Then there was Bari to consider. Keeping Sorsha with him would further alienate Bari’s influential father. The attention he had given Sorsha at the feast amounted to a public slap in Bari’s face.
To marry Sorsha now, when Skopasis was trying to rally support to their cause might deal a serious blow to the alliance. Boreas was a powerful Sauromatian clan leader. If angered he could withdraw his support.
“About marriage…”Sava swallowed, his throat clenched. “There is something I have not told you Sorsha...”
“I know - your family does not favor me.” Sorsha’s expressive dark eyes pierced with anguish. “They have promised you to another. That girl you greeted at the feast tonight.”
“Aye, that was Bari. She is a good woman, but… You have won my heart Sorsha.” Squeezing her supple body he gave her a deep tender kiss.
“I saw the way she looked at you tonight.”
“My father is concerned that if you and I marry it would be a public humiliation for Bari’s family, as if she is not good enough. Her father Boreas has the allegiance of many clan warriors. He could even pull out of the alliance.”
“Sava I would have been surprised if you were not promised to someone. You are handsome and charming. Your parents are wealthy and powerful. Marriages are alliances between families. Whereas I would bring you nothing.”
“Shhh…never say that.” He kissed her with tender, sensuous lips.” You bring yourself my noble White Mare. You are my treasure and don’t ever forget it. Look, I was no great prize either before I helped bring the tribes together for this council.”
Sava shook his head. ”When others looked down on me, called me a weak stick, Bari and her family never did. Now that I am finally getting some respect, suddenly I have found someone else. Bari must see this as a great betrayal. And in a way it is. They are loyal devoted friends. But you are my heart strings Sorsha. Now that I have you in my arms again, I just cannot let you go.”
“I would follow you to the Dark House, Adoni.”
Sava realized then, he had never intended to let Sorsha go back to Taurica. The connection between them was just too deep, too intense. An irrevocable bridge had been crossed. A bridge joining two kindred spirits.
“So be it. We stay together. I will speak to my parents. After the archery contest tomorrow morning I will ask Yagya to let you stay here under the protection of my family. When the war ends, we will marry. If something happens to me, you will be free to marry someone else.”
“If something happens to you then I will wed Marich.” Sorsha’s smile was white, incandescent.
Pressing her lips over his, Sorsha sucked his erotic, beguiling tongue deeply, their senses entwined in a thick euphoric passion.
She threw open all her gateways to him then - mind, body, heart and soul. Together they created their own world. A world of slow sensuous, erotic rhythm that dissolved Time.
Her body undulating, writhing against his. Lost in dark, vivid sensation. The musky scent of his desire drugging her senses, pulling her in deep and deeper still until she knew not her own name … only Him.
Hahq followed at a distance when Skopasis and Dragana left the feast. Standing in a shadowed grove next to the horse pen, he uttered a soft hoot, their special signal. Skopasis said a few words to his wife and she entered the yurt alone.
The Sauromatian war leader strode into the trees to join Hahq. For several moments silence reigned. Wrapped in thought, Skopasis gazed out at the full moon sailing across the starlit sky.
Rare beings like Skopasis are called larger than life. He was a conduit, a fountainhead for those mysterious forces that people search a lifetime to find and connect with. Skopasis’ very presence spoke louder than words.
To be the total focus of Skopasis’ attention with no one to interrupt was a rare privilege. Hahq basked in the voivode’s charismatic presence.
“Tell me all that you learned on your travels Hahq.”
Skopasis had the exceptional ability to project a stunning persona as his need or mood dictated. Be it the cruel, cunning war leader. The ruthless, relentless strategos. Or a warm magnet of brotherly solidarity.
Tonight the voivode radiated a semi-divine presence. He was father confessor, all encompassing, all understanding. Come to me. My Son.
And Hahq had to suppress the urge to kneel at his true father’s feet.
Ever since Hahq had known himself, he had literally walked in Skopasis’ footsteps. Shadowed him everywhere, even if only to watch from a distance. Even his driving ambition to become the next war leader was a reflection of his lifelong struggle to win pride of place from his true father.
Though it pained Hahq to reveal the truth about Yeva and Brata, it was sure to come out at the council. Nay he would hold nothing back, no matter the pain.
Even though Skopasis might demand that both Brata and Yeva be sent back to King Vartan. He could never lie to those dark, piercing eyes.
“Did Sava tell you exactly where he found Brata?” Hahq crossed his arms over his broad chest, his gaze directed at the full floating moon.
Beside him Skopasis stiffened and nodded. “I knew Sava was holding back.”
“Sava stole into the Black Cloak kurgan and found Brata bleeding out on the altar. The man’s real name is Sargis. He comes from a noble family and was a close friend of Crown Prince Kanxa, killed in battle. Sargis was sacrificed to accompany Kanxa into the Other World.”
“The Black Cloaks will demand Sava’s head for this. Why didn’t he tell me the truth? Never mind. I know why.”
“King Vartan is biding his time. Waiting until the war council to embarrass you by throwing Sava’s crime in your face. What will you do?”
“Sava knew the risk he was taking. The law demands death for theft from a kurgan. We will have to use every tool we can to bargain for his life.” Skopasis’ expression was pained.
“What about Brata?”
“If the Black Cloaks join the alliance Brata will have to go back. If not, we owe King Vartan nothing. We can bargain for Brata’s life along with Sava’s.”
“The Black Cloak war band that attacked us on our first mission to Melanchaenia was led by Vartan’s son, Kanxa. He was one of the two men we killed.”
“Does Vartan know this?”
“Nay. But I think he suspects it.”
A wry smile lit Skopasis expression. “What a web the Fates weave for us lowly mortals. Who actually killed Kanxa?”
Hahq shook his head, eyes distant, as blurred images of that rainy, thunder struck night played through his mind. “I don’t know. It was pitch dark and pouring rain. I killed one of them. Sava killed the other. The Black Cloaks took the bodies with them when they ran off with our spare horses.”
“Vartan cannot hold us responsible for that . It was self defense. Kanxa’s war band attacked you on Sauromatian land.” Skopasis shook his head in disgust.
“And they killed two of our men in that raid. King Vartan has sworn revenge against the Sauromatae for Kanxa’s death.” Hahq barked a mirthless laugh. “Vartan is furious that I denied him the pleasure of sacrificing me in Sava’s place.”
“Hah.” Skopasis emitted a dry sniff. “Such a devious mind that Vartan has. He will make a poor ally against Persia.”
“The Black Cloaks are great. Just poorly led.”
“So how did you escape Vartan’s clutches?”
Here it comes. Hahq hated to reveal the truth about Yeva but there was no help for it.
“A priestess of Velesh called Yeva came to me and told me Vartan planned to kill me. That night she drugged the king and his nobles. Yeva saved our lives. For this I have sworn to protect her, with my life. Sire, I cannot let you send Yeva back to Melanchaenia. Even if I must steal her away.”
“You and Sava – “ Skopasis shook his leonine black and silver mane, lips curved in wry humor. “You two are more alike than you think.”
“Loyalty. Honor. We learned it from you.”
“And where is your Black
Cloak priestess now?”
“I sent her to Sauromatia with Voron.”
“Good.” Skopasis grunted. “Keep her out of sight. For now. Her knowledge may be useful to us against Darius.”
“King Vartan wants to kill her for betraying him.”
“One life against many. As far as I am concerned, Yeva’s life will depend on how the Black Cloaks vote at the council. If Vartan votes to join the alliance, Yeva will have to go back to them.”
“Nay. I gave her my word. If it comes to that I will take her far away. Then I will return to your side. Your slave will never abandon you to the Persian wolves.” Hahq’s lips curved in a sardonic smile.
Skopasis placed a warm hand on Hahq’s shoulder. “I can’t lose you.”
The big hand squeezed his shoulder and a wellspring of vitality streamed into Hahq’s consciousness. The war leader’s usually dominating, piercing gaze was vulnerable, open. Radiant with feeling, For him.
Left hanging in the air were the unspoken words Hahq longed to hear - `My Son’.
It occurred to Hahq then - there was another reason, besides the inheritance, as to why Skopasis had never recognized him as his son. Skopasis wants me to prove myself worthy as voivode on my own merits. Not through his influence.
Placing a warm palm over his father’s hand that rested on his shoulder, Hahq looked deep into Skopasis’ eyes.
“I am with you. Always.” Father.
Chapter 32 - Archery Contest
Every man
Is his own chief enemy –
Anacharsis, Sage of Royal Skythia 600 BC
At the break of dawn on the day of the war council, Sorsha sat the buckskin stallion Marich. Relaxed but alert, she waited her turn in the archery contest.
The goal was to put the most arrows into a `Persian’ dummy while riding by at full gallop. The closer to a fatal hit, the higher the score. The judges were King Idanthrysus and Voivode Skopasis.
To Sorsha this archery contest was her chance to stand out. To prove herself as a worthy mate and protector of the one person she adored.
On her head a bronze helmet crested with a white horsehair plume gleamed in the golden rays of the rising sun. Symbolic metal wings extended above her ears. The helmet was lined with soft fur from a steppe lion’s belly. Protective chain mail descended from the helmet to her shoulders.
Her buckskin leggings were decorated in the Tauri geometric design. She wore a fitted tunic of scale mail. An iron akinake and a long dagger hung from her belt. Her gorytos was strapped to her back.
With only a few contestants remaining before her turn, Sorsha pulled her double- curved bow from its gorytos. She flexed it, testing the marvelous flexibility of the draw. Made by a master Tauri bow smith, it had been gifted to her by King Yagya.
The bow was crafted from a composite of sitka spruce, gazelle horn and antelope sinew, laminated together with animal glue. With this short but powerful bow she could take down a deer from a quarter mile away.
She had practiced innumerable, unrelenting hours with this bow, each shot in preparation for the battles to come. With every shot she imagined fighting to save her parents on that terrible night. Visualized killing the vicious cannibals who had slain and eaten her mother and father.
With grim determination Sorsha had trained herself to focus, to make every shot count, knowing the crucial moments for action would arrive pass in a flash. And this time she would be ready.
Her gaze flicked to that girl Bari who was ahead of her. They had been subtly eyeing each other. Rigid resentment radiated from the Sauromatian girl.
Bari’s anger was compounded by the fact that Sorsha was mounted on Marich, clearly a mark of favor by Sava. When Bari found out that Sava had actually gifted the stallion to Sorsha, it would be a crushing blow.
When her turn came Bari cantered her horse down the aisle toward the target dummy. She rode and shot with an ease and grace earned by years of horsemanship and archery training. Six of Bari’s arrows hit the target. Two would have been fatal. An excellent result.
Now it was Sorsha’s turn. She took a deep breath and put Marich into a canter, then a fast gallop.
Aiiee! Yip! Yip!
Dropping the reins Sorsha fired off six arrows at the rate of one arrow per a heartbeat. At the last she flipped around in the saddle and shot three more arrows riding backward. Then flipped to the front again.
Of the nine arrows, seven hit the target. Four would have been fatal.
The audience clapped and cheered, impressed by her stunning archery. She finished in the top three and was awarded a gorytos inlaid with a kneeling golden stag. But when Sava came up and publically embraced her, that was her greatest reward.
“You are a wonder, my noble White Mare.” He breathed into her ear.
But she noticed a pained, faraway look in his eyes. “What troubles you Adoni? “ She asked, fearing his parents had refused permission for her to stay with them while he was in Sogdiana.
“Don’t worry, my parents have agreed that you will stay with us. It has nothing to do with you Sorsha.” It’s much worse.
“What then?”
“There is something I have not told you about Brata.”
“What?”
He pulled her to the side and spoke in her ear - “Brata was a royal sacrifice. I found him dying in the kurgan of the Black Cloaks and spirited him away.”
“Oh Sava…You stole a sacrifice victim, that is a death sentence!” Sorsha gasped.
“Hahq told Skopasis the truth last night. My father is furious with me. I was to be his eyes and ears amongst the tribes. Now he may never trust my word again. Even worse, King Vartan found out that I did it. The Black Cloaks are sure to demand my head at the council.“
“Why didn’t you tell Skopasis the truth about Brata straight away?”
“I wanted to wait until after he took Brata under our guest protection. Also to delay until today. If the Black Cloaks vote against joining the alliance, Skopasis will not be forced to send Brata back to them. Because Brata is under our protection, he will bargain for my life and for Brata’s.”
“What if the Black Cloaks do join the alliance?”
“Then, in the interests of unity, Skopasis will be forced to return Brata to Vartan.” And to allow my execution as a tomb raider.
Sava paused, deep in thought. “But from what Hahq told me on our way here, King Vartan is a treacherous weasel. He has no intention of joining the alliance. He only pretends. Vartan is here to learn our strategy, then use it to curry favor with Darius.”
Hearing all this, Sorsha cringed mentally. Her bright dreams crashing down. She knew his next words before he spoke.
“Sorsha it makes no sense now to ask Yagya to let you stay with us. Not until I find out what will become of me.”
“Sava – Please. I want to stay here with you. Your father is the most powerful war leader in Sauromatia. He won’t let them kill you. And I won’t let you die!“
“Oh you won’t eh?” Sava’s lips creased in a grim smile at her rash temerity. “It seems I have chosen well then, my noble White Mare.”
With those words he opened his arms to her. His fox fur-lined cloak falling aside, exposing his muscular golden chest and narrow hips encased in chestnut doeskin leggings. Twining her arms around his neck Sorsha pressed her body close. Close to his vital spirit as if to merge with it. Forever.
She kissed the base of his throat, inhaling deep of his warm, musky male scent. When his arms enfolded her she felt embraced by an ephemeral force.
“Let it be as you wish then Sorsha. I will speak to Yagya. But it goes against my better instincts.”
Wrapped in a state of mental turmoil, Sava approached King Yagya on wooden feet. Yagya’s long, ink black hair was bound in a high topknot. Thick gold earrings dangled from his ears. A jeweled golden torque encircled his neck.
“Sire, I have a great favor to ask of you.” Sava saluted the king, palm over heart.
“Speak.” The Tauri k
ing’s expression was cold, unsmiling.
Sava’s heart froze. Yagya knows. “Sire I ask that you allow Sorsha to stay here, under my family’s protection.”
“Will you marry her?”
“Aye. We will marry after the war.” If I still live.
“After the war? That could be years away. What if she gets with child and you do not survive? What will happen to Sorsha? She will be a stranger here with no rights and no status among your people. Marry her now before I leave. That is the only way.”
“Sire I vow on my life that I will marry Sorsha, but there is a problem…strategically now is not the auspicious time for it.”
“Aye, I heard that you are betrothed to another and her father is a powerful ally of Skopasis.” Yagya bit out in a contemptuous sneer.
Sava did not miss the Tauri king’s implication – He thinks me a craven fool for not taking what my heart desires while I have the chance. But Yagya has no understanding of what I face now.
In his mind Sava heard his father’s voice rumble - `A man must do his duty for his people.’
“Noble Yagya, I understand your concerns. But know this – I have given my heart to Sorsha. I will marry no other.”
“Have you spoken to your parents about this?”
Sava nodded. “My parents have agreed that if I wait until after the war to marry her, they will recognize her with full rights as my wife.”
Yagya shook his head, his expression unrelenting - “Not good enough. I know Sorsha has given you her heart, but I cannot leave her alone here on a wing and a prayer. Sorsha deserves more than that. She is worth more than that. When you are ready, come to Taurica. Marry her there. But I warn you, I will not wait longer than twelve moons. A good Tauri family with a strong son wants her. Like your father, I too can benefit from alliances through marriage.”
“I understand sire. Your will be done.” Sava saluted him again.
“Return to Taurica within twelve moons and Sorsha will be waiting for you. Any longer than that and I cannot promise you anything.”
Sava glanced over to see Sorsha approaching, her face questioning. He shot her a glance, his expression grim, then slowly shook his head. Right then she knew. Knew that all her dreams had been ground to dust and swept away by a fickle wind.
Wine God's Sorcery: The Horse Lords Page 17