Page 65 of Tashama
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.” Listra stepped back into the background as Tashama took a deep breath.
“Thank you for your concern, Listra.” Tashama stood, then walked over to her. She unfastened the diamond and emerald bracelet from her wrist. “I want you to have this—in memory of me when I am gone.”
“But it is too extravagant a gift...”
“It will do me no good where I am to go.”
Carissian examined the list of prisoners’ names. “The exchange would certainly benefit us.”
“I will escape from here anyway, Prince Aleron. Why not give me up freely, and you will gain much more that way?”
“Why would you propose such a plan, Princess?” the prince asked. When she wouldn’t say, the prince turned to his sorcerer. “Why would she propose such a notion, Carissian?”
Carissian rested his chin in his hand as he considered her impish expression. “I cannot fathom what she’s thinking. She’s a woman, and they think not rationally.”
“She’s cunning, you say.”
“Yes,” Carissian agreed.
“Yes,” Tashama said.
“Come, Carissian. We will discuss this matter further in my chambers while we allow the lady to get her sleep.”
“Do let me know what you decide, Prince Aleron.” Tashama walked over to the bed. She frowned as the guard entered the chambers, carrying a chain covered in velvet cloth.
“To protect your soft skin, Princess.” The prince waited for the guard to chain Tashama to the bed.
“I will never teach you how to swim.” Tashama lay on the bed. “But, Listra, if I’m still here tomorrow, I’ll give you another lesson if you would like.”
“Unless I wish it otherwise,” the prince said, motioning for the guard to secure the chains, “you won’t leave your bed until my guards return in the morning to set you free.”
The guards examined the chains to ensure the lady could not free herself during the night. The prince said to Listra, “Be sure the lady is given what she needs to help make her comfortable during the night.”
The prince walked backto his chambers with his advisor. “So what do you think, Carissian?”
“The lady will not be able to wiggle out of his constraints this evening.”
“No—about the prisoner exchange?”
“I don’t believe it would be in the lady’s best interests if we were to hand her over to Loran, but if we could get all of our men released…”
“Loran wouldn’t agree to such a thing.”
“I would rather like to propose such a notion to him, wouldn’t you, Your Highness?”
“Not that we would take him up on such a thing.”
“Because?” The prince frowned at his advisor, who shook his head in return. “Sire, you mustn’t feel anything for this woman. She must be treated as a prisoner, nothing more.”
“All right. Make our wishes known to Loran.”
“And if he agrees?”
“He won’t agree.”
“But if he does?”
The prince walked into his chambers, then unfastened his belt and dropped it to the floor. “The lady brought it on herself. Tomorrow, Carissian.” A knot formed in the pit of Aleron’s stomach. The notion of giving up his mermaid was intolerable.No,he shook his head. He wasn’t giving her up. Not ever for any price.
