This Fierce Splendor

by Iris Johansen

  Joy!

  Afterward they lay holding each other, their breathing gradually slowing, lost in a haze of warm pleasure.

  Elspeth’s lids lifted slowly. “Dominic?”

  “Yes, love?”

  “The flames didn’t lie,” she said dreamily. “It is forever. You and I.” Her eyes fluttered shut. “Isn’t that wonderful?”

  He could tell she was on the drifting edge of slumber, scarcely aware of what she was saying. He kissed her gently. “Wonderful. You’re wonderful, love.” He sat up and began wrapping her in the wool blanket. “But now it’s time to go back to camp.” He rose from the bench, crossed the room to where he had discarded his clothes beside the chest, and began to dress.

  “Why? I like it here, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do like it here.” He liked it too much. He felt the same mysterious sense of belonging that Elspeth was experiencing. Since the moment they had ridden into the city there had been some unusual hold on both of them. Home. The word suddenly popped into his mind from out of nowhere. But Kantalan wasn’t home and Elspeth’s blissful contentment might possibly pose a danger. “But we’ll go back to camp anyway, That bench would be damn hard to sleep on.”

  “If you say so.”

  He crossed the room and gathered her up in his arms, brushing her closed lids with the lightest of kisses. “You’re being amazingly docile.”

  “I’m sleepy.”

  He laughed as he turned and walked from the chamber and down the hall. “I knew there had to be some explanation.”

  She pressed her lips to his shoulder in a loving caress. “I do like my necklace and bracelets and I thank you exceedingly.”

  He chuckled. “You’re exceedingly welcome.”

  There was something she had meant to ask him when he had first come back from the palace, but so much had happened since then that it had completely slipped her mind. What was it? Suddenly it came back to her. “Why did you go searching through the palace in the middle of the night? Couldn’t it have waited until morning?”

  “Probably.” She was lying against him as sweetly relaxed as a small child, and he was reluctant to disturb her by discussing the uneasiness he was feeling. After all, there had been nothing to provoke that uneasiness. The Sun Child was as majestic and unmoving as the golden throne in the palace, and the city of Kantalan was also still and completely lifeless.

  It was that complete absence of life that was bothering him. There should have been rats, reptiles, or birds inhabiting the city, but there was nothing. Once when he was a child a tornado had touched down at Killara, and he remembered that minutes before the funnel was sighted there had been a great flurry of activity as birds, horses, and cattle tried to run from a threat invisible to man. The prophecy? Hell, there was something strange happening here.

  He tightened his arms around her as he quickened his steps across the garden. “I couldn’t sleep and thought I might as well take a look. I’ll load the treasure in the saddlebags tomorrow morning and then help you search the temple. We should be ready to go by tomorrow night.”

  “So soon? I thought we’d stay a few days.”

  He hesitated. “We’ll see. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.” He laid her down on the blankets before their campfire and knelt down beside her. He tilted her chin up on the curve of his finger. Her eyes were cloudy with sleep as they looked into his own. “Tonight I’d rather discuss something else. Tell me that you love me, woman.”

  “I told you.” Her eyes were almost closed. “I’m sure I told you.”

  “Then tell me again. It bears repeating.”

  Her voice was so low he could scarcely hear it, drifting like a phantom wisp of smoke from her lips. “I love you. I will love you until there is no sun, no moon, and no homeplace left on this earth.”

  The first sight to meet Elspeth’s eyes when she woke the next morning was Patrick squatting beside her, a mischievous grin on his face. “Good morning. I thought I had better wake you first. Dom has a nasty habit of reaching for a gun when you surprise him.” He lifted a brow as he sat back on his heels and appraised Dominic’s relaxed form huddled beneath the blanket. “He usually sleeps lighter than this.” His gaze moved back to Elspeth’s bare shoulders and the lump beneath the blanket was clearly Dominic’s hand on Elspeth’s breast. “He must be … tired.”

  Elspeth could feel the color rush to her face as she hurriedly sat bolt upright, jerking the blanket up to her chin. “Yesterday was quite exhausting. Azuquita … the palace … the temple …”

  “I see.” Patrick nodded solemnly. “That seems clear.”

  “Leave her alone, Patrick.” Dominic raised up on one elbow. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  “I decided I wanted a little of that treasure for myself,” Patrick said lightly. “And from the looks of the necklace around Elspeth’s neck, I gather I’m not going to be disappointed.”

  “Patrick came with me.” Rising Star was coming across the garden toward them. “He tells me he wants to buy an Oriental dancing girl.”

  “Rising Star!” Elspeth’s eyes widened. “But why? The baby …”

  Rising Star smiled. “I’m fine. My son must be more Indian than white. He likes being on a horse.”

  Elspeth frowned uneasily. “But there’s still the journey back.”

  “I have almost a month more before giving birth, There’s nothing to worry about.”

  “Does Josh know about this?” Dominic asked.

  “He knows I have left Killara.” Rising Star reached down and picked up the coffeepot from the stones encircling the fire. “I will get water for coffee. Patrick, you start breakfast.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Patrick sighed as he turned back to Dominic and Elspeth. “You can see why I want one of those Arab harem girls to bow and scrape for me. A man doesn’t get any waiting on around here.” He rose to his feet and bowed. “Anything else, ma’am?”

  “No, I think not.” Rising Star’s gaze met Patrick’s with intimate understanding. “Perhaps later.” She turned and walked across the garden toward a small pool fed by a canal running through the tangled wilderness of shrubbery.

  The humor immediately disappeared from Patrick’s face as soon as she was out of hearing. “She’s left Josh,” he said curtly. “And I don’t want either of you to be bothering her about it. Do you understand?”

  Dominic’s gaze followed Rising Star. “Why did she do it?”

  “Josh told her he didn’t want the baby.”

  “My God,” Dominic murmured. “Josh wouldn’t—”

  “He did,” Patrick interrupted harshly. “She wouldn’t lie.”

  “No, Rising Star wouldn’t lie,” Dominic said quietly. “So where does this leave you?”

  Patrick’s lips twisted. “Exactly where I was. She’s Josh’s wife.” His gaze went to Rising Star. “She wants the treasure for the child; she thinks it will help keep him safe.”

  Dominic’s gaze flitted briefly to Elspeth. “I can understand that. Well, one saddlebag filled with the jewels I saw in the palace should guarantee he’ll be surrounded by a wall of gold for the rest of his life.”

  “Good.” Patrick’s gaze turned to Elspeth. “I wish you’d try to talk to her and find out what she’s planning on doing. If she’s not going back to Josh, I can’t let her run off alone. She’ll need someone.”

  Elspeth nodded. “I’ll try.” How terrible that this could happen to someone as beautiful and kind as Rising Star. And how unfair that Elspeth’s own love was opening like a flower while the other woman’s was blackening and shriveling. “If you’ll let me put on my clothes. Turn your back, Patrick.”

  “If you insist.” Patrick turned away. “But with profound regret.”

  A few minutes later Elspeth was dressed and walking across the garden toward Rising Star.

  Patrick turned back to watch Dominic pull on his boots. “We didn’t get Torres. It looks like he may still be after you.”

  Dominic nodded.

 
“Gran-da and the rest are probably still on his trail.”

  Dominic smiled mirthlessly. “Then after some three hundred years Kantalan may suddenly become very well populated.”

  Patrick shook his head. “I don’t think anyone would ever find the entrance behind the waterfall without a map.”

  Dominic wasn’t as confident. As time passed, Torres was beginning to take on supernatural qualities in his mind. “Maybe.” He stood up. “After breakfast I’ll show you where the treasury is. Rising Star can help Elspeth in the temple and we’ll load up the horses and pack animals. You and Rising Star take the burros and mule through the pass and wait for us on the banks of the lake.”

  “What’s the hurry?”

  “I don’t know.” Dominic moved his shoulders impatiently. “Something’s … something’s very wrong here. I’ve got to stay and give Elspeth as much time as possible to look through the temple, but there’s no reason you and Rising Star can’t leave. I’ll try to be out of Kantalan before dark.”

  “You believe the prophecy?”

  Dominic’s gaze shifted quickly to Patrick’s face. “Rising Star told you?”

  Patrick nodded. “She didn’t think it was fair for me to go with her without knowing. There are four of us here now, just as the prophecy foretold.” His gaze searched Dominic’s face. “Well?”

  “I don’t know if I believe it or not.” Dominic turned away. “But something’s not right. You make breakfast and I’ll go bring the pack animals to the front entrance of the palace.”

  “You too?” Patrick sighed. “Everybody in the whole blamed world is giving me orders. I sure need one of those dancing girls.”

  “You’ll be able to buy an entire harem with your share of the treasure.” Dominic said with a grin over his shoulder. “Not bad wages for cooking one breakfast.”

  * * *

  By noon both the horses’ and burros’ saddlebags had been loaded with treasure and the last large pack put on Azuquita’s protesting back. Dominic stepped back, avoided the mule’s vengeful nip, and turned to Patrick. “Don’t let him get too near the burros or he’ll gnaw through their girths. We don’t want to lose this load.”

  “I’ll watch him.” Patrick glanced at Dominic curiously. “Where did you get him? You always swore you’d never have a mule.”

  “It’s a long, sad story.” Dominic made a face. “I’ll tell you about it someday when I need to arouse your sympathy. By the time we get back to Killara you’ll understand how noble I’ve been.”

  “Hmmm.” Patrick mounted his horse. “He doesn’t look so bad. Maybe you didn’t know how to handle him.”

  Azuquita’s lips curled back in a toothy grin.

  “You know, it could be you’re right,” Dominic murmured. “I never was any good with anything but horses. Why don’t you take him over for me on the way home?”

  Patrick frowned uncertainly. “Well, I don’t know …”

  “It’s settled then.” Dominic beamed. “You’re probably right about old Sweetness, and you won’t have any trouble at all.” He mounted Blanco and tossed Azuquita’s lead rope to Patrick. “May you be very happy together.”

  “We’re not getting married,” Patrick said dryly.

  “Oh, but I assure you that you’ll feel very close to Azuquita before this is over. He’ll be like a brother to you.” Dominic’s horse trotted out of the garden onto the street. “Like Cain was to Abel.”

  24

  Elspeth took a step closer to the mosaic on the wall of the temple, her eyes blazing with excitement. “It’s a serpent gliding around the bole of a palm tree. Oh, Rising Star, I wish there were some way I could take it with me.”

  “Patrick told me you didn’t like snakes.” Rising Star smiled. “Why would you want an entire wall with the picture of one?”

  “This is different.” Elspeth’s fingertip reached out to touch the smooth amber of the trunk of the palm tree. “It’s a link, a symbol. Don’t you see? The palm represents the tree of life, and the serpent, evil. It’s the legend of the Garden of Eden. In Tyre they discovered ancient coins with this same design and in Guatamala copper coins with the identical serpent and tree. And now it’s here in Kantalan too. A common symbol uniting cultures thousands of miles apart.”

  “Coincidence?”

  Elspeth shook her head. “There are too many coincidences, too many stories about godlike white men from the east. Quetzalcoatl came from the ‘distant east’ to become patron god of the Toltecs. Samé, the great Brazilian leader, came across the ocean from the rising sun. The Mayans claim that the birthplace of Tulan was across the sea to the east. There’s even one Mexican legend that says after the flood, Coxcox and his wife landed first at Antlan and then journeyed to Mexico. If they came from Atlantis, it would be logical for them to name their first landing place Antlan. And according to folklore, all the races that settled in Mexico trace their origin back to a wonderous place called Aztlan.” She stopped to draw a breath and smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry. I tend to get excited when I talk about anything that touches on Atlantis.”

  Rising Star shook her head. “I find it very interesting that you think we’re all voyagers from this Atlantis. My people too?”

  “In the beginning.”

  “Then we’re all the same, just fellow voyagers from the same port of origin.” Rising Star’s eyes were wistful as she looked at the mosaic. “How sad that some stay on course and some are lost forever. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all travel together, respecting and helping each other.”

  Elspeth experienced a pang of compassion. “Perhaps someday we will.”

  “Someday.” Rising Star turned away. “Now, what shall we gather to take with us—something smaller than that monstrous wall?”

  “Rising Star.” Elspeth hesitated. “Patrick is very worried about you.”

  Rising Star stopped but didn’t look at her. “I know. He has a warm heart and he cares for me. I’m sorry he’s in pain.”

  “Dominic and I care about you too. Let us help you.”

  Rising Star’s voice was muffled. “What can you do? Can you fade my skin from brown to white? Can you turn the clock back and bring Boyd and Rory to life? Can you make Joshua love me as much as I love him?”

  Elspeth could feel the tears sting behind her eyes. “No, I can’t do those things, but I can offer you and your child a home with us and the affection of friends.”

  Rising Star turned to her, a misty smile lighting her face. “That’s a beautiful gift, Elspeth. Thank you.”

  “Will you come with us?”

  “I don’t know. I must think about it. Right now I’m trying not to think at all until I heal.” She looked back at the mosaic. “Perhaps there is an Eden for me somewhere too. I hope so.” She laughed shakily. “Maybe I’ll take Silver and go in search of it. Living in Eden would be too tame for her but she’d enjoy the quest.”

  Elspeth nodded. “Yes, I believe she would enjoy it.” Her eyes were troubled as she gazed at Rising Star. “We can’t promise you Eden but—”

  “You are kind.” Rising Star’s voice was suddenly brisk. “But it is I who must make the decision on this. In time I will rid myself of this sorrow and make a fine life for myself. You will see, I will be content again.” She walked quickly across the chamber toward the table on which they’d placed a number of objects. “Dominic and Patrick will be here soon and you must choose which of these is most important to you so that I can put them in the knapsack.”

  Content but not happy, Elspeth thought as she gazed at Rising Star, wanting to give comfort and having none to give. She smiled with an effort. “The compass, I think.” She pointed to a small wooden container. “And that box of white powder. I have an idea it might be gunpowder. Some scholars believe that Atlantis invented gunpowder even before their colony in China. And perhaps that strange amulet with the cross …”

  Dominic and Elspeth stood on the top step of the temple watching Patrick and Rising Star lead all the pack animal
s up the winding trail to the pass. They had reached the halfway point when Dominic smothered a smile as he saw Patrick tugging at Azuquita’s lead rope. The mule had stopped and plopped down stubbornly in the middle of the trail. It was too far to hear, but he’d bet Patrick was swearing a blue streak.

  “Why did you send them away so soon, Dominic? They didn’t even have a chance to look around the city.”

  “Kantalan doesn’t have the same meaning for them as it does for you.” Dominic’s gaze was still on Patrick and Azuquita. “Did you talk to Rising Star?”

  She nodded. “She wouldn’t discuss her future. Oh, Dominic, she’s so unhappy. What will she do?”

  “I wish I could say I knew. Maybe Patrick—”

  “Patrick?” Then as she grasped his meaning her eyes widened in surprise. “But she thinks of him as a child. He’s much younger than she is.”

  “That’s not unusual in Rising Star’s tribe, and he loves her. In time she might come to love him in the same way.”

  “And you could accept that? Joshua is your brother.”

  “And I love him,” Dominic said wearily. “But I love Patrick and Rising Star too. Why should all three of them be miserable?”

  “Patrick would have to leave Killara, and I think he loves it almost as much as you do, Dominic.”

  “Yes.” His gaze left Patrick and shifted to Elspeth’s face. “Sometimes we must choose to give up what we love.” He turned back to the entrance of the temple. “Have you found anything else you want to take with us?”

  “I tied a few artifacts in a knapsack and fastened it on Nina’s saddlehorn,” she said absently as her gaze returned to the figures on the trail. “How strange. Dominic, look at Azuquita.”

  Dominic turned to see Azuquita leap off his haunches, his long ears laid flat against his head. The mule lunged forward, tearing the lead rope from Patrick’s hands. He shouldered Patrick’s horse aside and passed Rising Star at a gallop.