They both knew that the root would not support their combined weight. Looking into Palomas's eyes, she saw love and adoration mirrored in their brown depths. She felt a close bond with him, knowing he had willingly risked his life to protect her.
They heard movement above them, and Mara felt Palomas's muscles strain as he pushed her upward. His breath was coming in short gasps, as he tried to push her to safety before he lost his grip.
Mara saw the leather rope that was being lowered to them. She grabbed the end of it, and held on tightly. At the same time, she was aware that the tree root was breaking loose.
"I will not go unless you are with me, Palomas," she screamed, realizing that he had every intention of releasing her now that she held on to the rope. "Give me your hand," she cried, clawing at his arm for a firm grip on his hand.
He looked at her sadly and shook his head. Mara gripped his arm tightly. "If you fall, I will let go of the rope. Hold on to me," she cried.
Her other hand was wrapped around the leather rope, and her foot came in contact with a small overhanging rock. She rested her weight against the rock, trying to take the burden of her weight away from Palomas.
"If you do not try to save yourself, I will stay with you.
Her words he did not understand, but the meaning was clear. If he fell, she would fall also. Striving to reach above her, he grabbed on to the leather rope. Suddenly, a second rope appeared and Palomas reached for it. Then they were both being drawn slowly upward to safety.
Many hands reached for Mara as she neared the top of the cliff, but it was Tajarez's she sought. His face was wild as he drew her up beside him. He held her so tightly she could scarcely breathe, but it felt like bliss to her. She was laughing and crying at the same time, feeling she and Palomas had cheated death this day. She was shaking so badly she knew if Tajarez were not holding her she would have collapsed on the ground.
"Beloved, I thought I had lost you," Tajarez said in an agonized voice.
"Palomas, I must see to him," Mara said, pushing against Tajarez. Palomas was sitting on the muddy ground, holding his side, and she noticed that his buckskin was covered with blood.
Mara knelt down beside him. Taking his hand in hers, she saw that his hands were also covered with blood.
"Palomas, you saved my life, and I thank you with all of my heart." Mara looked quickly at Tajarez. "Please tell him what I said."
Tajarez knelt down beside her. "Mara wishes me to tell you of her gratitude for saving her life, and I am also grateful. When we reach home, you will receive a reward comparable to the deed."
"I want no reward, my prince. I did only what was required of me. She was very brave and would not allow herself to be rescued until she knew I too was safe. Few men would have reacted so well."
Tajarez nodded. "Later I want to know how this came to happen, but for now, let us get off this mountain. Are you able to ride?"
"I can ride. I am no more than scratched."
Mara, however, refused to move until Palomas's side was bandaged. She supervised as Sasha performed the task.
Palomas looked into her eyes, and they both knew they had shared an experience that neither of them would forget. They had faced death together, and they had formed a bond that would never be broken.
No longer would Mara resent Palomas's presence. Their eyes confirmed the message that could not be spoken. They shared a love for one another deeper than friendship. It was something that happened to few people. It was mutual respect and admiration, knowing each of them had been willing to die so the other might live.
Tajarez lifted Mara into his arms. "See to her horse," he ordered one of the warriors. "You will ride with me until we are free of this mountain," he told her.
He mounted his horse with her in his arms, and nudged the animal forward with his knees. The rain was still falling hard and Tajarez wrapped a leather skin about Mara. Then he held her tightly against his heart.
"Mara, I blame myself for your accident. I should never have allowed you to ride alone over such treacherous terrain."
"I was frightened that I might die without telling you I was sorry we quarreled. Somehow in view of all that has happened, what we quarreled about seems so unimportant."
"Hush, beloved, hush," he said as his lips covered hers. Mara felt his hands under the leather skin becoming intimate, and her body trembled.
He raised his head and looked deeply into her eyes. "I thought I had lost you, Mara. I heard shouting and came back to investigate. When I saw your horse was riderless, I died a thousand deaths. I wanted to rush to you, but I realized to do so would only cause you to be in more danger."
Mara felt him unhook the front of her gown. She looked at him in uncertainty, remembering he had shunned such contact with her in the past except for the time she had confronted him in his tent about Tanka.
"No!" she cried as his hands moved softly over her naked breasts.
"Yes," he whispered.
He awakened feelings in her that shot through her body like molten lava. She moaned as his lips covered hers once more. She was shivering and knew it had nothing to do with her wet clothing. He was showering her upturned face with kisses.
"I want you, beloved. This need I feel for you is stronger than myself. Your skin is so soft," he groaned against her lips.
Mara was oblivious to anything that was going on around her. She knew Tajarez's horse was moving forward and the others were just behind them, but she knew they could not see her and Tajarez very clearly because of the heavy downpour.
"Soon, beloved, I will hold you in my arms and know that you are mine. Do you want me in the way I want you, Mara?"
She clung to him, wanting to feel this togetherness he spoke of. "Yes, I want you," she said in a choked voice.
His lips moved down her neck as he pushed the leather skin aside to expose her naked breasts. She gasped as his lips lightly touched the satiny peaks.
She felt an ache deep inside her, and her eyes closed. Feeling dizzy, she clutched Tajarez's hand, which was spread against her stomach.
Slowly he raised his head. Seeing the answering desire in her green eyes, he groaned. "I must not do this, Mara." He had not meant to awaken her body. Before, he had always managed to stop short of this point, but this time he feared he had gone too far. The eyes that looked past her were tormented. He knew he had made a grave mistake, for now she desired him as he desired her.
"Fasten your gown," he said harshly, yet she knew the harshness in his voice was directed more at himself than at her.
With shaky fingers she began fastening her gown. She noticed they had come to the end of the mountain trail and were now on solid ground. Mara could feel the loud thundering of his heart, and it matched the wild fury that was going on inside of her.
Tajarez regarded her face for a moment. He noted the desire that burned like a flame in the depths of her green eyes. He wished he had not aroused her with his unquenched passion. It would be harder on them both now that she desired him as a man.
"Mara, I am sorry for what just happened. I have tried not to touch you in such a way. I ask that you forgive me.
She stared at his handsome profile. "You did nothing wrong, Tajarez. There is no need to apologize."
A frown creased his brow as he looked skyward, hoping the cool rain would dampen his desire, and he searched his mind for the words that would smother her desire.
"Any man could have aroused your passion, Mara," he said without looking at her. "You were ripe and ready for anyone. It just happened to be me."
Mara could not believe she had heard him correctly. "Are you saying any man could have made me want to be with him?"
A spasm of pain danced fleetingly across Tajarez's handsome face, only to be replaced with a frown. He looked down at her through half-closed eyelids. He felt a tightening in his chest, knowing he had wounded her, but he could not pull back now.
"No, not any man, Mara, only the available one, which was me."
He felt her st
iffen in his arms.
"How little you think of me, Tajarez. Perhaps it is well you keep a guard on me. You would not like it if I went about camp enticing your men into my bed." She refused to let the tears that were so near the surface fall from her eyes.
Tajarez felt the sting of her words in his heart, and a stinging sensation in his eyes. He swallowed a lump in his throat as he realized that for the first time in his life, tears had come to his eyes. He was grateful that his tears mixed with the rain so Mara would not see his weakness. "You have done this to me, Mara," he said in a voice so low she could hardly hear.
Palomas had ridden alongside them, and Tajarez lifted her up and handed her to him. "Take care of her, Palomas," he said before he rode away and was soon lost from sight in the driving rain.
Mara buried her face against Palomas's shoulder, feeling pain and disillusionment.
Palomas pulled the leather skin tightly about Mara as he held her protectively in his arms. He would find out what had caused her accident today, if it was an accident; and if it were not, he would find out who was at fault. If someone had deliberately tried to harm her, he would pay with his life.
THE TURK* SAID THAT IN THIS COUNTRY THERE WAS A RIVER IN THE LEVEL COUNTRY WHICH WAS TWO LEAGUES WIDE IN WHICH THERE WERE FISHES AS BIG AS HORSES, AND LARGE NUMBERS OF VERY BIG CANOES, WITH MORE THAN TWENTY ORESMEN A SIDE, THAT THEY CARRIED SAILS AND THAT THEIR LORDS SAT ON THE POOP UNDER AWNINGS, AND ON THE PROW THEY HAD A GREAT GOLDEN EAGLE… EVERYONE HAS THEIR ORDINARY DISHES MADE OF WROUGHT SILVER, AND THE BOWLS WERE OF GOLD.
*TURK—The Indian guide of Coronado, named the Turk because he looked like one.
13
When they reached the campsite Mara went directly to her tent. Jeffery joined her to make certain she had suffered no ill effects from her fall. When he was satisfied she was all right, he left her to join Tajarez.
Mara insisted that Palomas come to her tent while she personally tended to his injuries. He had a deep gash on his shoulder, and his hands were cut and bleeding. Sasha brought her water to bathe the lacerations in, then she put salve on the wounds and bandaged them. When she had finished, she placed her hand on his shoulder. "Tell him, Sasha, that I am grateful to him. Without his help, I would most probably be dead at this very moment."
Sasha translated her message to Palomas, who merely nodded and left quickly. He felt love in his heart for the Golden One. He knew that he would gladly give his life for her many times over. This afternoon she had slept in his arms. He had felt that moment belonged to him alone. It was a pure and unselfish love he felt for her, not a love to possess or to keep. It went beyond man-woman love. It was reverent. He would forever look after her, for her life was more precious to him than his own. She was love and beauty, and he was her willing slave.
Palomas found her saddle and examined it thoroughly. He frowned as he saw where the cinch had been neatly cut. His worst fears had been realized. Someone had deliberately set out to harm Mara. His hands tightened on the cinch. The prince must be informed immediately.
Tajarez, Jeffery, and Anias had just finished eating when Palomas entered the tent carrying Mara's saddle. He threw it on the table in front of Tajarez.
"I have found the reason the Golden One fell from her horse. The strap was deliberately cut," he said, watching Anias's face to see his reaction. Shock registered on the man's face, yet, he could have been prepared, knowing Palomas would suspect him. He knew they would investigate the accident.
Tajarez examined the cinch. "Look at this," he said, handing it to Jeffery. "Someone has cut through the leather."
The color drained from Jeffery's face. "Who would do such a thing? Who would want to harm my sister?"
"Do you have any ideas, Palomas?" Tajarez asked.
"Maybe," Palomas said, regarding Anias with a sneer on his face.
"Who?" Tajarez said dangerously. "Tell me who, and I will see to his death personally."
"Can you think of anyone who would want to harm the Golden One, my prince, maybe to seek revenge on you?"
"No one would dare," Tajarez said. "Do not speak in riddles. If you know something, tell me."
"No one' must be disregarded," Palomas said, staring at Anias.
Anias was on his feet immediately. "You accuse me, Palomas?"
"I have not said so, Anias."
"No, but you think it, I can tell."
"What is this?" Tajarez said, looking from one man to the other. "Palomas, do you accuse my cousin?"
"Notice I have not said a word about his guilt, yet he jumps to his own defense."
"I will not believe this. Anias, tell me it is untrue and I will believe you."
"I swear to you I would never harm the Golden One, my prince." There was real sincerity in his words. "She is one of great beauty. It is pleasing to look upon her face. No, I could never harm her."
"Let us try and think who would do this. We must question everyone and find out if anyone was seen around Mara's horse." Tajarez then spoke to Jeffery, who was anxious to know what was being said.
Palomas excused himself. He did not want to be away from Mara in case she was in danger. As he walked outside, he noticed the rain had stopped. Somehow he believed Anias when he said he would not harm the Golden One. Palomas knew that the man desired her, therefore he was not likely to cause her harm. If not he, then who? Someone meant to harm Mara, and Palomas vowed that he would have to go through him to reach her. Next time he would be prepared. Today he had been taken unaware, but now he would be on guard.
Tajarez lay in the darkened tent, his mind in a turmoil. Who would want to harm Mara? He could think of no one, and yet, the evidence could not be denied. Someone had attempted to end her life today. The fact that he had failed did not comfort him. He would try again, he was sure. He would have a double guard placed around her, but she must not suspect.
He felt feverish. His body ached to hold her, to possess her. It was still a long way to his home. He had hated hurting Mara today. By doing so he had also hurt himself. But the temptation to possess her was growing stronger each day. He knew that his father as well as his people would demand proof that Mara was still a maiden when they reached home. If she were not a maiden, she would be unable to become his bride, for the bride of the prince must be untouched. The old beliefs ran deep in the Lagonda tribe.
He rolled over to his back and listened to the sound the wind made as it pushed against the tent. He could still feel the texture of her silky skin beneath his fingers. He felt a knot in the pit of his stomach. Do not think of her, he told himself, and he was halfway successful—until he fell asleep and began to dream.
Mara was having trouble going to sleep herself. She remembered the feelings that had washed over her today as Tajarez had kissed her. She remembered the way his hands had moved over her body, causing delightful sensations. She knew she would never be the same again. She had felt desire—desire for the man that was her husband. Before today she had been a young, inexperienced girl in love, but not knowing the extent of that love. She knew Tajarez had unjustly accused her. She would never have the deep desire for any other man but him.
He had hurt her today, and it was a hurt that ran deep. She would not be so quick to forgive the hateful things he had said to her. She had thought he loved her as she did him, but if he did, could he think so little of her? No, it was unforgivable. She only wished she could talk to someone, but she dared not. It was too personal. It hurt too deeply. What was ahead of her? What would her life be like with a man who cared so little for her feelings and said such hateful accusing words to her? Did he not know how much she loved him?
Palomas watched Anias's tent. It was dark, indicating that he was asleep, but Palomas knew if Anias was in any way involved in Mara's mishap, he would sooner or later show his hand.
The night was clear. The clouds had moved on, leaving a star-studded sky. Palomas leaned against the trunk of a tree. He was determined to stay here all night if need be. He was in a position where he
could see not only Mara's tent, but Anias's as well.
Soon his patience was rewarded. He saw Anias's tent flap open. He quickly stepped back into the shadows. Anias stuck his head through the opening. Seeing no one about, he cautiously moved out into the open. Looking about a second time, he walked silently across the camp. Palomas followed him at a distance.
Anias came to one of the smaller tents and quickly entered. It was Tanka's tent. Palomas wondered that he had not thought of her before. Of course she would be involved. Had she not been cast aside by the prince?
He moved silently toward the small tent. He held his breath, straining his ears to hear what was being said. There seemed to be no sound coming from the inside. Perhaps Anias sought Tanka to lie with her. That was a possibility, but Palomas felt he had found the villains of that day's plot.
Anias placed his hand over Tanka's mouth. "Do not make a sound," he ordered. "I want to have words with you, and we may be watched."
Tanka nodded her head in agreement. She strained her eyes to see his face. "Why do you seek me out?" she whispered.
His hands moved caressingly over her naked body. "If anyone is listening, let them think I seek you for pleasure."
Tanka swallowed hard. His hands were becoming intimate, stirring her to the very core of her being. She had often wondered what it would feel like to lie with the handsome Anias.
He pushed her back on the fur rug. "Why did you attempt to harm the Golden One today?"
"It was not I, Anias. Surely you do not think I would cut the leather strap."
His hands moved up to her throat. "Who told you the strap had been cut?"
"It is common knowledge. Everyone knows."
"Not so, Tanka. No one knew about it with the exception of myself, Tajarez, her brother, and Palomas, except . . . the one who is responsible." His hands tightened around her throat. "You are the one, Tanka. I will kill you with my bare hands."
"No, please, wait. I did it, but do you not see if Tajarez loses her then he may not want to marry anyone else. Then the kingship will pass to your family."
Savage Desire (Savage Lagonda 1) Page 21
