Page 118 of Tashama
Listra watched Aleron as if she were trying to determine why he said such a thing. Turning her attention to his belt, Tashama ran her fingers over the gold chain. “I taught you how to swim.” As she looked up to consider his expression, she smiled as his mouth turned up at the corners.
He shook his head.
“Why not?”
“You know how to do many things I do not. This is something I will be able to do that you cannot.”
“I will learn how to read your language, or I will change it to mine.”
Aleron laughed. “That, you’ll never be able to do. Why did it take so long just to consolidate the Karthlander and Maldovian languages into one?”
“We will see.” Tashama tugged playfully at Aleron’s belt.
Despite detouring through Alsation territory,the caravan soon ran into Karthlander cavalry. As the foot soldiers searched the first of the carriages, Tashama said to Aleron as he reached for her arm, “Let me speak with them.”
“What if they are Loran’s men?”
“They won’t let us go, no matter what, but if these are some who are loyal to General Karam, then I’ll ask him to allow the rest of the party to continue on their way.”
“All right, but I’m coming with you.”
“What about me?” Listra asked.
“Stay put,” Tashama said to Aleron’s surprise.
“You stay here for now, Listra,” Aleron said.
Aleron walked out of the carriage first, then offered his hand to Tashama as guards ran toward them. “Who leads you?” Tashama asked as the soldiers encircled them with spears outstretched.
“A Maldovian woman speaks for the men here?” one of the Karthlander soldiers replied.
Tashama pulled off her veils, and several of the men gasped at the sight of the Karthlander woman. “Who are you?” another of the men asked.
“I asked you first. Does General Karam lead you?” Tashama placed her hands on her hips.
The soldier grabbed her arm and twisted it back as she cried out. “Women don’t speak to us like that, Woman.”
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Aleron was quickly disarmed as he unsheathed his sword.
“Release me at once you, you, foot soldier,” Tashama growled as she attempted to twist loose from his grip. “Is General Karam here?” A mumble of voices ensued, then Tashama jerked her arm free. “I have business with General Karam!” Her voice grew with her agitation.
Horses’ hooves clomped in the dark as a cavalry officer approached on horseback. “Where is General Karam?” Tashama called out to him.
The man jumped down from his horse, then walked close to her. He ran his hand through her hair. She glowered at him while Aleron’s face darkened.
“You appear to be a Karthlander, and yet you ride with these Maldovians.”
“They are not soldiers but a wedding party. Let them pass.”
Narrowing his eyes, the officer said, “You speak with an untamed tongue that has a strange quality. Yet, you appear to be one of our women.” He studied the sheath dangling at Aleron’s waist. “And this one who rides with you is most assuredly a soldier.”
“Do you serve General Karam?” Tashama asked in more of an appeasing tone of voice this time, then her eyes caught sight of the red sash he wore. She knew then he wore the same-colored sash of Karam’s cavalry.
The officer grabbed her chin and twisted her head from side to side while she gripped his wrist as she attempted to remove his hand from her face. “Why would a Karthlander woman be interested in General Karam?”
Horses clip-clopping on the meadow floor filled the area. One of the mounted cavalry officers shouted, “What is it?”
