Page 30 of Tashama
“She must be near here. Spread out and search the woods!”
The men cantered their horses into the woods. The prince and two of his guards soon spied Tashama leaning against a tree, staring at her feet. “Call off the search,” he said to one of the men, then walked his horse close to her. “Bind her wrists.”
After dismounting, the man grabbed hold of a rope, then approached Tashama with caution. She stood still, staring at the ground. The soldier pushed her blond hair aside as it hung about her wrists. He lifted her hands to tie them, and she cried out in pain. The prince blinked.
He’d forgotten she might have been injured. He hardened his stance. She shouldn’t have escaped. He motioned for the guard to proceed with the task, while the remainder of the guards joined them.
The man tied her hands together and waited for the prince’s direction. “Remount your horse. She’ll walk behind you to show what we do to her kind who escape from our good graces.”
9
The man remounted his horse and kneed him to walk. After his horse took several steps, the rope grew taut, and Tashama was pulled from the tree where she leaned. She cried out again, but when the soldier stopped his horse, the prince hesitated. How would his men view him if he showed mercy to the prisoner?
Weakness, that’s what it would indicate. He was only seven when he ascended to the throne and began his reign as ruler of Maldovia. Carissian had drummed into him how important it was not to show any weakness when dealing with the enemy. But she was only a woman. The pained expression on her face made him motion to the guard. “Carry her on your horse.”
One of the men dismounted from his own, then lifted Tashama to the other’s saddle. Aleron tried to ignore her, to be hard and unyielding, but his gaze more than once drifted back to her. She was the most stubborn woman he’d ever met and the most enticing. Her golden hair dripped over her shoulders in wet curls.
His brows rose slightly as her nipples poked at the drenched fabric. Her eyes met his, and he stiffened his back. Her alluringgreen eyes narrowed at him like a wildcat preparing to pounce on its prey. He tilted his head up and turned away.
Now what? He couldn’t return her to the compound. She couldn’t go back to her chamber. She would just escape again. The tower. He pursed his lips. Women didn’t go to the tower. For her, he would have to make an exception. She couldn’t run away from there. At all costs, he didn’t want to lose her. He had to know who she was.
When they rode into the courtyard, the man handed her down to another guard, then jumped from his horse. He held the rope tied to her hands while he waited for word from the prince.
“Take her to the tower.” The prince waved his hand in the direction of the prison. “She’ll find it difficult to escape from there.”
“But, sire,” one of the men said, “shouldn’t your healer see to her first?”
“You should not have stolen away like you did.” The prince glowered at Tashama, then he turned to the soldier. “Have the healer see her in the tower.” Then he stalked off to the great hall.
When the prince disappeared, Tashama’s guard asked, “Where do you hurt, miss?”
She stared at the floor in silence.
“I must know where you’re injured to apprize the healer…”
Tashama shook her head.
“You’re limping. You must have cut your feet on the forest floor. The stickling burs are bad this time of year if you’re not wearing boots.” He reached for her leg.
“Let go of me,” she growled. If the prince was going to treat her badly, she would deal with it in her own way. And here she had a tender spot in her heart for him.No, more. He is my enemy. Learn your lesson well, Tashama.
“Let me see your feet.” He lifted her foot as if he were examining his horse’s hoof. Shaking his head, he pulled threeburs. He moved to the other side, and one of the ladies joined him.
“What’s happening to the prisoner?” she whispered.
“The tower, Princess Listra.” The man tried to lift Tashama’s left foot, but she lost her balance and grabbed Listra’s arm to keep from falling. Listra gasped in surprise when Tashama cried in pain.
“What’s wrong with her?” Listra held Tashama’s arm while he pulled off the stickers from her foot.
“The thorns have left a poison in her feet.”
“No, she hurts elsewhere.”
“She won’t tell me.”
“I’ll get the healer right away.”
He tucked the burs into his leather pouch. “See if you can get some salve for the poison from the burs.”
