Page 116 of Tashama
Not long after they entered Alsation territory, soldiers wearing green tunics and helmets halted the lead carriage.
Tashama peered out the window as Aleron walked out of the carriage. “They want us to turn over any Karthlander we have with us. They need one for a prisoner exchange.”
“We have no Karthlanders with us.”
“They say they have a mind reader who can tell where a person is from. If we’ve lied, it’ll go bad for the rest of us.”
“There are no Karthlanders amongst us,” Aleron reiterated.
“They’re checking out the first carriage’s occupants, now, sire. Perhaps we ought to hide the lady…”
“We’ll deal with this.”
“Yes, sire.”
As the man hurried back to the front of the train, Tashama leaned out of the coach. “I’m putting everyone at risk.”
The mind reader was speaking with the princess in the lead coach.
“You can handle a mind reader with the powers you possess, Tashama.” He returned to the carriage and sat beside her. They waited another twenty minutes, then, as the soldiers opened their carriage door, he motioned for the occupants to get out.
“We’ve had no difficulty with the Alsations.” Aleron stretched his legs.
“You are King Aleron of the Maldovians, your people say.”
“That is correct,” Aleron replied as he stood straight and folded his arms across his chest.
“We want no trouble with the Maldovians. The Karthlanders have taken one of ours hostage, however.”
“Why would they have taken one of your people?” Tashama asked.
The soldier glared at her, then walked around her in a slow circle as he studied Tashama’s manner. “You are not a Maldovian.”
“You are quite right about that.”
He frowned as he considered her further while Aleron touched the hilt of his sword. “And yet you are not a Karthlander either.”
Tashama smiled.
“But you’re not an Alsation. What exactly are you?”
“A Texan, for all practical purposes. I’m sure you won’t find any of those varmints around these parts.”
The man turned to Aleron. “She speaks a foreign tongue.”
“Often.” Aleron relaxed his grip on his sword.
The soldier scratched his head. “Never heard of such a thing. What would you be doing with a caravan of Maldovians?”
“Aleron is marrying me. You see, I have special powers. I tell people’s futures and see the past. I can even tell you what you’re thinking.”
The man smiled. “All right, tell me what I’m thinking.”
“You are thinking I’m lying. Now you are wondering how I knew that.”
“You could guess at such a thing.”
“All right, then. Think of something else.” Tashama smiled as she watched the man, whose forehead wrinkled in thought. “You bounced your baby on your knee this morning and watched him take his first step.”
