The Golden Barbarian

by Iris Johansen

  He opened the door to the dressing room to find Tess sitting patiently on a chair against the far wall. Lord, she was tiny. Fine-boned and fragile, she looked closer to nine than twelve in her prim, full-skirted white gown. The candle she had set on the low console beside her chair revealed a dusting of golden freckles over her small nose and burnished her wild aureole of curls. Said slept peacefully on a cot opposite Tess, Galen noticed with exasperation. How the devil had she managed not to wake him?

  Galen stepped inside the room. “Said!”

  Said Abdul raised his tousled head, instantly awake. “What is—” He broke off as he saw the child sitting a few yards away. “Who—”

  “That’s not important.” Galen could hardly blame him for being stunned. When Said had retired for the night, the females with whom Galen had been occupied had definitely not been children. “Leave us. I’ll call when I need you.”

  Said nodded dazedly, rolled out of bed, wrapping his blanket around his naked body. In another moment he stumbled past Galen into the bedchamber.

  Tess sat up straighter in the chair as Galen shut the door and leaned back against it. “I have to hurry. Father told my mother she must take more concern in my upbringing, and she may check on me tonight.”

  “Your back?”

  She frowned uncomprehendingly. “What are—Oh, is it bleeding again? I’m glad you told me. I’ll have to soak my gown in cold water when I get back to my chamber.” She shook her head. “No, my mother suspects Pauline of not watching me closely enough.”

  “Your presence here certainly supports that supposition.” His lips tightened. “I’m glad someone cares that you’re not in your bed at this hour.”

  “Of course they care,” she said, surprised. “I have value for them. They have no son, and I must make a great marriage to compensate for my mother’s failing. If anything happened to me, they would have nothing.”

  “I see.” Arranged marriages were also common in his country, but for some reason the idea that this child was treated only as a game piece filled him with anger. “And who are you to marry?”

  “It will be decided later. I should really be affianced by now.” She wrinkled her nose. “But my father hopes I will become more comely later and attract better offers.” Her gaze went to the door of the bedchamber. “Like Lady Camilla. She had many offers before they wed her to Count Evaigne. You must be a great relief to her after fornicating with that old man.”

  He bowed mockingly. “I tried to make the experience memorable. She did not seem disap—” He broke off as he realized he was talking to her as if she were an experienced lady of the court instead of a girl still in the schoolroom. “We should not be talking about the lady’s infidelities.”

  She turned her crystal-gray gaze on him. “Why not? I meant no insult. I know that this is how things are done. First, the marriage, and then a young, strong man to bed. Pauline says that every wife has a lover, sometimes two or—”

  “I’m not interested in what Pauline says,” he said irritably. “Why are you here?”

  She drew a deep breath. “Apollo.”

  Whatever he had expected, it was not this. “The dog?”

  Tess nodded, her small hands clutching the arms of the chair. “I was stupid. Pauline was angry about the gown, and I told her about Apollo arid the bog. She told my mother, and my mother told my father, and—”

  “He beat you.”

  She looked at him, startled. “Why should that bother me? I expected nothing else. No, it was Apollo. My father was angry, and said that this was the last straw. The bitch will not mate, and Apollo had almost cost him dear.” Her enormous eyes were filled with tears that shimmered in the candlelight. “He ordered them both killed.”

  He felt a sudden surge of tenderness as he gazed at her. He, too, had experienced the pain of having beloved animals taken from him by death. “I’m sorry.”

  “I did not come to you for sympathy. I need help.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “It’s not done yet, and I can’t let it happen. As soon as they locked me in my chamber, I came out the secret passage and across the courtyard to the kennels to see Simon, the kennel master. He’s a good man. He said he could put off killing the dogs, but they must be gone before my father visits in the morning.”

  “And you want me to get rid of them?”

  “No, I wanted Sacha, but he was in—”

  “His cups,” Galen finished. “So I’m your second choice.”

  “Don’t you see? I have no place to take them where they’ll be safe, and, in truth, you are a much better choice than Sacha,” she said eagerly. “Because even if Sacha sent the dogs to one of his estates in the country, my father might still hear of it and take action, but he would never go to Sedikhan.”

  “True. Who would go to such a savage wasteland?”

  She ignored the irony in his tone. “You saw Apollo. I know he’s gentle, but he’s only a little over a year old, and perhaps he could be taught to hunt or guard your home. And Daphne—”

  “Refuses to breed.”

  “You could find another use for her.” Tess’s voice was shaking. “She’s very good-tempered and loving. She comes when I call her and puts her head beneath my hand and her hair feels so soft and—” Her voice broke, and she had to stop for a moment. When she spoke again, her words were almost inaudible. “I love them so. I can’t let them die. Please, will you take them away from here?”

  He was journeying by land, and the animals would be nothing but trouble on the long road home. He would be a fool to burden himself with two animals already considered useless. Yet Galen found himself immeasurably moved by Tess’s plea. She was clearly a poignantly lonely child, and the wolfhounds were probably the only things she loved in this world. Yet she was being forced to beg him to rob her of them. Galen sighed in resignation. “Where are they now?”

  Her face was suddenly luminous with hope. “You’ll do it?”

  He nodded reluctantly. “Though how I’ll manage them on the journey back to Sedikhan, I have no idea. Said and I don’t travel with the same pomp and fanfare as the nobles of your court.”

  She collapsed back against the cushions of the chair as the tension left her. “Thank God.”

  “I don’t mean to be blasphemous, but shouldn’t your thanks include me? I’m the one who’s going to be severely inconvenienced for the next several weeks.”

  “I do thank you.” Her voice vibrated with passionate sincerity. “And I promise I’ll find a way to repay you.”

  He looked at her quizzically. “Indeed? And just what would you do to express your gratitude?”

  “Anything,” she said simply. “Anything at all.”

  She meant it. He could almost feel the intensity of the emotion sweeping through the young girl. “Without reservations?” A curiously arrested expression crossed his face as a thought suddenly occurred to him. “Someday I may decide to take advantage of your generous offer.” He came across the room and drew her to her feet. “But not now. Where is this secret passage?”

  She gestured to a candelabra affixed to the wall a few feet away. “You turn the candelabra to the left.”

  Galen twisted the candelabra, and a recessed wooden panel swung open. “Back to your chamber now. I’ll get dressed and go down to tell your kennel master to take the dogs to the woods beyond the castle and wait for Said and me.”

  “What if he won’t do it?”

  “He’ll do it. Gold has a certain persuasive eloquence.”

  “You’ll bribe him?”

  “Your debt is increasing by leaps and bounds, isn’t it?” He handed her the copper candle-holder and gave her a gentle push toward the waiting darkness of the passage. “You must remember how great your debt is when it comes time for me to collect.”

  “I will.” She cast a quick glance over her shoulder. “They’ll be safe? Truly?”

  “Truly.” He smiled. “You have my word.”

  The next instant she had disappeared into
the darkness.

  The panel swung shut, and Galen gazed thoughtfully at it, the curious smile still lingering on his lips.

  It seemed fate had intervened on his behalf, and he would be a fool to refuse her gift. It would take patience, determination, and a certain amount of planning before he could accomplish his goal, but the unity of Sedikhan was all-important.

  He turned on his heel and strode back toward the bedchamber. He would dress and tell Said they were leaving for Sedikhan at once.

  No, not quite at once.

  He must first seek out Sacha and sober him up enough to have a long talk with him.

  Chapter 1

  Port of Dinar, Tamrovia

  May 3, 1803

  The longboat was only a few yards from the dock when Tess caught sight of Sacha’s tall, graceful form. He was leaning indolently against a stack of wooden boxes.

  Sacha hadn’t changed a whit, Tess thought with relief. His auburn hair so like her own, blazed in the sunlight. As they drew close to shore, she saw that his slim, muscular body was garbed as it always had been, with faultless elegance. Today, he wore tight cream-colored buckskin trousers and a gold brocade coat. An intricately tied cravat complimented his pristine white shirt.

  “Sacha!” Tess waved frantically, leaning perilously far over the side of the longboat. “Sacha, it is I!”

  She heard the captain mutter something in the front of the boat, but she ignored him and continued waving. “Sacha!”

  He straightened away from the boxes, and a grin lit his face.

  “I warn you, if you fall into the sea, I’ll let you drown,” he called. “This is the first time I’ve worn this coat, and I like it over much.”

  “You look like a peacock,” she called back. “In Paris they’re dressing with far more simplicity.”

  “Brat. How would you know? You’ve been in a convent for six years.”

  “I have eyes.” As the longboat drew up to the dock, she took the hand Sacha reached out to her and rose cautiously to her feet. “Besides, Pauline told me.”

  “Ah yes, how could I forget Pauline.” Sacha’s hands were on her small waist, lifting her onto the dock. He groaned and staggered back a step. “Merde, you weigh a ton. It must be all that learning and religion they’ve stuffed into you.” His blue eyes gleamed with mischief as he looked her up and down. “Thank God it doesn’t show, or you’d never get a husband.”

  Tess’s happiness dimmed at his mention of marriage, then she firmly dismissed the thought. There could be no other reason for her father to send for her, but it was not her way to brood on storm clouds in the distance when the sun was shining and the world close at hand was beautiful. “I don’t weigh a ton.” She had often wished she did weigh more. No matter how much she ate, she remained unimpressively tiny in height and far too slender. She scarcely came to the middle button on Sacha’s fine linen shirt. She lifted her chin, a mock expression of hauteur on her face. “It’s you who have grown weak and puny with dissipation and excess. I wonder my father even puts enough trust in you to escort me to Belajo.”

  His smile faded, and he glanced away from her. “I’d better get you to the inn. The carriage is around the corner.”

  “One moment.” She turned to the captain, who was getting out of the longboat and held out her hand. “Good-bye, Captain. Thank you for being so kind to me. It’s been a very interesting voyage. You must come to Belajo sometime soon.”

  The grizzled captain lifted her gloved hand to his lips. “It’s been interesting for us also, Your Highness,” he said dryly. “Still, I wouldn’t mind sailing with you again.” He paused. “In a year or two.”

  She nodded. “I understand.” She turned back to Sacha and slipped her arm through his. “I’m ready now.”

  Sacha glanced curiously back over his shoulder at the captain as they strolled toward the street. “The captain doesn’t appear too pleased with you. What did you do to the poor man?”

  “Nothing.” She noted his skeptical glance and said defensively, “Well, it was the first time I had been aboard a ship without someone peering over my shoulder and telling me what I must or must not do. When I sailed for France six years ago, Pauline was with me. She wouldn’t allow me a proper exploration of the ship.” Quartered in Paris after she had escorted her charge to France, Pauline had married a young baker when Tess had been in the convent of St. Marguérite only a few months. “Pauline failed to show up at the pier when this ship was about to sail, and the sisters didn’t have time to make other arrangements for my chaperonage.”

  “And what portions of the ship did you explore?”

  “Have you ever been in the crow’s nest?”

  “That little box on top of the mast? Good God, no. I have no head for heights.”

  “You can see forever,” Tess said dreamily. “And the wind blows your hair, and the scent of the salt and the sea is like nothing I’ve ever smelled.”

  “May I ask how you got up to the crow’s nest?”

  “I climbed up the masts. I had to take off my shoes, but it was little different from climbing trees in the forest at home.” She frowned. “The captain’s shouting did distract me, however.”

  “I imagine he was a bit concerned,” Sacha said solemnly.

  “Well, he should have waited until I reached the top before he shouted.”

  “I’m sure you told him that.”

  She nodded. “But he was too angry to listen.” She looked intently at Sacha. “Is our escort at the inn?”

  “No, our party arrives tomorrow. I came on ahead.” A young groom jumped down from the back of the carriage and opened the door. “I thought you’d appreciate a few days of rest before we started overland. It’s a four-day journey.”

  “I did nothing but rest on board the ship. I tried to help the sailors, but they wouldn’t let me.” If the fate she suspected did await her at Belajo, she was not eager to make haste on the journey. “May we have supper at that café?” She tilted her head to indicate a café bearing a sign with a painting of a mermaid curled up on a rock. “I’ve never eaten in a café, Sacha. Could we please?”

  He nodded indulgently. “A café, yes. But not one on the waterfront.”

  Her face fell in disappointment. “Why not? Sailors are most interesting. They tell such grand and glorious tales.”

  Sacha handed her into the carriage. “More glorious than truthful.”

  “I’d like to see for myself.” She leaned forward, her face glowing with eagerness. “Someday I’d like to take a journey to the east and follow the route of Marco Polo. Wouldn’t that be a great adventure?”

  Sacha’s expression softened as he looked at her. “A very great adventure.” He followed her into the carriage and seated himself across from her. “But you won’t find any Marco Polos at the Mermaid Café, and sailors’ haunts are notoriously disreputable.”

  “What difference does that make? You’d be with me.” She wrinkled her nose ruefully. “If you fear for my virtue, I assure you no one will pay the least notice of me. I’m too small. The sailors on the ship treated me as if I were a demented infant.” She leaned back on the cushioned seats as the carriage started the bouncing journey over the cobblestones. “When the man my father has chosen as my bridegroom sees me, he will very likely back out of the arrangement.” She grinned as a sudden thought came to her. “What a splendid idea. If I make myself even uglier, it may be years before he can make another match.”

  Sacha’s lids half veiled his eyes. “You have no desire for marriage?”

  “Why should I?” she said. “The convent was bad enough, but at least the sisters were kind. A husband …” She abruptly looked out the window. “I do not like the thought of it.”

  “Not every man is like your father,” he said gently.

  “No, but they all seek to use women for their own purposes.” She straightened her shoulders and smiled with an effort. “I do not wish to speak of it. Tell me what you have been doing this long time I’ve been away. I rece
ived only a few letters from my mother since I left Tamrovia, and each was heavy with lectures on learning meekness and obedience. You’ve not wed?”

  “Sweet Mary, no,” Sacha said in horror.

  “How have you escaped that fate? You must be all of thirty.”

  “By staying away from court and letting every woman there forget I exist.” He frowned. “And thirty is far from ancient.”

  She chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mirth. “But we’ve already discussed how puny you are.”

  “And how impudent you are.” He smiled. “I’m glad the nuns didn’t crush the spirit out of you.”

  His narrowed gaze on her face held surprising keenness, and Tess realized that her first impression had been wrong. Sacha had changed.

  When she had left Tamrovia, he had been softer, lazier, even a bit foppish. Now, in spite of the languid airs he assumed, she could sense an undefinable toughness, a greater confidence, as if the softness had been honed away by the experiences of the last years. “You didn’t answer me. What have you been doing?”

  The sharpness of his regard was hooded again as his lids veiled his eyes. “Oh, this and that. Traveling. Acquiring new skills.”

  “What new skills?”

  He leaned back on the cushions. “You’re a curious puss. Perhaps I should ask the same of you. What did you learn in your convent?”

  “That I never wanted to return to one.”

  He chuckled. “What else?”

  “Sewing, weaving, candlemaking. Nothing of real importance. Well, except scripture, of course.” She tilted her head and studied him shrewdly. “Why don’t you want to answer me?”

  “All in good time.” He glanced out the window. “We’re about to reach the inn. I’ve arranged for the innkeeper’s daughter to act as your maid, and your boxes should arrive—”

  “Why did you arrange for a servant? You didn’t know Pauline wouldn’t be with me.”

  He hesitated before he smiled teasingly. “Perhaps I thought you needed the help of a younger, more vigorous woman. Our winsome Pauline must be all of two and thirty by now.” He sighed morosely. “Even more ancient than my humble self.”