Page 75 of Tashama
“Loran?” Tashama stopped to wring the water out of her gowns.
“Valmor.”
“What powers does he have? Do you know?”
“He studies you and now knows you have the power of the water world. He will not try again to cross your path in that manner.”
“What do they say to you?” The prince squeezed the water from his tunic.
“They warn us Valmor is trying to learn my secrets.”
The prince studied her as she pressed the water from her hair. “You’re not immortal.” The prince frowned at her.
She smiled. “No, I’ve already told you that I am not.”
“They won’t be able to gather reinforcements until tomorrow at noon. And they’ll still have to figure a way to cross the swollen river,” the nymph said. “The glade you’ll find safe for the night.”
“To the glade.” Tashama clasped her fingers around the prince’s. “The nymph said we won’t have to worry about Loran and his men for the time being.”
“What other secrets do you have, Tashama?” The prince squeezed her hand slightly as he walked with her through the woods.
“Tell him you love him, Tashama.” The nymph flew about Tashama’s head. She flew backwards as Tashama waved her hand at the nymph as she would a pesky gnat. “Tell him, Tashama,” the nymph repeated as she flew about the prince’s head. “Or I will.”
“He will not understand you.” Tashama furrowed her brow.
“I will make him understand.”
“What is being said?” the prince asked as Tashama felt her cheeks grow hot.
“They can be annoying. That is all.”
“Tashama loves you. Tashama loves you!” The nymph darted in front of them.
Later that evening,Aleron and Tashama made their way to the glade, and as she spied a lake, she headed straight for it. The prince smiled as he hurried to catch up to her. “The water draws you as if you were a mermaid seeking the sea, Princess.”
“I’m a cousin to the water nymph. So they claim.”
“And the woodland nymphs?”
“They make no such claims.”
“But you understand them.”
“Yes, I was born with certain gifts.”
“But you are not a sorceress.”
“No. Only those of the first royal house had any such gifts. Loran has none. This is not to say he is not powerful, however. Still, I wonder what his sorcerer, Valmor, can do. Sorcerers are formidable adversaries. I’ve always feared them.”
“Like Carissian.”
Tashama sat down by the water’s edge, then pulled off her shoes.
The prince pulled off his boots and set them aside. “Carissian can shake mountains, but he says you can move men like no one else can. You are more powerful than he.”
“He says this?”
The prince nodded. “Do you think it would be safe to build a fire? We need to dry our clothes. The night air will soon grow cold.”
