Savage Desire (Savage Lagonda 1) (14 page)

The flap was immediately pushed aside, and a young Indian maiden stepped through the opening and smiled shyly at them. She was dressed in soft, fawn-colored buckskin with silver and turquoise beading. Her hair was as black as midnight and was encircled by a silver and turquoise headband. Her upper arm was spanned by a matching bracelet.

Jeffery thought her the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

"My name is Sasha," she told them in lilting English. "I am cousin to the prince, Tajarez, who is prince royal to the Lagonda tribe, son of the king, and future king of the Seven Cities of Gold. In his name, I bid you welcome."

The Goldens exchanged startled glances. Then Jeffery stepped forward and smiled. "We are indeed pleased to meet you, Sasha. My name is Jeffery. This is my brother, David, and his wife, Linda."

Sasha looked into the green eyes of Jeffery Golden, then at his hair, which was the golden color. Surely, he was the most beautiful man she had ever met. She blushed and lowered her head, unable to look into his eyes any longer. "Please enter. My prince awaits within." She pulled the flap aside and allowed them to precede her.

The three Goldens stood in stunned silence. The ground was covered with white ermine skins. There were white doeskin cushions placed about the room, and there was a table set with golden plates and flagons. There was a curtained-off area at the end of the tent, and they watched as the curtains were swept aside and two men walked slowly toward them. The two men looked very much alike, except that one was taller and dressed in white doeskin. His dark head was encircled with a band of the purest gold, while a golden armband in the shape of a cobra spanned his upper arm.

The Indian dressed in white smiled and inclined his head slightly. His bearing was noble, his face exceedingly handsome.

"Welcome, I am Tajarez. This is my cousin, Anias." He indicated the man on his right. "I am sorry he does not speak English. My cousin Sasha you have already met. Her English is quite good."

None of the Goldens seemed able to respond.

Tajarez stopped before David. "I welcome you, David, as the eldest and head of the Golden family."

David nodded, still unable to speak.

Tajarez moved to Linda. "Linda Golden, may I wish you every happiness in your marriage? You are as lovely as Mara told me."

Linda smiled, warmed by his friendliness. "I thank you on both accounts," she told him, offering him her hand automatically.

He took it and bowed gracefully over it. Then Tajarez turned to Jeffery. "Jeffery Golden, we met briefly yesterday. It is easy to see that you favor your sister."

Jeffery looked him over while they shook hands. "Yes, I believe we collided in the entryway."

"That we did, Jeffery. You will forgive me for not introducing myself at the time. It did not seem the appropriate moment."

Tajarez turned to Sasha. "Sasha, bring my guests a drink that they may refresh themselves." Then he turned back to David. "Please, be seated."

He waited until they were seated and then sat down beside David. Sasha handed David a golden flagon, and he took a small sip. The liquid was sweet and tasted of honey and spice. When he looked up, he saw Tajarez was watching him closely.

David spoke for the first time. "I wish to extend my gratitude to you for saving my sister. It is because of you that she was returned to us safely. I would like to repay you, if you will allow me to."

"What value do you place on your sister, David?"

David looked about him, taking in the richness of his surroundings, and doubted that Tajarez would want money.

'There is no price that one can place on another human being, especially one such as my sister."

"Well said, David. My reward was in knowing Mara was returned to the family who loves her."

"I will be forever in your debt."

Tajarez waved him aside. "I will not insult your intelligence, David, by making small talk. You know why I asked you here. I wish your permission to marry your sister."

"My gratitude does not extend that far, Tajarez."

Tajarez watched him closely. "Would your objection be because I am an Indian, or because you do not know

"Mostly the first reason, partly the second."

Tajarez nodded. "I thank you for your honesty. I am well aware of the little regard the white race has for the Indian. My father's prejudices are likened to yours. Only in his case, it is the white race he has small regard for."

David looked astounded for a moment. "How would he feel about your marriage to a white woman?"

"I must tell you in all honesty, at first he was not well pleased. But he will welcome Mara as a daughter, if you would give her into my keeping."

"Would you take her against my wishes?"

"No. If you were to tell me never to see Mara again, I would honor your wish. I respect you as head of the Golden family. But I hope you will not reject me until you have heard me out."

"Have you any other wives at home?" Jeffery asked.

Tajarez smiled. "I have no wife, Jeffery, nor am I permitted but one. And when I take a wife, it is not permitted for me to ever take any other to my bed. It is a law of the Lagonda. To do so is punishable by death."

Linda's face turned scarlet. David gave her a look that plainly said he had warned her not to come along. Jeffery chuckled. "If that was a law among my race, there would be no one left to carry out the punishment."

"I have to confess to a certain amount of curiosity," David said. "I have seen many Indians, but your mode of dress and the wealth with which you surround yourself have me puzzled. Will you tell me something about your family and your home?"

"The Lagonda tribe's history goes back for many hundreds of years. Of course, our calendar is very different from yours. Our language is different from all other tribes'. We have a form of writing, and our children are well educated, although I am sure they are taught very differently from the children in your world. As soon as a child can talk, he is by law ordered to attend classes. He is taught not only to read and write, but also to ride, swim, and survive in the wilderness. The girls, of course, are not required to attend. The clothes in which I am now dressed are what we wear when we are outside the hidden valley." He smiled. "We would look conspicuous in our normal wear."

"What do you wear when you are at home?" Linda asked, leaning forward curiously.

"We wear garments of cloth, Linda, although the women's clothes in no way resemble the lovely gown you are wearing."

"Tell us about the hidden valley," Jeffery said.

"There are seven cities, as you may have gathered. The largest of which is where my home is located. The six lesser cities are governed by lesser chiefs, who all pay homage to my father, the king and absolute ruler."

"What is your home like?" Linda asked.

"It is very large, Linda. There are five levels. It is built of stone and mortar, and has many terraces and balconies. I am not sure anyone knows just how many rooms it contains."

"Have you any brothers and sisters?" David asked.

"I had a sister, but she died when I was very young, as did my mother."

"I am sorry," Linda said. "It must have been very difficult for you."

"Yes," he said simply. Tajarez could not tell what David was thinking. This Golden family was very different from what he had come to expect the white race to be like. He knew that if he were not so concerned about whether or not they would allow him to take Mara, he would enjoy talking to them.

"How is it that your cities have gone undetected? I have never heard of your people before," David said.

"Many years ago, white men called the Spanish conquistadors searched for our cities. They had heard rumors of their existence and were greedy for the gold that is so much a part of our life. However, they did not find the hidden valley, nor has any white man ever set foot within our walls, save one. My father once found a white man who was half-frozen and near death. He brought him into our cities and treated him as one of the family. The white man was the cause of the deaths of my mother and sister."

"What a terrible tragedy," Linda said. "I can well see why you would not trust our race. But we are not all bad, Tajarez.

He smiled. "I have come to believe that myself, Linda."

"How is it that you are so civilized," David asked, "more so than the other tribes?"

"Your idea and mine of being civilized may be quite different. One must balance one against the other. The white man, whom my father befriended, his name was O'Malley. He craved the gold of which we have such an abundance, and repaid my father's kindness with the death of my mother and sister. Then on the other hand, we have the two Indians who kidnapped Mara. They took a young girl away from her family by force. Which is the lesser crime? Which man was the most civilized? You will have to tell me, David, for I know not the answer."

David was clearly impressed with Tajarez. He was highly intelligent, and obviously a man of principle. David had come expecting to meet an Indian savage he could dismiss as unworthy of his sister. But he found instead someone he liked and could talk to on equal terms.

Jeffery was more than a little impressed with Tajarez. He could now see why Mara had fallen for such a man. He was a man among men, and Jeffery found himself wanting to travel to this hidden valley himself.

"Do you love my sister?" David asked, studying Tajarez intently.

Tajarez drew in his breath and returned David's steady gaze.

"If you are asking me if I am in the depths of despair when she is not with me, the answer is yes. If you ask me if I have been in torment thinking I would never see her again, the answer is again yes. I have never before felt about any woman the way I feel about Mara. I want to spend the rest of my life making her happy. I would give my life to keep her safe. I want her for the mother of my children. I cannot bear to think of a life without her. I have very little fear of anything, but I tremble with fear when I think of what my life will be like without her. I would honor her above all women. Without her I am only half a man. Is there more to love than this, David?"

Tears sparkled in Linda's eyes as she listened to the beautiful declaration of love. She squeezed David's hand. He could not possibly refuse to give Mara to this man who plainly loved her.

"Would Mara be allowed to visit with us if she were to go with you, Tajarez?"

Joy leaped into Tajarez's eyes. Could David be considering his proposal?

"Mara would not be able to leave the Seven Cities, David, until a son was born of our union. Then she would be allowed to visit you, but," he smiled, "only if you would welcome me also. If she were mine, I would not ever want her to be parted from me."

"You must understand, Tajarez, Mara has led a very sheltered life up until she was abducted last spring. She knows very little about violence, and has known only kindness and consideration," David told him.

"She will find only love and kindness from me, David. I would never harm a woman, and Mara least of all."

"Do you worship God, Tajarez?" Linda asked.

"Yes, the one true god that created us all."

"Would you be willing to marry Mara in a Christian ceremony?" David asked.

Tajarez began to feel the tension leave his body, and great joy washed over him. "Are you referring to a ceremony such as the one that joined you and Linda together?"

"Yes."

Tajarez looked at him for a moment. "I will go through the rites, if it is your wish. But you must understand, in the eyes of my people, Mara will not be my bride until my father can perform the ceremony that makes us one. Until that time, I could not take her to my bed."

There was a long silence inside the tent. Everyone waited for David to speak. Anias, who could not understand the words that were spoken, could feel the mounting tension. Sasha waited, hardly daring to breathe. Jeffery and Linda, who knew David so well, knew how he was wrestling with himself and agonizing over what to do.

There was no longer any doubt in his mind that Mara and Tajarez loved each other. Even if Tajarez was of another race, David knew he could not object because of that. He had formed a very strong respect for this man in the short time he had known him, and he knew Mara's future happiness depended on his decision. He stood up and walked over to the tent entrance, while five pairs of eyes watched him. Opening the flap, he looked outside. The camp was quiet. The many Indian warriors were moving about silently, their eyes wandering ever so often to the big white tent. David sighed and turned back to Tajarez.

"You have my permission, as well as my blessing, to marry my sister," he said quietly.

Tajarez was on his feet in one swift motion, and moved across the tent to stand before David. He extended his hand to him and smiled broadly.

"You will not regret your decision, David. I shall be a devoted husband to Mara, and I shall strive to make her happy."

"I believe that to be true, Tajarez, or I would never have given my consent."

Tajarez felt Linda's hand on his arm and smiled down into her upturned face.

"Mara is my very best friend, Tajarez, and I know her very well. She is sweet and gentle, and loves you a great deal. Take special care of her."