Page 99 of Tashama
“Feeble he grows.” Tashama pulled Aleron along the path.
“Our stroll is becoming a race, Tashama.” He tugged at her to walk more slowly.
Tashama waved her hand at Carissian. “How can I concentrate on a walk with you if you havehimwith us?”
“You may reveal something in your conversation to me that Carissian…”
“I will tell him nothing and you either if you insist on having him walk with us.”
“Is it the drug that makes her this way?” he asked Carissian.
“This place called Texas has made her so unruly. Though the drugs the healer used to counteract the others may have made her a bit more unstable.”
Tashama smiled, then she took a deep breath. “Please treat Listra with some kindness, sire. She is your cousin after all and wants nothing but the best for you.”
“Her pillow sits on my bed. It is the only one I allow to rest in such a place of honor.”
“You won’t look at her or speak to her. And because of this, everyone else takes this as meaning they should not either.”
“She is with the other ladies at this moment. You need not fret about her so.”
Tashama relaxed her tense posture. When she did, Aleron leaned over and kissed her cheek. She shook her head. “You should not do that to me, as you will soon be marrying.”
“It is customary to show an expression of affection between royal families.”
“Amongst Maldovians, you mean. I imagine Devil will not be too happy should you continue to treat me in this manner when you marry her.”
“What makes you think I will choose her?”
“She is the only one I ever see you with.” Tashama touched the gold belt at her waist. “Was the grape poisoned?”
“What made you think of that?”
“Devil crushing it beneath her foot.”
“It was not.”
“And the lobster?”
The prince hesitated to answer her, and she studied Carissian. Though he showed no indication of the answer to her question, she nodded in response. “The lobsters were disposed of before you could test them, so I thought.”
Carissian smiled slightly. “You are guessing.”
“No.” Tashama looked at the path beneath her feet. “I know it to be so.”
“Well, without the so-called evidence, we cannot be sure your fears were truly warranted or not. The food would have been discarded after all when it was thrown so wastefully to the pavement.”
Tashama took a deep breath. “But I imagine the food would not have gone to waste.” She glanced back at Carissian. “Would it have?” He wouldn’t say, and Tashama added, “To the pigs, perhaps?” Carissian still remained silent. “Why do you not tell me, Carissian?”
“I’m thinking about what has been done, but you cannot see this, can you?”
Tashama turned away from him. Aleron laughed. “She cannot tell what we are thinking. Knowing this to be true, I feel much relieved.”
“Why? Do you have secrets you want to hide from me?” Tashama asked him.
“Some things even Carissian shouldn’t know, but I’m afraid I can’t keep him from probing my thoughts like you do. But you still cannot see what my future holds?”
“No, I cannot see what the future has in store for you.”
