sky and for the moment she was lost in the beauty of it. She wondered if Tajarez was witnessing the same sunset.

  She was startled when she heard Palomas come up behind her. "You are wondering if Tajarez is watching the sunset," Palomas said with his usual perception. "A Lagonda warrior will always look at the sunset when he is out in the wilderness."

  "How do you know this?" she said, smiling.

  "Because we want to know who wins the battle."

  "What battle?"

  "Has Tajarez never told you of the sun battling with the moon?"

  "No."

  "Ah, my queen, then you do not know why the sky is splashed with color at the beginning and end of each day."

  Mara smiled as Palomas sat her down on a rock and sat down on the ground beside her. It was not like him to talk of such things, and she knew why he was doing it. He is such a dear man, she thought.

  "Tell me about the battle, Palomas," she said softly.

  He braced his back against the rock she was sitting on and she followed his gaze up into the heavens where the sun had turned the sky to a bright red and soft pinks.

  "When the Great Father created the earth there was only day. The sun was supreme ruler of the sky, bathing the earth in its brightness. The Indian children would frolic and play until they would become exhausted. It was a happy time, but soon they became discontent, and the Great Father looking down from his heaven saw this, and wondered why his children were becoming listless and unhappy. He asked the king the reason for the discontent and the wise king answered him: 'The people have nothing to look forward to. Everything is always the same.' The Great Father thought and thought, how could he change the world so his children would have something to look forward to? He went to the sun, who shone brightly with its golden colors. Now the sun was very vain, since he was the only source of light for the earth, and he had begun to think he was more important than the Great Father. He had become arrogant and pompous.

  'How would you like it if I allowed you to have someone to help you watch over the earth?' the Great Father asked. The sun answered, 'I need no one to help me. The people love me more than they do you.' This made the Great Father very angry. The sun needed to be taught a lesson, but the Great Father did not want the earth to be entirely in darkness. He went to the moon, who was small and dark, and asked him, 'How would you like to do battle with the sun? If you win I will allow you to cover the earth with your darkness.' The moon became very excited, for he was small and insignificant. 'But how can I who am so small take on the mighty sun, who is so powerful?' he asked. And
the Great Father answered: 'With courage. You must do battle with the sun, and if you are brave you can win many victories.' And although it was true that the moon was small, the Great Father had chosen well, for he was indeed courageous. The heavens trembled as the battle began. The battle lasted for a very long time, but soon the mighty sun began to tire and lose some of its light. It needed to rest for the moon was draining its power. In one final burst of glorious color the sun faded, the moon won its first battle, and the earth became dark. The sun knew it was not defeated, for it would rest and regain its powers to wage a battle for supremacy once again. After the sun had rested he began the battle anew with a blast of wonderful colors. Each day the sun battles for control, but each night he loses that battle to the tiny, courageous moon."

  Palomas had finished talking and stood up and offered Mara his hand. She looked into the sunset and smiled up at Palomas. "The moon has almost won another battle."

  "It will always be so, Mara. I was told that story as a child and each day at sunset I find myself looking to make sure the dark wins over the light."

  "I doubt that I will ever think of the sunset without remembering your story. Do you know what my father told me about the sunset?"

  By now dark had covered the land and many stars had covered the ebony velvet sky. "I can not guess," Palomas told her.

  "My father said that each sunset is unique. Once you have seen a sunset you will never see the same one again. Think of it. The world must be thousands of years old and yet no two sunsets are ever the same."

  "Yes, just as the leaves on the trees and the flowers are alike and yet none of them are the same," Palomas said.

  "We could carry it one step farther. No two humans are ever the same."

  Palomas laughed softly. "I do not know about that, but you are unique. There has never been one to equal you."

  "Is that meant as a compliment, Palomas?"

  "Indeed, my queen, it is so," he said leading her down the hill toward the camp.

  That night Mara slept the night through and the next morning awoke feeling refreshed. Falon braided her hair, and Minet served her breakfast. Mara ate the dried meat and sweet corncakes that would be her diet until she reached David's home. There was little time to kill and prepare fresh meat, since they were moving at such a fast pace.

  When they stopped at midday Mara refused the dried meat Falon served her but ate some of the sweet corncake.

  "Falon, ask the young man Matio to attend me," Mara said wiping her hands on a clean napkin.

  Falon's eyes lit up as she smoothed her hair into place and rushed to find Matio. She found him standing beside his horse, and he smiled at her as she approached. When she stopped in front of him he held his breath. Falon was a lovely young girl, and although Matio had admired her from a distance, she never seemed to notice him.

  "It is a fine day, Matio," Falon said, smiling coyly.

  "You know my name," he replied in a surprised voice.

  "Why should that surprise you?"

  "I never thought you noticed me. I have often received a smile from Minet, but you hardly look at me."

  "Perhaps you would prefer it if Minet had come to you," Falon said in a haughty manner. Minet was precocious, and she flirted with many of the young warriors, but Falon was shy and could not show her feelings. She looked up at the tall, handsome Matio and wished she could be more like Minet.

  "Oh no, I did not mean to imply that I preferred Minet, I admire you greatly. I am well pleased that you should stop to talk with me."

  Falon became angry. How dare he think she had sought him out on her own? "I did not seek you out, Matio, I come with a message from the queen."

  "The queen sent you to me?" Matio asked in disbelief.

  "Yes, she asked that you attend her at once," Falon said dryly.

  Matio could not believe he had been summoned by the queen. He had never been allowed to get within ten horse lengths of her. He had often observed her from afar, and he had lost his heart to the beautiful golden-haired goddess who was his queen. The older warriors spoke of her in awe, and each of them was ready to defend her with his life if the need arose, but actually to speak to her was too much to hope for.

  Matio straightened his silver and turquoise headband and stood up to his full height. "Why would the queen ask to speak to me?"

  "It is not your place to question, but to obey," Falon replied, wishing she did not feel so intimidated by the handsome Matio.

  His eyes blazed angrily. "You would do well to learn some social graces from Minet. Does your queen ask you to insult me?"

  Falon wondered why she had acted so superior to Matio when she wanted him to like her. She supposed that she was jealous of Minet, who was so lovely and could smile at a man without feeling shy. Matio felt crushed that Falon did not appear to like him. He had watched her for many days, and while he liked the maiden Minet, she did not compare with the lovely and distant Falon.

  "Come, the queen awaits," Falon said. Matio looked past her to where the queen was talking to Palomas, and followed Falon.

  As Matio approached he saw the formidable Palomas fold his arms over his powerful chest and give him a guarded glance. Many of the warriors were impressed by the queen's personal guard. He was second in command only to the queen's brother Jeffery, and he answered to no one but the king.

  Mara smiled at Matio as she recognized him as the young man who had received Tajarez's judgment.

  "You may approach the queen," Palomas said in a soft voice. Palomas never raised his voice, there was no need to. All that was needed was one look at his powerful body and his dark eyes that seemed to see right into the soul of a man. Matio pitied anyone who would try to cross him. Palomas was not a handsome man. His nose had been broken in battle and was slightly crooked. His features were irregular, but his strength and courage could be challenged by no one.

  Matio bowed his head and when he looked up he saw the most beautiful face he had ever seen. Before he had only observed her from afar, but, being close to her now, he wondered how anyone could be so lovely. Matio was aware he was staring but he could not tear his eyes away from her beautiful face.

  "I am told your name is Matio. I recognize you from the day you sought my husband's judgment."

  Matio felt the fool as he tried to reply and the words seemed to stick in his throat. How was it possible that the queen had ever noticed him? He had the feeling he was drowning in her beautiful green eyes, so he lowered his head.

  Mara could see that Matio was uncomfortable, so she tried to put him at ease. "How is it, Matio, that you became one of my husband's guards so quickly?"

  Matio raised his head, and saw the queen smiling at him. He tried to return her smile but he felt as if his face was frozen. "It would have taken much longer had the king not needed extra guards to accompany you to your brother's home," he blurted out, hoping she did not think him a fool. He could not seem to concentrate on anything with her looking at him.

  "You are far too modest, Matio. Palomas tells me you proved yourself and earned the right to become a royal guard. He said many were passed over who had been trying for the guards for much longer than you."

  Matio was pleased that she had learned how quickly he had been accepted. He himself could not yet believe he now wore the silver and turquoise. He had tried very hard to prove himself, and he had defeated the royal teacher in hand-to-hand combat, a feat that had not been accomplished since Palomas had done it. If a warrior could defeat Lagno he automatically won a place in the royal guards.

  "I am pleased with your accomplishment, Matio. Tell me, do you like your duties as a royal guard?"

  "Yes, my queen," he replied, not daring to look into her beautiful eyes again.

  "I am curious. Do you not wish you had married the girl you were pledged to?" Mara asked, looking at Falon and smiling slightly.

  "No, my queen. I have come to know that I was fortunate that she chose my brother over me. I hope my brother will find happiness with he
r."

  Mara laughed, and the sound of her laughter was so beautiful to Matio's ears. "Take care, Matio, that your duties in the guard do not take up all of your time." She smiled at Minet, who was looking boldly at the handsome warrior, and then her eyes rested on Falon, who stared wistfully at Matio.

  "Matio, I would like it if you would join my personal guard. Would that please you?"

  His eyes widened in disbelief and he went down on his knees before her. "I would gladly die in your service, my queen."

  Mara stood up and motioned for him to rise. "I do not ask that you die" for me, Matio. Rather, I would ask you to live."

  Matio stood as if frozen to the spot as he watched the queen walk away from him. He was startled when Palomas's voice sounded beside him.

  "If you are to be in the queen's entourage, should you not mount your horse?" Palomas said, thinking Mara was up to matchmaking. He had observed the proceedings, seeing the way Falon and Minet had looked at Matio. He smiled inwardly, wondering which of the maidens Mara had picked out for the unsuspecting Matio.

  "She is so lovely. Her voice is as the wind whispering in the trees. Her eyes seem to draw one's heart from one's body. There has never been such a queen. There is no woman living or dead who can rival her."

  "It would be wise if you kept such feelings to yourself," Palomas warned.

  Matio realized he had spoken aloud, and, worse yet, that Palomas had overheard him. "I meant no disrespect. I spoke foolishly," he said quickly.

  "Watch your tongue or you will find yourself walking among the spirits. I suggest you look to your duties and not at the queen."

  "Is it not permitted to admire the queen?" Matio asked.

  "It is permitted to admire her silently," Palomas answered him.

  "It will be as you say, Palomas," Matio said. "I will not forget," he added.

  The days that followed fell into a familiar pattern. They would ride hard most of the day, stopping only to rest the horses and to eat. They would make camp early while there was still plenty of light.