Page 71 of Tashama
“What?”
“Whosoever came for the princess intended to kill her, not steal her away.”
The prince rubbed his smooth chin. “I want Oshon arrested.”
“He still sleeps in his quarters, sire. He’s being watched as you commanded.”
“He ordered to have the job done. What about our guards?”
“Both were unconscious. Your healer is seeing to them now, but he says that on the previous night, they had been drugged—tonight, both had been struck with such a blow, they were lucky to be alive.”
“The thieves wouldn’t have done such a thing. Oshon must have ordered…”
Carissian appeared. “I’ve been told of the circumstances concerning the guards. Oshon must be caught in the act of treason before he can be arrested for such a thing. We cannot just accuse him without evidence.”
The prince considered his bed. “Must we wait until the princess is murdered under my own roof? And then what? Do you think General Karam and his forces will not seek revenge? Loran will use this, too, as a means to further his cause against us. Though in reality, he will applaud the deed.”
“They will not try again tonight. Should we not return the lady to her own quarters?” Carissian asked.
“She is safe where she’s at for the moment.” The prince motioned for everyone to leave. “We will discuss this further in the morning.” He knew she would be safe with him. Whoever wanted to harm her certainly wouldn’t want to do the same to him.
The men left to guard the outer room, and the prince returned to his bedchambers, then stared out the window. The streaks of light from the moon sparkled on the white stone walk as a diminutive, gowned figure caught his eye—merely a shadow in the dark. The prince glanced back at the bed, then looked out the window. The figure had vanished.
The prince strode to the bed, then stared at the empty mattress still imprinted with Tashama’s form. “Guards!” The men rushed into the room, and he pointed out the window. “The princess has escaped. Sound the alarm! Find her!”
The prince ran to retrieve his tunic as one of the guards hurried to the bell tower. The others rushed across the moon-streaked square. While he fastened the ties of his garment, Carissian appeared. “Sire, there is further grave news.”
The bells resounded, causing the prince to shake his head. “Yes, yes, the lady has disappeared once again.”
“Princess Listra has also vanished.”
“What?”
“One of the ladies informed me she never turned in for the night. I haven’t been able to find any sign of her.”
“Has she been to see Lord Coryn?”
“He has been away for the last several days on a trading expedition, Your Highness.”
The prince grabbed up his sword, then hurried into the square with Carissian at his heels. “Would he have returned late, and the lady was welcoming him home?”
“He has not returned, Your Highness.”
“What next?” The prince strode across the square now filled with soldiers as the word spread that the search was on for the princess.
“Sire!” one of his men shouted. “The guards at the gates said two women and several men left through them only moments ago.”
“The gates were closed…”
“They had just opened for commerce, Your Highness.”
“Was it the princess, do they think?” The prince hurried to the gate.
“The women were dressed in the order of the Bachava. Their business is never questioned.”
“And the men they rode with?”
“Dressed as monks of the order. No one had any doubt they were who they appeared to be.”
