Tajarez stood listening, and he too heard the sound. Leaping across the space to reach the gully he peered into the darkness, but he could see nothing. All he could hear were the ominous sounds of the snarling wolves. Not bothering to arm his bow, he raced down the embankment. Palomas and Jeffery, seeing Tajarez going unarmed among the wolves, followed in close pursuit. Tajarez was unmindful of the danger he was charging into. All he knew was that Mara could be the victim of the hungry wolves. Palomas and Jeffery tried to overtake him so they could cover for him, but he was much too fast for either of them.
At first Tajarez thought he heard only what he wished to hear. He did not pause to think but charged blindly onward.
"Tajarez, help me!"
He heard it clearly now. He felt relief wash over his body as he neared the tree where Mara had sought safety. He prayed that he would reach her before the wolves did.
Mara was trying to press her body tightly against the trunk of the tree. She was back as far as she could get. She closed her eyes expecting to feel the sharp teeth rip into her skin at any moment. The lead wolf had managed to pull itself into the tree. Hearing one of the animals yelp in pain, she opened her eyes to see the wolf sliding down the tree trunk with an arrow in its back from Palomas's bow. She saw Tajarez charging toward her, but between her and him was one over confident wolf. She held her breath as the animal lunged at Tajarez. It was met with Tajarez's knife thrust, which found the animal's heart. Tajarez tossed the dead wolf aside as if it weighed nothing.
Mara was making whimpering sounds as Tajarez leaped into the tree that sagged with the weight of their bodies. He pulled her into his arms and covered her face with kisses, then he just held her against him until her body stopped trembling. He then leaped to the ground with her in his arms. Jeffery and Palomas had driven the wolves back in the meantime.
"See to our horses, Palomas," Tajarez ordered. "We do not want to provide the wolves with another kill." He pulled Mara's cape tightly about her and stared at her with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Is she harmed?" Jeffery asked fearfully, coming up beside them.
Mara laid her head against Tajarez's shoulder. "I ... I am unharmed," she whispered.
Tajarez could feel her slight body tremble and gathered her tightly against him. "We ride for home at once. Your sister is half frozen."
Jeffery walked beside Tajarez as he climbed the steep incline. "Why is it, Tajarez, that when you are displeased with Mara, she becomes my sister?"
Tajarez gave Jeffery a dark look, but did not bother to answer him.
Tajarez mounted his horse and looked down at Mara as he urged the animal forward. Raising her head Mara could see the scowl on his handsome face. She waited for him to reproach her, but when he did not, she spoke:
"It is because of me that your horse is dead. He was a fine horse."
"Yes, it is your fault. I am not pleased with you, Mara."
"Was he your horse?" she said, hoping to hold his anger at bay.
His dark eyes settled on her lips. "No, Sagine was a present I once gave to my queen."
Mara buried her face against his shoulder. "I am so sorry," she sobbed.
"It is of little importance. I will see that the queen has another to replace the dead one," Tajarez said dryly.
"W . . . what are you going to do with me? Will I be punished?" she asked in a small voice, for she could feel the anger Tajarez was trying to contain like a taut bowstring ready to fly.
He bent his dark head and rested his lips against her forehead. "I should beat you, but I could never harm that which I love'," His voice was passionate, as his lips brushed against hers. "I would much rather take you to my bed and drive my ownership into your body. You have been nothing but trouble to me since the first day I saw you."
"I am sorry."
"Are you? I doubt that you are. I was going to talk to you tonight and straighten out some things between us, but when I sought you out, I found you had gone."
"I know what you wanted to say to me."
"Do you?"
"You wanted to tell me that the queen had returned."
"Mara, would you just keep quiet. I am weary of this conversation."
"What will you do with me?"
"Be silent, I am angry with you."
Mara turned her face against his chest and was comforted by the sound of his steady heartbeat. How she loved this man. She had no idea of what she was going back to, but it did not matter, if she could just be near him, see him once in awhile, she thought. She fell asleep in his arms.
28
A warm wind is blowing, my love smiles at me.
He loves me, he loves me. At last I am free.
Tajarez laid Mara down on her bed and pulled the covers over her. Falon entered the room and Tajarez placed his finger to his lips telling her to be silent, and nodded for her to accompany him into the hallway. With one more glance at his sleeping wife he left the room and found Falon waiting for him.
"Watch over your queen tonight, or what's left of the night. Allow her to sleep as long as possible. She has had a very bad time."
"It will be as you say, my king."
"How is my son Andrew?"
"I am told he thrives on the milk from the woman Vista found to feed him. My king, I am happy that you found the queen and that she is unharmed."
"I know you are, Falon," he said smiling at her kindly.
Falon could see how tired he looked. The past year had not been kind to her king, and she hoped he and the queen would soon find each other again. She watched sadly as he walked away from her. It was not always easy being king, she thought.
Mara awoke and looked about her in confusion. Sitting up slowly, she saw that she was back in her room at the palace. By the position of the light in the room she could see that it was late afternoon.
Falon, who had been quietly waiting for her to awaken, smiled brightly. "Would you like a bath before you dine, Mara?"
Mara swung her legs over the side of the bed. Every muscle in her body seemed to ache.
"Yes, a bath would be nice, Falon."
As Mara relaxed in the warm bath she tried to put the events of the night before out of her mind. By all rights she should be dead at this very moment. Stepping out of the bath she dressed in a warm gray woolen gown.
Falon noticed she was strangely silent as she toyed with the food on her plate. "Mara, my king would like to see you after you have eaten," Falon told her.
That announcement finished off what little appetite Mara had had. She found she could not eat another bite of food. She might have known Tajarez would not let last night pass unnoticed. Pushing the tray aside, she stood up, thinking she might as well face Tajarez and get it over with. Her only hope was that his queen would not be present when he reprimanded her.
"Where am I to see Tajarez, Falon?"
"I will take you there," the girl told her, giving her an encouraging smile.
Falon left Mara outside the door of the room where she had confronted Tajarez the day she had been so angry with him for taking Andrew from her. She wished she had half of the courage she had demonstrated that day. Squaring her shoulders, she tapped lightly on the door.
The door was immediately opened and Tajarez stood towering over her. She could not read anything in his blank expression. Looking past him, she was glad to see that the room was empty but for him.
Tajarez did not speak but inclined his head and motioned for her to be seated. Mara sat down on the edge of the white doeskin cushion and folded her hands demurely in her lap.
Tajarez sat down beside her and picked up one of her hands. "Did you rest well, Mara?"
Mara jerked her hand free of his, fearing someone would enter and find him holding her hand. "I awoke only a short time ago."
"I have been awake for a long time waiting for you," he said pushing a golden curl from her face.
"Do not touch me," she said scooting away from him.
He arched a dark brow at h
er, but said nothing.
"Are you still angry with me?"
"I should be. But I am too grateful that you were unharmed." He reached out and captured her hand and pulled her closer to him.
"Tajarez stop this, suppose someone were to come in!"
He noted the urgency in her voice and wondered at the cause of it. "No one will enter, but if they did, why should you care?"
"I do not want you to forfeit your life because of me!"
"Mara, what are you talking about?"
She leaned closer to whisper in his ear as if fearing to be overheard. "I would not like for anyone to find out about us. Sasha told me that if you were to ... to lie with anyone but the queen, you would be put to death."
Tajarez smiled. He now knew why she had acted so strangely. "Sasha was correct, Mara," he said, his smile deepening.
"I do not find any amusement in that, Tajarez. I would not like you to die because of me. Too many people know about us already. Why can you not see the danger to yourself?"
"Would you care so much, Mara?"
"You know I do. How can you even ask after the other night?"
He pulled her into his arms once more and laughed at her puny attempt to free herself. "That night was wonderful, as tonight will be."
"Tajarez, are you mad? Do you not care what could happen to you?"
"Yes, my beloved, I am raving mad. I love you, and if I must die for it, then so be it," he said, unable to resist the temptation to tease her.
Her green eyes sparkled dangerously. "If you do not release me this moment I will ... hit you!" she said furiously.
"That is what I like to see, my old Mara who was full of fire, and daring anyone, including myself, to cross her."
Mara relaxed against him, knowing that struggle was futile. "I came here expecting to find you angry with me," she said trying to distract him.
"I should be, but I could never be angry with you for very long. Mara, why did you run away from me last night?" He captured her face and forced her to look at him. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them found he was watching her closely.
"I left because I love you, and I could not bear to think of your being with another woman. And when Sasha told me it was forbidden for you to be with another woman, I knew I had to get away."
"Mara, I had a talk with Tabo today. We discussed you."
"That must have been dull."
"I told him I was weary of this farce. He agreed with me that it was time for you to be told who you are."
"I know who I am. I am Mara Golden."
"The name Mara is correct, but you are no longer a Golden."
"I am not sure I am following you, Tajarez," she said, a worried frown on her face. "You are not making sense."
"Am I not?"
"Not to me."
"Come with me," he said standing up and leading her out of the room across the anteroom and toward the stairs.
Mara pulled back when she saw he was leading her to the forbidden stairs that led to his own quarters. "I will not go with you to see the queen!" she told him, twisting away from him.
Reaching out for her, Tajarez lifted her into his arms and ascended the stairs.
"Put me down, what if someone should see!"
"If they do, they will think I take you to my bed," he said laughing down at her.
When they reached the nursery he set her down and opened the door, waiting for her to precede him inside.
Vista was just putting Andrew down for a nap and she looked up startled at the sight of the queen.
"Wait in the hallway, Vista," Tajarez commanded.
Vista lowered her head in a quick bow and left hurriedly.
Mara walked over to Andrew and smoothed his dark hair from his face. He was sleeping and she felt an ache inside wanting to hold him. Tajarez came up beside her and peered down at his son.
"I am sorry, Mara, for taking Andrew away from you, but after today perhaps you can find it within you to forgive me."
She looked up at him. "You did it to force me to stay with you, did you not?"
"I am not sure. Perhaps that was part of it, but inside I think I wanted to punish you for not loving me."
"I do love you."
Tajarez grabbed her and crushed her to him. "Mara, Mara, I want so much for you to remember, but since you cannot, I am going to help you."
Raising her head she kissed his smooth cheek. "How can you help me, Tajarez?"
"Come. I want you to meet my twins," he said, steering her across the room and opening a door that led to still another room.
"No, Tajarez, do not do this to me. I am not yet ready to see the children of your queen," she cried, trying to loosen his grip on her hand.
Tajarez pulled her forward, and Mara looked about the room. There were thick gray rugs on the floor with bright patterns of animals woven in many different colors. There were shelves stacked with toys and two small beds with blue coverlets each embossed with a gold cobra head.
"Why are you doing this to me? Are you so cruel that you do not see what I am feeling?" she cried out. The tiny prince and princess had been playing on floor and Mara closed her eyes, not wanting to see the children Tajarez had fathered by another woman.
"Hamez you will find, is very advanced for his age. Both he and his sister speak very well. Even at their early age they have a teacher who instructs them daily in speech."
"Tajarez, have pity," she said turning her back, wondering why he was insisting on her seeing the twins.
"Tamera is coy and flirtatious," he continued. "She has stolen everyone's heart, as her mother has."
Mara turned around to face him. If this was some cruel game he was playing, she would not let him see how much it was hurting her. She took a deep breath as she saw the tiny girl stand up and toddle toward her father, holding her arms up to him. Mara looked past the girl to the tiny prince royal, who was still sitting on the floor stacking wooden blocks.
"Your children are lovely," she said without really looking at them closely. "Now that I have seen them, can I go?"
"But, Mara, you have not truly seen them," Tajarez persisted reaching down and scooping up his daughter. "Would you like to hold Tamera, Mara?"
"No," she said in a whisper, backing away from him.
"You will notice that Tamera's hair is dark like mine, although her skin is much lighter in color. Look at her eyes, Mara, her eyes are very like her mother's."
Mara shook her head from side to side. "No, I want to leave," she said in a strangled voice.
Before she could run from the room as she wanted to, Tajarez handed his daughter to her and she had no choice but to take the child in her arms. The tiny girl raised her head and Mara could see her sweet face through a blur of tears. Her gaze focused on the child's eyes, and Mara gasped.
Green eyes! Eyes as green as her own looked back at her curiously. Mara's heart was pumping frantically, and she tried to make some sense out of what she was feeling.
"I am confused," she said, hardly above a whisper.
"As I said, her eyes are very like her mother's," Tajarez whispered close to her ear.
"But I did not know that her mother was white. No one told me."
Tajarez scooped up the prince royal and held him out for Mara's inspection. "Hamez also has your eyes, Mara. Is it not a startling combination with his dark skin?"
Mara swallowed convulsively as hot tears scalded her eyes. "I do not understand any of this, Tajarez, unless . . . your queen was barren, and I provided the children for you." She looked into his face pleadingly. "Is that what happened, Tajarez?"
"My queen is not barren, Mara, but very fruitful, providing me with three children to prove it. The last of which is the Prince Andrew."
"Oh dear God!" she cried. "It cannot be. I am your wife! I am your queen! No, it is not possible!"
"I see you need more proof. You always were hard to convince." Crossing the room, he opened the door. "Vista, come to me," he called.
Vist
a appeared immediately, looking uneasy because she did not know what was going on.
"Vista, who is this woman? Tajarez asked in a commanding voice.
"I was told to say, if I were asked, that her name is Mara, my king," Vista said, misunderstanding his question.
"I do not mean her name, Vista. I give you leave to speak her true identity. Tell Mara who she is," he ordered.
Mara was startled when Vista dropped to her knees and looked up at her with tears running down her face. "You are my queen, and I have been sorely grieved that you do not remember how much you are loved. I am your humble servant, and stand ready to serve you in all ways."
Mara felt as if her' body was drained of all its strength. She felt the room spinning around her and aware that she was falling forward. Her last conscious thought was for the safety of the child she was holding. She felt Tajarez take Tamera from her, and she slumped forward in his arms, into blackness.
29
In joyful confusion I reach for his hand.
He is my true love, this dark, brooding man.
Mara awoke in a state of total confusion. Looking about her, she saw that she was in a strange room. It was a huge bedroom. The marble floor was covered with white fur rugs, and there was a big golden insignia hanging on the wall, with a cobra whose eyes were set with two huge emeralds. She needed no one to tell her that she was in the bedroom of the king.
Hearing people talking in hushed tones, Mara turned her head and saw Tajarez and Tabo standing near the door. Tabo glanced up and saw that Mara was awake. He walked over to her and smiled.
"How are you feeling, my queen?" he asked.
"I do not know. I am very confused."
"I was afraid something like this might happen," he said bending over her and examining her eyes. He then felt her pulse rate and turned to Tajarez, who had a worried frown on his face.
"She appears to be fine, but just in case you should need me, I will sleep in the palace tonight."
Tajarez nodded as he looked down at Mara.
"I would suggest, my king, that you give her something light to eat, such as broth."
Savage Splendor (Savage Lagonda 2) Page 32