Текст книги "Tiger Prince "

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

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"Such tender sentiment." He pulled the canoe up the bank. "Did you wait here to call me a ghoul or only out of curiosity?"

"Curiosity?"

He nodded at the sack in the bottom of the canoe. "They told you about the masks, didn't they?"

"You're making it sound as if you believe I'd stay to see that horror. I should have known you'd lack the delicacy of feeling to understand."

"Then why wait on this damp riverbank for my unworthy self?"

"You know why I'm here."

"But this time you must put it into words."

She stared at him belligerently and then reluctantly said, "I regret what I said before you left. My words were hasty. I did not mean ... I have no desire to see you die."

"I'm greatly relieved."

"You are no such thing," she said sharply. "You know me too well not to read my true feelings, and it is most unkind of you to make me explain myself."

"Most unkind," he agreed. "Now build a fire while I go to Medford's tent and fetch Ian's mask."

She flinched, her gaze going to the sack. "Jane told me you were going to melt down the masks."

"We are going to melt them down, apprentice."

"I don't think I can—"

"It needs doing," he interrupted. "And you can do anything if you put your mind to it."

"Tonight?"

"Tonight." He strode away from her. "Make the fire here on the bank. It will take most of the night, and we don't want to disturb the others."

The fire was blazing briskly when he returned carrying the wooden box she recognized as the object Tamar had brought to Medford's camp. She avoided looking at it as she stirred the logs beneath a huge black kettle. "I've already put the other masks in the kettle. I tried not to look at them, but I couldn't help it. You're right, Abdar was a monster."

"You could have waited," he said gently. "I would have spared you that."

She repeated his words. "It needed doing." She smiled shakily. "But I believe I'll let you add Ian's to that perverse collection."

"No."

She felt as if he had struck her. "You would spare me these other monstrosities, but not the deepest cut? It's just like your heathen whimsy."

He held out the box. "Open it."

"No!" She sat down by the fire and drew up her knees. "I will not look at it."

He opened the box himself. "Do I have to take it out and hold it up before your face?"

"Why are you doing this?" She kept her gaze fixed on the fire. "I do not deserve this from you."

"You do not deserve to scourge yourself with memory for the rest of your life either." His voice softened. "Have I lost your trust entirely? This is not another betrayal, Margaret."

She looked at him in bewilderment. "What are you talking about? I never thought you betrayed me."

"Not even in your heart?" He held out the box. "Prove it. Show me you trust me."

She swallowed. "Do not make—" She stopped as she met his gaze. She whispered, "No mercy, Kartauk?"

He smiled. "No mercy, madam."

Her glance slowly, reluctantly, lowered to the mask in the box.

She inhaled sharply as shock rippled through her. "Dear God in heaven." She reached out and tentatively touched the golden lips of the mask. "He looks . . ."

"Joy," Kartauk said softly. "He didn't let Pachtal and Abdar win. He beat them."

"But you said the poison was excruciating."

"I'm sure it was. But I don't think he felt it. He looks as though he had just beheld a miracle."

"The light . . ." She felt the hard core of grief begin to melt within her. "I forgot about the light."

"Never forget it again." He paused. "Even if you have to keep this mask to remind you."

She stared at the mask, and then slowly shook her head. "I don't need anything Abdar sanctioned to remind me of Ian." She got to her feet and dropped the mask into the kettle with the others. Her eyes were shimmering with tears as she turned to him with a tremulous smile. "Make something beautiful, Kartauk. Make something so beautiful it will shake the heavens and light the heart of everyone who sees it."

"A great challenge." He smiled back at her. "It's fortunate you've chosen an artist great enough to meet it." He picked up the lid and placed it over the mouth of the kettle. "We'll have to keep the fire burning hotly all night to maintain a melting temperature." He sat back down. "Naturally, as a lowly apprentice it will be your duty to fetch sufficient wood for the task."

"While you sit on your backside and supervise?"

"But of course."

She sat back down beside him. "It does not surprise me. Heathen laziness."

"Exactly."

They tended the fire all night, most of the time sitting in comfortable silence. It was near dawn when she said haltingly, "I have something to say."

"I thought you would."

"Even though /Ian is dead, I can never—" She stopped and then said, "I cannot feel for you as I did."

"I know."

"Everything is different. Changed."

"Everything always changes. Seasons pass, children are born, men die." He nodded to the kettle. "Those masks are no more. Another change."

"I mean I cannot—"

"Hush." He met her gaze. "I know what you are trying to say. I always know." He reached down and stirred the fire. "I believe we need more wood, apprentice."

"That big crate goes down to the ship, Tamar," Jane said as she briskly walked down the palace corridor. She pointed to a large alabaster vase in the corner of the foyer by the front door. "And pack that too. It's always been a particular favorite of—"

"You are going somewhere?" Li Sung stood in the doorway, his gaze wandering over the three servants trailing behind Jane, carrying boxes and articles of furniture.

"Of course not," Jane said. "Margaret is taking Ian back to Glenclaren for burial. She's sailing two days from now and I thought she'd like to have a few pieces of furniture to brighten up that huge barn of a castle."

"They will not be suitable," Li Sung said. "Glenclaren is not Cinnidar."

"Beauty is always suitable." She gestured toward the servants to go ahead and led Li Sung out to the terrace. "How is the work on the docks coming?"

"Not too bad. There was much damage to the warehouses and Medford is going to have to replace five miles of his track. We were lucky that Abdar was in too big a hurry to get to Ruel to do equal damage to the canyon tracks."

"Very lucky," she agreed. "I judge once we've finished with the repairs here it should take us only another month to complete the line."

He shook his head. "Two months."

She frowned. "Why? I don't perceive any problems."

"You have a very great problem. You're going to lack my remarkable self at the helm as second in command."

"What?"

"I'm going away. Ruel can wait for his railroad."

"Away? Where are you going?"

"Dilam says this is a splendid time for me to visit the High Council."

"Why would you want to do that?"

He grinned. "I believe it's time this matriarchal society was forced to admit a few male leaders."

"Can't it wait?"

He shook his head. "The battle against Abdar gave me much respect. I must strike while the iron is hot." He added, "Besides, I must meet Dilam's children. It is time."

She smiled faintly. "Nesling?"

"Much more than nesling," he said softly.

"She's a fine woman. Good fortune, Li Sung." The happiness she felt for him was free of the wistfulness she had known before. How foolish she had been not to realize that though they were going different ways, the bond between them would always be there, too strong to break. "So you came to tell me I must complete the railroad without you?"

His smile disappeared. "No, I came to see Ruel."

"Why?"

"To tell him he is a fool."

She stiffened warily. "A fool?"

"A blind fool. He believes you ordered the rails that caused the wreck at Lanpur Gorge, doesn't he?"

She stared at him in bewildered horror. After all this time, how could he have learned—

Medford. She should have realized this would happen with Li Sung and Medford working so closely together during these last weeks. "Medford told you?"

"You should have been the one to tell me. Are we not friends?"

"I didn't want—"

"I know why you did not tell me." He met her gaze. "But why did you not tell Ruel? Why did you not tell the rest of the world?"

"I didn't have the choice," she said wearily.

He studied her for a moment and then nodded slowly. "Patrick. I thought as much. A promise?"

"And a debt paid."

"Well, I made no promise. I will tell Ruel."

"No!"

Li Sung stared at her incredulously. "You wish him to continue to think badly of you?"

"That's all in the past."

"He should know you were innocent."

"I was not totally innocent. I deliberately blinded myself to—" She saw his jaw set stubbornly and hurried on. "Ruel now feels more guilt than I do about Ian. I won't let him be alone in this."

He nodded slowly. "I should have known it was something of that nature. But carrying this burden is beyond the realm of caretaking, Jane."

"It's no burden." Jane smiled, eager to make him understand. "Don't you see? I want to do it. Ruel loves me in spite of what he thinks I did. It takes a great deal of love to overcome an obstacle like that. He's given me a great and wonderful gift."

"You will never tell him?"

She shook her head. "And you must not either."

"You cannot keep such a thing a secret forever. He could not live with you and not come to realize you could never do this."

"Promise me you won't tell Ruel." steps. "More bad news, Li Sung? I thought the construction was going well."

Jane tensed, her gaze flying pleadingly to Li Sung's face.

"It is." Li Sung hesitated and then said, "Jane wanted to break the news to you herself."

"What news?"

"I'm going away for a while. You may have to wait to see your railroad completed."

Jane's breath expelled in a sigh of relief.

"I must go." Li Sung started down the terrace steps. "She will tell you the rest."

Ruel watched him enter the palace before turning back to Jane. "What's the problem?"

"No problem." She linked her arm in his. "But as Li Sung said, we're going to have a delay. He and Dilam are planning a strategy to make him a member of the High Council."

"A delay is a big problem."

"We can make use of it. I've decided Li Sung is right. You can wait for your railroad."

He smiled at her and teased. "You'll be in breach of your contract." His curious gaze went back to the arched doorway through which Li Sung had disappeared. "That's not all, is it? What's this all ab—"

She had to distract him. "We'll renegotiate." She paused. "After the wedding."

He went still. "Wedding?"

"A wedding usually follows a courtship. You did say you were courting me."

"You didn't mention—"

"Are you trying to say you don't wish to marry me? I warn you, I'm not a woman to take such an insult lightly."

"Of course I wish to marry you," he said impatiently. "It's you who have avoided the issue. You told me once that you had no liking for the life I offered you."

"Is the offer the same?"

"You would still have to live on Cinnidar." His lips twisted ruefully. "Though I suppose I could raze this place to the ground if you hate the idea of living in a palace as much as you claimed."

"Li Sung thinks Cinnidar is paradise. Paradise isn't such a bad place to live." She smiled as she glanced around her at the splendid many-leveled terrace. "And a palace is what you make it. I suppose I could make an adjustment."

"And your railroad?"

Her smile faded. "I need work to do. Useful work. I can't give it up."

"We have a railroad here, dammit."

"Suppose I'm not satisfied with just running your railroad? Suppose I want to build my own?"

"You can build it here. You can build all over the damn island."

She looked at him, troubled. "There's room for only one railroad on Cinnidar."

He threw up his hands. "All right, I promised you a railroad if you completed the contract on time. You'll get your railroad. You can have mine. I'll sign it and the right of way over to you." He smiled ruefully. "That's a hell of a lot of power I'm giving you over me. If you decide to cut off my gold shipments, I'm stranded. Does that satisfy you?"

She smiled happily. "Yes, it satisfies me. I believe it will be good for you to have to worry a bit."

"I'd worry more if you left me." He reached out and grasped her shoulders. "I've been thinking about it. Do you remember when you told me your entire world didn't revolve around me?"

She had only a vague memory of that night when she had felt so abandoned by Li Sung. "I think so."

"Well, my world does revolve around you."

She laughed. "I'm honored. It's not every woman who has a kingdom like Cinnidar revolving around her."

"I'm not joking." He drew her close. "I don't ever want to go back to the way it was before." His next words were muffled in her hair. "I was . . . lonely."

She felt the tears sting her eyes. This rare admission from Ruel was very difficult for him and only emphasized his trust in her. "So was I."

"Not like me. You reach out and gather people to you. I can beckon them near but I can't trust anyone enough to be close to them."

She slid her arms around him. "Some people you can't shut away. They don't let you."

"I had to be close to you," he said hoarsely. "I needed to be close to you. If you left me now, I don't think I could stand it. I'd want to shout and roar and break the world into a million pieces."

Tiger burn bright.

She fought back tears as she said lightly, "We wouldn't want that to happen. I guess I'd better not leave you."

"Promise me."

He was oddly rigid against her, and she instinctively reached up to soothingly stroke the tight tendons of his nape. "Why should I leave you?"

"Promise me."

His mother had walked away and left him. Ian, the only other person he had loved, had also left him. Death had not really taken his brother; he had walked joyously toward it. "You have my word," she said softly. "I will never, never leave you."

The tension left him and he stood there holding her while the pink haze of sunset lazily crept over the terrace and blushed the mirrored waters of the geometric pools with a rosy glow. "I will make you happy, you know," he said. "I promise I'll make you forget how we started."

"No, you won't." She looked up at him. "I don't want to forget one minute of it. The bad times and good are so blended together, I can't give up one and keep the other, and, by God, I won't give up one second of the good times."

"I'm glad you think the good was worth the bad. But it will get better." He gave her a quick kiss, stepped back and slipped his arm around her waist, and led her to the balustrade overlooking the canyon. "I'll be such a damn good husband, even Maggie will approve of me."

The descending sun bathed the mountain in scarlet glory.

Beauty. Splendor. Paradise.

Ruel didn't appear to appreciate the view. His expression had suddenly become abstracted. "I'll have to send the crews back to work the mine tomorrow," he said absently. "I've had them working down at the docks helping Li Sung." He was silent a moment and then suddenly turned and asked her, "How would you like to go to Johannesburg?"

Her eyes widened with shock. "Johannesburg!"

"Not for long," he said quickly. "I thought maybe– Since there's going to be a delay anyway, we might—"

"Why would you want to go to Johannesburg?"

"Well, today a freighter landed at the dock and the captain said there are reports of another big gold strike just north of the city there."

She stared at him in bewilderment. "You have a whole mountain of gold just waiting for you to mine here."

He made a face. "I guess you're right. Life in those camps can be pretty rough, and you'd probably hate it. I know I don't need any more gold. I'm being completely unreasonable."

He was not being reasonable, but he was being entirely Ruel MacClaren, Jane realized suddenly.

He's not a man who is comfortable living in palaces, Li Sung had said.

Cinnidar might be home for Ruel, but there would always be part of him that craved the adventure of the search. After a lifetime of challenging himself and the rest of the world, he would never be able to tamely accept living in this palace and the luxurious life Cinnidar offered.

Any more than she would be able to accept it.

Her spirits lifted at the thought, and relief poured through her with dizzying force. She had been willing to live here because this was Ruel's home and she loved him and wished him to be happy, but she had not really been content with the idea. Paradise was a fine place to come back to when you were ready, but there was still a world out there to build and conquer.

"Do you suppose those miners would need a railroad to take their gold to the city?" she asked.

A brilliant smile lit his face. "It wouldn't surprise me."

"Well, then I think we really should go to Johannesburg." Her eyes twinkled. "After all, your mine might play out in a hundred years or so, and then our greatgrandchildren would be left destitute."

"There's always that possibility." He threw back his head and laughed joyously before picking her up and swinging her in a circle. "You really wouldn't mind going? You're not just telling me that?"

She shook her head. "I'd like to get off the train there and look around and see the sights. Cinnidar will be the last stop on the line, but I'm not ready for it yet."

He hugged her close. "I promise it will be for only a short while."

Their stay in Johannesburg might be for only a little while, but there would probably be other places, other times when Ruel grew restless and would want a change. Who knows? She might be the one to grow restless. They would have to learn to accommodate each other's needs in the years ahead. That was what love meant, and God knows she did love Ruel MacClaren with her whole heart. "We'll have to see."

"Now that we have our next move planned . . ." His hand tenderly stroked her hair back from her face as he whispered, "What didn't you really want Li Sung to tell me?"

Ruel was being as tenacious as always. She should have known he wouldn't be distracted, she thought resignedly. "Nothing important."

"A secret? Secrets are always tantalizing." He kissed her lightly on the mouth. "I'll find out sooner or later, you know."

He probably would find out the truth, but perhaps it would be at a time when the pain was not so fresh. In the meantime she would make sure they both had something to think about besides the past. She changed the subject. "I'll want to be back on Cinnidar by this time next year."

He frowned. "We'll try."

"No, it's important. We have to be here."

"What's so urgent? We can put Li Sung and Dilam in charge of the railway and the mine."

She shook her head. "While we're in Johannesburg I believe we should put our efforts to work on another project."

"What project?"

"One to which every ruler of a kingdom should give serious attention."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"A child." She nestled closer and whispered, "I want to have a child, Ruel. I want our child to be born here on Cinnidar next year."

Margaret boarded the Golden Hare two days later to set out for Scotland.

"We'll come back to Glenclaren for a visit next year," Jane said. "But if there's anything we can do to help, you must write us immediately."

"I'm not so helpless that I cannot tend to matters myself," Margaret said impatiently. "Though I'll admit I'll be glad of your company." She gave Jane a brusque hug before turning to Ruel. "Treat her well or you'll answer to me."

"I tremble in terror at the thought." Ruel brushed her cheek with his lips. "Good journey, Maggie."

"Marg—" She broke off. It was a small impudence and not worth bothering about. Ruel would never reform, but he was coming along much better than she had dreamed possible. "Of course I will have a good journey."

"She will not have it any other way. No storm would dare to touch her."

Kartauk. She tensed as she turned to see him striding up the gangplank. She had seen him only in passing since that night at the encampment, and she had told herself she hoped he would not come to bid her goodbye. Yet now joy was mixed with the sadness surging through her.

He stopped before her. "Even the supreme deity must bow before Margaret's will."

"Heathen blasphemy," Margaret said. "Just what I would expect of you."

Jane glanced from one to the other and then gave Margaret a final quick embrace. "Good-bye, Margaret." She took Ruel's arm and tugged peremptorily. "Come on, Ruel."

He smiled with amusement and mockingly inclined his head. "As you command. I live only to make you happy."

Margaret snorted as she watched them walk down the gangplank. "Not likely."

"I disagree," Kartauk said. "There is a certain amount of truth in his words. I'm surprised you cannot see it yourself." He turned to look at her. "But then, your judgment is clouded at present."

She hurriedly glanced away from him. "It is kind of you to come bid me farewell. I did not expect it." She held out her gloved hand. "Good-bye, Kartauk."

He took her hand. "You would have expected it if you didn't have your head buried in the sand." He frowned. "I do not like this glove." He stripped off her black glove and she felt the warm shock of flesh on flesh as both his big palms enclosed her own. "That's better. Now I can get on with it. I will give you a year of mourning before I come to you. I would allow you more, but that would probably be a disaster. I would find you in a nunnery or married to some dried-up cleric who would give you only duty and no joy."

She stared at him in astonishment. "I told you there could be nothing for us."

"Because you're confused and filled with false guilt. You're not usually so muddle-headed. Given time, I'm sure you will realize Ian would want you to take your happiness where you find it." He smiled. "With me."

She shook her head. "I would always remember—"

"Yes, you will," he interrupted. "But I will see that the memories are not bitter."

She stared at him dazedly. She heard the departure bell ring and welcomed it with relief. She must banish him and also this hope springing within her. "You must go."

He lifted her palm to his lips. "One year, Margaret." He dropped her hand and turned away. "Expect me."

She watched him start down the gangplank, her heart pounding, her emotions in chaos. She rushed to the rail. "No, don't come. You won't be welcome."

"I'll be welcome."

"What of your work for Ruel?"

"We may come back here."

"My place is at Glenclaren."

"We will discuss it after we're wed."

"We will not wed."

He stepped onto the dock. "Of course we will. You're not a woman to live in sin."

"I mean, we will not—"

"Of course, if you really wish to stay in that cold land, I suppose I could reconsider my decision not to give your Queen Victoria the benefit of my genius." He frowned. "But I will not do a head of her. Those double chins . . ."

The gangplank had been taken up and the ship was moving away from the shore. He stood there on the dock with his powerful legs astride and the breeze lifting his glossy brown hair.

"It will do you no good to come," she called desperately. "Stay here, Kartauk."

He shook his head. "How can I? I've discovered I cannot bear the thought of any other apprentice. You know I cannot allow my work to suffer."

"I will only say no."

"At first. But not last, my Margaret." He smiled and his expression lit with such loving confidence, she had to believe him. "In the end you will say, 'Aye, Kartauk.' "

About The Author

IRIS JOHANSEN has won every major romance writing award for her achievements in the genre since the publication of her very first novel, which earned her the Best New Category Romance Author Award from Romantic Times. She has won the Affaire de Coeur Silver Pen Award as their readers' favorite author and was honored with Romantic Times's Lifetime Achievement Award. Other books by Iris Johansen include THE GOLDEN BARBARIAN, LAST BRIDGE HOME, and the books in the Wind Dancer Trilogy: THE WIND DANCER, STORM WINDS, and REAP THE WIND. She has most recently collaborated with Fayrene Preston and Kay Hooper on THE DELANEY CHRISTMAS CAROL. She is currently at work on a new historical romance, THE MAGNIFICENT ROGUE.

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