Page 93 of Tashama
No, I didn’t, did I? I was trying to find Balthazar.
“Tashama.” Listra rubbed her cheeks and called to her. “Tashama.”
“Balthazar.” Tashama tried to roll onto her side.Why do you bother me so? Where’s Balthazar?
“You must leave,” Listra said to the guard, “so I can get these wet gowns off her.”
“When the healer gets here.”
The healer hurried into the room and shone a light into their faces. “What is going on in here? Why have we no lights?”
“The princess must have been sleeping when she tried to take a swim,” the guard said.
The healer frowned at Tashama and said to the guard, “You may leave us.”
“What must we do?” Listra groaned. “She’s clearly not capable of being safe in here.”
“She’s only sleeping now.” He took a deep breath. “I imagine tying her to the bed would help, but I could not do such a thing without prior authorization.”
“What is going on here?” Carissian asked as he appeared at their side.
“The guard said the princess was asleep when she took a swim, only she nearly drowned.” Carissian studied Tashama’s face for some time, then frowned as Tashama considered his. “A woman from the Bachavin order was in the room a short time ago.”
Go away, you meddling sorcerer.
Listra’s eyes widened as her hand touched her lips. “She’s not safe here, Carissian. You must warn the prince. She’s not safe.”
Tashama stared at Listra through the haze.The prince? He doesn’t believe there’s any danger here. No, Texas, the tornado.
“We’ve had the grape analyzed. There was no poison in the food.”
“And the lobster?”
Carissian shook his head.
“That’s good.” Listra sighed deeply.
Carissian studied Tashama further, then rubbed his forehead. “She dreams of Balthazar. Remove her gowns and put her to bed.”
“Should we tie her to the…”
Carissian waved his hand to silence the healer. “I’ll stay the rest of the night.” Carissian shook his head. “I’ll be back in a little while.”
Listra struggled to remove Tashama’s wet gowns.Leave me be, Listra.Then Listra dried her and after slipping the robe over her shoulders, she belted it at the waist. “Come help me with Princess Tashama,” she called to the guards standing outside their window.
Tashama wrinkled her forehead.Quit shouting, so. I can hear you. Just quit shouting.
Once Listra had covered Tashama with her blankets, Carissian appeared, then took his seat in one of the velvet chairs. “Return to bed, Princess Listra. There will be no more disturbances tonight.” But almost immediately after he said this, the prince barged into the room. “Your Highness.” Carissian jumped from the chair. “She’s sleeping comfortably, sire. All is well.”
The prince walked to the bed. He touched Tashama’s cheek and whispered, “What nightmares do you have, dear Tashama?”
“My sorcerer is gone,” she whispered back in a voice nearly inaudible, “and so are you.”
“I am here, my princess. I will not forsake you.”
“They are all gone. She has no eyes—blackness all around—Balthazar.”
“Who has no eyes?”
