Savage Desire (Savage Lagonda 1) (41 page)

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 plump 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?"

Again the man looked uncomfortable. "They enjoy most things that young maidens of their age enjoy, my king.”

"Such as?"

"They have been in my home less than two full moons, my king, therefore I have not been able to assess what their pleasures are."

"Do the maidens get along well with your own children?"

"My wife tells me that they do. Although our house is small, we are planning to add on to it with the allotment given us by the Seven Cities."

"Fasa," Hamez said, turning once more to the woman. "What are the ages of the three maidens?"

"Nola is ten summers, and she enjoys basket weaving. Mofa is twelve, and she likes to sew. She is a good swimmer and has won many medals. Yosat is the eldest. She is sixteen and is very fair. She seems to like housekeeping and tending children. She is very like my sister." Tears glinted in Fasa's eyes. "My king, if you will overturn the law and give the children into my keeping, my husband and I will forgo the revenue allotted by the Seven Cities. We have more than enough to give the maidens a good life."

"How about you, Rouso, would you forgo the revenue to keep the children?"

The man lowered his head. "I am but a poor man, my king, with many mouths to feed. It would be a hardship to live without the allotment."

"Have you brought the maidens?"

"Yes, my king," Rouso said. "I knew it was required that they be here since the judgment affects their futures."

"Have them approach me."

Three young girls came out of the crowd to stand before the king. They bowed their heads and waited for him to speak.

"How say you, maidens? Do you wish the law overturned, or do you wish to stay in your uncle's home?"

One of the girls stepped forward. "We would not like to be punished, my king."

"Has anyone threatened you?"

The young girl looked fearfully at her uncle. "No, my king," she said softly.

Hamez looked into the young girl's eyes. "You are under the protection of your king here. No one will harm you. Speak the truth."

"I would like to be with my aunt Fasa, and so would my sisters, my king," the young girl said hesitantly.

"I protest," Rouso said. "I say the law cannot be overturned."

“
I
am the law, Rouso, and I say if a law does not work in a particular case, it is subject to my judgment. Step forward. I will render my decision. The law is overturned. The maidens will go to the home of Fasa and become as her own children."

"What about the expenses I have incurred the two moons they have been under my roof?" Rouso asked.

Hamez leaned forward and studied the man's face. "You do not speak of missing your nieces when they move from your house. You think only of material things. Why is this, when you would have me believe you love the girls so much?"

The man had the good sense to look shamefaced, but he had no words to speak in his defense.

"I will not require that you return the revenues you have already received for the maidens' upkeep. You are dismissed."

The man hurried from the palace, knowing his king was displeased with him.

"Fasa, I give the girls, Nola, Mofa, and Yosat, into your keeping, and although you have generously offered to keep them at your own expense, I feel that you are entitled to the same amount that was given to Rouso." He smiled at each of the girls. "I know you will have a good life with your aunt. From this day forth you are charged to call her your mother, and Dosa, the hunter, your father."

Four smiling faces bowed to their king, grateful for his judgment.

Mara had been fascinated as she followed the proceedings. It was a different form of government than any she had ever known, but Hamez seemed a true and just man, able to look beneath the surface and find the truth. Her respect for him grew. He was a truly amazing man. He set himself up as judge and jury, and the system seemed to work well here in the Seven Cities.

Mara was told by Sagas that on the more complicated matters a group of investigators would help the king with evidence and facts to reach a just decision.

Jeffery sat on his horse, looking at the deep canyon below him. There was a river that cut its way through the bottom of the canyon. He had always wanted to see this great wilderness. He knew this great canyon was the one Lewis and Clark had spoken of. It was truly amazing.

Tajarez looked toward the setting sun. "What do you suppose she is doing at this moment, Jeffery?"

"What who is doing?"

Tajarez turned to him. "Mara, of course."

Jeffery shrugged his shoulders. "Probably wondering when her husband will be returning to her. I confess I do not understand why you have stayed away for so long. You do not act like a new bridegroom who is about to become a father."

Tajarez allowed Jeffery to say things to him that he would have punished another man for saying.

"I have nothing to say to her, and we will return when I decide."

"You may not miss your wife, Tajarez, but I miss mine. If you do not want to go home, at least allow me to return."

"No, I will not return until I have come to some peace within myself, and you will not go until I say so."

"I never knew you were a coward, Tajarez. I wonder what your warriors would say if they knew."

Tajarez's eyes narrowed, and he clenched his teeth. "I will not take that even from you, Jeffery. No man can call me a coward and live."

Jeffery did not seem to be concerned by his threat. "You are afraid of a small, young girl who comes no higher than your shoulder."

Tajarez looked toward the west where the sun had already disappeared, leaving behind a burst of color across the sky and painting the canyon in soft colors of red and rose.

"What am I to do, Jeffery? I seem to be staying away to punish myself. Every day I do not see her I seem to die a little more. I have received word from my father ordering me home, and yet still I cannot seem to return."

"Why?"

"It is as if by punishing myself I can live with the hurt I caused Mara."

"You are hurting her more by staying away. I do not understand any of this. If you love her, how can you stay away from her?"

"It goes deeper than that, Jeffery, and I do not wish to talk about it."

"Very well." Jeffery looked upward. "We had better set up camp, it looks like rain tonight."

"It will be snowing where my beloved sleeps tonight," Tajarez said, not realizing that he had spoken aloud. He felt as though his body was on fire when he remembered her lying in his arms, her soft body pressed close to his, lifting him to unknown heights of passion. "We will return tomorrow," he said.

Jeffery nodded. The dark clouds had moved across the brilliant sunset, turning the landscape to a deep purple, obscuring the canyon walls from view.