.Sagas shook his head. "You cannot know what your coming has meant to me. If only you had been born sooner and had come to us when I was a younger man, I would have journeyed to this Egypt so I could see it for myself."
"You would find the Egypt of today greatly changed from when your ancestors lived there."
"Hamez should be the rightful king of Egypt," Sagas said matter-of-factly.
"He is certainly a direct descendant, from what I can tell, but he would not be able to return to Egypt to rule."
Sagas nodded. "Many centuries have passed, too much time."
"Sagas, believe me when I tell you that you have the better world here in this valley. The Egypt of today is nothing compared to what it was in the days of Ramses. There is sickness and disease. People are starving there, while your children here go to bed never knowing a hungry day in their lives. Nor do they know about war or the political unrest that plagues Egypt."
"It will not always be so, Mara. I have seen visions of the white people pushing in on us."
"I wish the whole world would leave us in peace, Sagas. I would hate for anyone to find this valley."
"It will not happen in your day, Mara. You will live out your life in this valley." His eyes became piercing. "But there are troubled times ahead for you. Prepare yourself. When the trouble comes you must be ready for it."
Mara swallowed hard. She felt fear at his words. She looked away because she could no longer look into the eyes that saw so much. She had come to respect the old man, and though she had once doubted his ability to look into the future, she now knew that he had the true gift and could indeed foretell many things.
"Tell me about the trouble I must face, Sagas."
"I cannot, Mara. It would be an abuse of the power. I will tell you this, though. Your strength, love, and loyalty will be tested. You must be true to yourself, and be brave. It will be in your hands to save the king at a great sacrifice to yourself. What you are feeling now will be as petals on the wind compared to the troubles you will soon face. Now, I have promised I would not keep you working too long. Hamez does not want you to tire. I will see you on the morrow."
Mara watched him as he walked away from her, his back straight and his steps sure. She was still pondering his words when she saw Tajarez come through the doorway. She turned her back on him, wishing she did not have to face him at that moment. She had too much pride to let him see how much she had missed him. She picked up a sheet of paper, trying to concentrate on the tiny marks, but her mind was not really on her work, and she could not think clearly. She felt him standing beside her, but she did not acknowledge his presence.
Tajarez had ridden back to the place Mara called Eden. He had been deeply disturbed at hurting her, and had needed the time to try and rethink his feelings for the baby. He had found no solution for his torment, however. He could only think of Mara, and wish she was beside him. Try as he might to rid himself of the feelings, it still bothered him that his baby might be white.
"Mara, will you not look at me?"
She turned to him and gave him an icy stare. "I am looking, Tajarez."
"I have missed you, Mara, did you also miss me?"
"I have been busy, Tajarez. I have not given you much thought," she lied. "You went away and left your father to tell me you were going away. Could you not have told me yourself? Why should I give you any thought?"
"It is too public here for us to be having this conversation. Let us go to our room." He took her hand and led her across the room and up the stairs.
Mara was not ready to forgive Tajarez. She knew how he could render her mindless with his lovemaking, but she was determined that she would not give in to the feelings he aroused in her. This thing between them was too important. It concerned more than just the baby, it had to do with how Tajarez felt about her as well.
Tajarez closed the door behind them and pulled Mara into his arms. "My beloved, each hour I was away from you was like an eternity. My arms ached to hold you, my body ached to possess you."
She wedged her arm between them and shoved against his broad chest. "Remove your hands from me, Tajarez. My baby and I do not need you," she said angrily. She felt hot tears sting her eyes and was determined she would not let him see her cry.
Tajarez held her, refusing to release her. "I need you, Mara, and I need our baby also."
"Too little, too late, Tajarez. I know how you feel about my baby. You will pretend to love it when it is born, but I will always have doubts."
"Mara," he said, tightening his hold on her, "I am angry with myself that I have hurt you. You must believe that I want this baby as much as you do."
"You will not care if the baby is white, Tajarez?"
He hesitated, not wanting to hurt her more. "I will deal with my feelings if the baby is white."
She closed her eyes, wishing he were not always so honest. Once again she felt rejected. "I want to retire now, Tajarez. I do not wish to continue this conversation."
"I will take you to bed, Mara," he said, lifting her into his arms.
Mara felt his strong arms supporting her weight and she felt weak with longing. She was battling within herself. To give in to her desire would not solve anything, in fact it would only complicate everything, for when the lovemaking was over, the problem would still be there.
"I do not wish to sleep with you, Tajarez. I am having trouble sleeping, and your presence would only disturb me.
She felt his lips on her throat. "You disturb my sleep also, Mara," he said against her neck.
Her arms went around his neck and she laced her fingers through his hair. His lips traveled to her mouth. "I need you, beloved. Do not shut me out of your life. Any problem we have we will work out together."
Mara closed her eyes and twisted out of his arms. "I am good enough to lie with, but not good enough to carry the future prince. You are such a hypocrite, Tajarez." Her fury was unbounded. "I will tell you something. My family did not want me to marry you, as you know, but what you may not know is that they thought you beneath me, not good enough for me, Mara Golden. They did not have a very good opinion of Indians as a whole. But I loved you, and I went against my family's wishes to marry you, and not once since I have known you have I been ashamed of loving you. Nor have I given any thought to what color skin our children would have. I only cared that they would be a part of you and me, so therefore I would love them. You do not love me enough, or you would feel the same as I."
Tajarez watched her silently. Much of what she said was the truth, except the part about his not loving her enough. He loved her more than it was wise for a man to love a woman, for it was a great weakness within him that he depended so much on her love.
"Come to bed with me, Mara. I need you. Do not say cruel words to me. A word once spoken can never be recalled."
"Yes, Tajarez, words spoken cannot be recalled. First we work out this thing that is between us, and then we go to bed. I am not a child that you can offer sweets to and make the hurt go away."
"I know you are not a child, Mara." His eyes caressed her. "You are a very desirable woman, and once a man has had your beautiful body, he will never be satisfied with less. You do not understand a man, beloved. We have certain needs that have to be fulfilled. You are my need."
"And you do not understand a woman, at least not this woman. I have pride, Tajarez. My mother once told me that I have too much pride, but that is the way I am. I will not sleep with you, nor will I give you the fulfillment you desire until things are right between us."
"You do not intend to perform your wifely duties?" Tajarez said, his anger rising to meet hers.
"Oh, I can perform, if that is what you wish, Tajarez, but that is what it would be, a performance. I can assure you that you would not like me that way."
Tajarez's face was a mask of fury. "Go to the room next door then, Mara. But consider well before you leave. I will not come after you, nor will I ask you to return."
Mara turned away from him. Her
anger carried her to the door, and she opened it, then slammed it behind her. That night was torture for her. She almost got out of bed several times during the night to go to Tajarez, but her pride always stopped her.
Tajarez sat on the bed that he should have been sharing with Mara. He was angry, more angry than he had ever been with her. He went to the door, determined to bring her back to his bed. No one, not even Mara, could treat him, Tajarez, prince royal, in such a manner. He paused outside her bedroom door. No, he would not demand she return to him. Mara would have to come to him. After all, she was the one who had left him.
The next morning when Mara arose, she was told by Palomas that Tajarez had gone away on a hunting trip and Palomas did not know when he would return. Jeffery and his guard had accompanied him, Sasha told her over breakfast. Mara tried to act as though nothing was wrong between her and Tajarez, but she was not completely successful. So deep was her hurt that it showed in her eyes.
Sagas patted her hand as they studied the charts together. He rolled up the parchment and smiled at her. "No work today. How would you like it if I took you on a tour of the city? You have not seen the real city. I think you would enjoy it, and I know I would like to be your guide."
Mara returned his smile. She did want to see the city, but she had thought Tajarez would be the one to take her. "I would like to go very much, Sagas."
"Good. Go and get a wrap. It has turned quite cold, but the fresh air will do you good."
Later Mara and Sagas rode through the streets with Sasha and Palomas in attendance. The people seemed genuinely pleased to see her and went out of their way to be friendly. Mara felt her heart lighten as they rode into the marketplace.
She had been told about the marketplace by Jeffery, but nothing had prepared her for what she witnessed. There were stalls lined along the streets where one could purchase almost anything. There was fish, vegetables, meats, cloth of every color, and shops that had beautiful jewelry with semiprecious stones. There were shops that had beautiful crocheted and beaded work, and one where they sold lovely woven rugs. It was like nowhere she had been before. Once more she was reminded that it was a time out of place. She felt she had stepped back into time a thousand years.
"What does one use to make a purchase?" Mara asked Sagas.
"We use what is known as a barter system, but if there is anything you wish, you only have to say so. The man who is in charge of the royal treasury will see that your purchase is taken care of later."
Mara noticed Sasha was admiring a beautiful hand-woven rug with brilliant colors of turquoise, gray and black.
"You like the rug, Sasha?" Mara asked.
"It is lovely. The weaver is very renowned, and his work is very popular, but it has a high price."
Mara called the shopkeeper over. "My little sister likes this rug. Will you have someone bring it to the palace? I will see that you are paid."
The shopkeeper bowed to her. "I am glad that you should find my work pleasing. It will be a great honor for me to give the rug to you."
"I thank you for your kindness, but it is a wedding gift to my brother and his wife; therefore I wish to purchase it myself."
"Mara, I did not intend that you should give me the rug. It is far too much."
"Tajarez and I have not given you a wedding gift. I want you to have this."
"But Tajarez gave us the beautiful wedding trip."
"Yes, and this rug is from both of us."
"You are most kind, Mara. I will treasure it always, as I know Jeffery will."
The merchant assured Mara it would be delivered immediately. After they left, he hurried from shop to shop telling all his friends that the Golden One had found pleasure in his work and had taken one of his rugs.
After a while Mara became weary and they returned to the palace. She excused herself and went upstairs to lie down. Later in the day she had Sasha move all of her belongings from Tajarez's room to the bedroom next door.
Sasha felt a great sadness in her heart that there was something wrong between Mara and Tajarez, and she missed Jeffery, who could not return until Tajarez did.
HERE IN THIS VALLEY THEY BROUGHT ME A HIDE, HALF AS LARGE AGAIN AS THAT OF A LARGE COW, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FROM AN ANIMAL WHICH HAS ONLY ONE HORN ON THE FOREHEAD, AND THAT THIS HORN IS CURVED TOWARD THE CHEST, AND THAT FROM THERE IT TURNS OUT IN A STRAIGHT POINT WHICH, THEY SAY, HAS SO MUCH STRENGTH THAT NOTHING, NO MATTER HOW HARD, WOULD FAIL TO BREAK IF STRUCK BY IT. THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE MANY OF THOSE ANIMALS IN THAT COUNTRY. THE COLOR OFTHE HIDE IS LIKE THAT OF A GOAT AND THE HAIR IS AS LONG AS THE FINGER.
—Friar Marcos
25
Tajarez did not return, and the days turned into weeks. Sometimes there would be word of Tajarez. He would send a messenger to tell his father where he was, but he sent no message to Mara.
Time passed slowly, and winter descended upon the seven cities. Mara missed Tajarez so much she began to accept her share of the blame for their misunderstanding. He had reached out to her, wanting to work out the problem of the baby, but she had shunned him, and now Tajarez had been away for over two months. Mara felt the rift between them widen.
She could now feel the baby move inside of her. She felt her heart swell with love for the tiny life she was responsible for. Her heart ached for the tiny baby because its father did not share her love for it.
One morning Mara sat on one of the white doeskin sofas near where Hamez was holding court. It was the day he sat as judge to settle small disputes that came up among the populace.
Mara soon became fascinated by the proceedings. Palomas stood beside her to make sure no one approached her. She received many smiles from the people who came to receive Hamez's judgment.
One man, a farmer, complained that his neighbor had let his sheep stray into his cornfield. The animals had trampled his corn and had eaten many ears.
"How many stalks of corn were destroyed?" Hamez asked the farmer.
The farmer looked at Hamez as though trying to assess the damage. "There were as many as three rows destroyed, my king, and as much as three baskets eaten."
"Do you agree with this assessment?" Hamez asked the sheep herder.
"It is a fair assessment, my king, but I offered to pay for the damage, and Gotnas would not agree to my price."
"What was your price?" Hamez asked.
"I offered him my daughter as a wife, but he became insulting and drove me from his land."
"Is this so, Gotnas? You did not want his daughter as a wife? It seems high payment for such a small amount of corn."
Gotnas, who was a handsome young man, looked uncomfortable. "You have not seen Salva's daughter, my king. She is at least ten summers older than myself, and is past the marriageable age."
Hamez smiled and winked at Mara. "Salva, it is clear that Gotnas does not desire your daughter as a bride, therefore I would charge you to give him something that you feel is of the same value that you place on your daughter."
The room was quiet as Salva pondered the king's words. He looked shamefaced and shifted his feet. "I will give Gotnas one of my best lambs, my king."
The people that stood waiting their turn to approach the king roared with laughter. Hamez was having a hard time controlling his facial muscles.
"You place small value on your daughter, my friend." Then he turned to Gotnas. "Is this acceptable to you?"
Gotnas smiled, then his face widened into a broad grin. "It is acceptable to me, my king."
"Let it stand then. Salva will deliver to you one sheep for the damage to your cornfield." Hamez leaned forward and rested his chin on his hand. "From this day forward, Salva, you will tend your sheep so they do not encroach upon your neighbors. I charge you with neglect. See that you are more careful of your responsibility in the future."
"I will do so, my king."
Both men bowed and left the anteroom. The next one to seek the judgment of the king was a middle-aged woman. Mara thought she was pleasant looking. She was plum
p and had a smile that lit up her whole face.
"I am Fasa, the wife of Dosa, the huntsman, my king." She bowed to pay her respects.
"How can we serve you today, Fasa?" Hamez asked her.
"I seek justice, my king, and in doing so I must challenge one of the laws of the Seven Cities."
"In what respect, Fasa?"
"I know that when a man and woman die leaving children homeless, it is the law that the children should go to the husband's brother."
"That is so, Fasa. Why do you challenge the law?"
"My sister and her husband both died within a week of one another, leaving three children, and as the law implies, the three children of my sister were given to the brother of my sister's husband, whose name is Rouso."
"Where is the fault with this, Fasa?"
"The brother of my sister's husband has six children of his own, and I charge that he only wants the children of my sister for the extra revenue that comes to him for giving my three nieces a home."
"Is the man here that he might speak for himself?"
A man stepped forward out of the crowd. "I am Rouso, my king, and the charges brought against me are false. I seek to give my brother's daughters a home out of the goodness of my heart."
"Why do you wish the three girls in your household, Fasa?" Hamez asked.
"I love them, my king. I have watched them grow from small infants to young girls, and they often stayed in my home. My husband and I have no children, and we love my sister's children as if they were our own."
"Rouso, since you have six of your own children, would you be willing to overturn the law and allow Fasa and her husband to take the three maidens?"
"I also love my brother's daughters, and would not like to part with them, my king."
"What are the ages of the three maidens?" Hamez asked.
The man looked uncomfortable for a moment. "I do not know their exact ages, my king."
Hamez leaned back in his seat and studied the man for a moment. "What kinds of things do the young maidens like to do for fun?"
Savage Desire (Savage Lagonda 1) Page 35