Savage Splendor (Savage Lagonda 2) Read Online Free PDF

the river, Mara looked at Tajarez. He had not spoken to her nor did he look in her direction, and she knew he was also wishing that he had not given his word to David. She knew he would be very lonely without her and would suffer until she was with him once more, Mara made herself a promise that she would not add to his unhappiness by crying, if she could help it. He would try to hide his feelings, but she knew him so well, he would never be able to fool her. The face he presented to his people was not the real Tajarez. In many ways he was very vulnerable, at least where she was concerned, and she knew she must be strong for both of them.             
     
    It was warm and cozy inside the big white tent as Mara lay in Tajarez's arms.  She thought how different it was from the journey when she had first come to the Seven Cities. On that journey she had not been allowed to be with Tajarez. Even though they had been married in a ceremony at her home in St. Louis, the marriage was not recognized by the laws of the Lagonda tribe. Mara, as the intended bride of Tajarez, the prince royal, had to be pure and untouched until she reached the Seven Cities, where Tajarez's father had joined them as man and wife. It had been a long journey for both Tajarez and Mara.
    The mink robe felt soft against Mara's bare skin. She turned to face Tajarez, who had not spoken a word to her all day.
    He picked up the golden disk that hung about her neck. "What is this?"
    "I am not sure. Sagas gave it to me and told me not to remove it."
    "It has writing on it. What does it say?"
    "It says 'I will seek where I belong.' "
    Tajarez frowned. "What does it mean? What did Sagas say?"
    "He said very little. I do not know why he gave it to me."
    "I asked him if it would be safe for you to make this journey, and he said all rests with the Great Father. If I thought for one moment that you would be in danger, I would not allow you to go."
    "I cannot see what harm could come to me with the army of warriors you have surrounded me with, but I would much rather return home with you."
    "Mara, do not ask it of me. I am half out of my mind dreading the day we must part. Do not ask me to break my word to your brother."
    "I could go another time."
    "No, it would be just as hard later. I will fulfill my obligation to your brother, and then I will have kept my word."
    That night they made love frantically, as if trying to fill each other with the love they felt. Long after Mara had fallen asleep, Tajarez held her in his arms and whispered words of love in her ear. Fear nagged at the back of his mind. He fought against the urge to take her back home with him, but honor ran deep in his veins, and once he had given his word he felt bound by it.
    On their last day together Mara was teary-eyed. When they stopped that evening to make camp, Tajarez took her hand and led her to the top of a small hill. He did not look at her as he spoke.
    "Mara, will you think of me?"
    "I will think of little else."
    "The hand of the warm season is upon the land. The season of growing is not too distant, then there will be the harvest season, before the time that wild geese fly you will be home."
    Mara laid her head against his shoulder. "Did you ever wish that time could stand still?"
    He turned her to face him. "For now I wish time could fly on golden wings, and you would soon be back with me."
    The breeze stirred his long ebony hair and Mara saw the sadness in his dark eyes. "Oh pray, my love, that time does indeed fly on golden wings," she whispered.
    "Time has had very little meaning to me in the past, but now each day you are away will seem as one of your years, beloved." He bent his head and kissed the tears from her face, then he took her hand and led her down the hill and into their tent.
    Neither of them wanted to sleep. It was the last night they would have together in a very long time.
    Mara was determined that she would not cry again, knowing how Tajarez felt about tears.