Page 132 of Tashama
The lieutenant folded his arms. “The servants who are loyal to you are ready to serve it as soon as you say.”
“Good. And the colonel is ready to remove Valmor as he is incapacitated?”
“Yes, a ship awaits on our southern beaches.”
“Everything is falling into place then. Come, we will watch from the hallway. Deloria will bring us the sweaty cloth, and we’ll finish the potion. After that, you know the rest.”
Tashama knewthat the best-laid plans nearly always had some glitch. She hoped and prayed this time there would be no problems. She dreaded the notion that Deloria might be stopped as she tried to wipe Loran’s brow.
She peered into the great hall as her puffy-cheeked cousin of the second royal house stuffed the chili into his greedy mouth. Tashama smiled when Aleron’s breath touched her cheek while he observed the scene. Taking a deep breath, she attempted torelax her tense body when Deloria walked up to wipe her uncle’s brow.
The pretty young blonde’s hand shook slightly, and Loran grabbed her wrist suddenly. “Watch what you are doing with the cloth! You nearly poked me in the eye with it!”
Tashama shuddered as Valmor turned his attention from his meal to Deloria. Would the terror Deloria showed in her movements give her away? Her eyes darted toward Tashama, and Tashama shrank back.Don’t look this way, Deloria. Whatever you do, don’t look this way.
The room grew quiet. Valmor stood. “I propose a toast!”
Everyone rose from their seats.
“To our ruler, will he rule over Maldovia soon!”
“Here, here!” the courtiers shouted. Conversations continued in a muffled roar again.
As everyone returned to their benches, Deloria leaned slightly over Loran and wiped his brow again. He brushed her away. “What is your problem? Leave me!”
Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she tore out of the room in a mass of sobs. She ducked into the hall where Tashama stood and shoved the cloth into her hands.
Tashama quickly squeezed the cloth, but not a drop would emerge. She closed her eyes briefly.I was never any good at potions.After dumping the cloth into the mixture, she swirled it about, then pulled it out. She squeezed the fabric as hard as she could. A servant handed her a goblet, and she poured the mixture from the copper kettle into a cup of wine. “Go,” she said, “but whatever you do, don’t let anyone but Valmor drink it.”
The man nodded and hurried to the high table with the drink. Aleron and the colonel’s men all unsheathed their swords. Tashama gripped the wall with her fingertips. If he didn’t drink it or the potion wasn’t mixed right…she couldn’t think of what might happen. It just had to work.
Valmor ate another spoonful of his chili, then motioned for a refill of his wine. The servant obliged. Valmor lifted the goblet to his lips, but before he drank it, he shook his head. “Another!”
The servant hurried back to Tashama. She had him add more wine. He returned to Valmor. This time, the sorcerer tossed the wine down his throat. Tashama barely breathed.How long will it take, Balthazar? How long?
The sorcerer slapped Loran on the shoulder to his sovereign’s surprise. Deloria held her mouth to keep from laughing out loud, and the hall grew quiet again.
Valmor stood. “A toast!”
Tashama rubbed her forehead. “He’s becoming unruly.” She was afraid they hadn’t gotten enough of Loran’s sweat. Or she had mistaken what Balthazar had been trying to tell her.
Everyone rose, but Loran, who stared at his sorcerer, uncomprehending.
“To…”
Tashama turned to Aleron, who shrugged, his face hard and concerned as he held his sword at the ready.
Valmor pulled at his beard. “To…” He shook his head and guzzled his refilled goblet, then dropped to his seat.
“Hear, hear!” the confused courtiers said, then hurried to retake their seats.
Loran stared at his sorcerer. “What is the matter with you?”
Valmor grinned at him. “You know, I’ve never liked the way you snap your fingers to have me appear at your whim.”
“He’s not changing so that we can deal with him,” Tashama said under her breath. “But what was he supposed to transform into?
The sorcerer punched Loran in the shoulder. “And I never liked the way you made fun of me when I was of the second house.” He rose to his feet, then climbed onto his chair.
