Page 61 of Tashama
“Yes, my lady. Above our heads.”
“Much?”
“I’m not certain. Only you cannot walk along the bottom and keep your head afloat.”
“I want to swim.”
“In your golden gowns?”
“I swam in the others earlier today.”
Tashama studied Listra. The princess wanted to see her swim more than anything else in the world, but feared the repercussions. “I don’t think it’s such a good idea.”
The pool meandered out of sight behind palm-tree-like plants, and Tashama studied them.Where does the pool end? Possibly it’s a means of escape.She sat down at the edge of the pool, then slipped her feet in. “Just a little swim? Maybe I could even teach you how to swim also.”
“Oh, no, my lady. Mortals cannot swim.”
“Sure, they can.” She dove into the pool, splashing water onto the peach tile.
Listra cried out. “Oh, please, my lady. Come out of there at once. The water is too deep. You’ll drown for certain.”
Tashama paddled the water with her hands and feet. “The water is just right. Do you see how I keep myself afloat? There is nothing so mysterious about swimming. Follow me as I take a little swim.” Tashama dove beneath the surface of the water.As she resurfaced, Listra ran to keep up with her along the pool edge.
When the foliage blocked Listra’s path, she darted around the planted island. Tashama smiled.I do not want to get you into trouble, dear Listra, but this is the freest I’ve felt since my last swim.After swimming several yards, the prince’s voice caught her ear, and she stopped to listen.
“What would the thieves have intended to have done with her?” the prince asked.
“Ransomed her to Loran? I don’t know for certain,” Carissian said.
“And there’s still no word from Loran?”
“None. I would have thought…”
“Shhh,” the prince said. “I heard splashing from the pool.”
“Princess!” Listra said in as loud a whisper as she could manage. “The prince and Carissian are nearby. They heard you.”
“Get in,” Tashama pleaded. “Get in and I’ll show you how to float, but do hurry.”
“I’m afraid,” Listra said.
“Come, you can do it, and I will not let you drown.”
Listra slipped into the pool and held onto the edge as Tashama took her hand and pulled her gently away. “Lean back and relax.”
Listra flailed her arms about.
“Relax,” Tashama repeated, and as Listra grew quiet, Tashama rested her hands beneath her back. “Do you see the sailing ship up there?” Tashama nodded in the direction of a cottony-white cloud that drifted overhead.
“Yes, yes, and a man’s face and big nose jutting out from it over there.”
“Yes.” Tashama looked in the direction of the footsteps. She smiled as the prince and Carissian approached. “I’m teachingListra to swim, Your Highness. You may be next if you do not chain me to my bed tonight.”
“Whosoever said you could do such a thing?” The prince placed his hands on his hips.
“Why, I didn’t think there would be anything wrong in teaching the lady to swim, Your Highness. I’m sorry.” Tashama helped Listra back to the side of the pool, and as Carissian and the prince pulled the lady from the water, Tashama swam beneath the water and headed in the direction she hadn’t explored yet.
The three took chase after her as the prince hollered for the guards. “The woman is a menace,” the prince said to Carissian. “And what were you thinking, Listra?” He couldn’t believe she was swimming in the garden pools.
