Page 103 of Tashama
“The ladies say this isn’t so.”
“And what do you say, dear Listra?”
“I agree with the other ladies. Your cheeks blush when Aleron steps close to you as his breath touches your neck. I may not have your special gifts, but I can see things about you that reveal much of your nature.”
“And what else do you see?” Tashama climbed into the blue gowns of silk.
“Carissian has said you are planning to leave us again. He asked me to tell him whether you should say or do anything that would indicate you planned a move in that direction.”
“Dear Listra.” Tashama walked into the bedchambers. “I cannot lie to you about this—as I have been just as honest with Aleron—that is to say, I must lead my people. I don’t know what happened to my own mother and father, as Balthazar would never say, but I believe Loran had something to do with it.”
“You think he had them murdered?” Listra sat down hard on the bed.
“I don’t know for sure, but he certainly benefited from their deaths.”
“But then you should have been installed in your father’s place.”
“Yes, with Balthazar to advise me until I came of age and wed. But he felt I would never have lived long enough to fulfill my obligation and took me away to this strange place named Texas. So you see, I must return to Karthland. It is my duty and my innermost desire.”
“But Aleron won’t release you.”
“The choice is not his to make.”
“Then you do plan to leave here.”
“The guards double in strength, yet no amount will keep me here.” Tashama braided her hair.
“Still, Aleron feels you are planning this move soon. Will I wake up tomorrow and find you gone?”
Tashama smiled as she touched Listra’s cheek. “I would tell you all I have planned, only Carissian could read your mind and discover what I will do. I cannot have my plans forfeited like that.”
“Oh, Tashama, you cannot leave me like this. Aleron will be furious again.”
“He will get over it and even finally make his selection for a wife.”
“You’ve seen whom he chooses?” Listra’s eyes widened. “Do tell? The betting in the palace has gone to such great lengths.”
“No.” Tashama smiled. “I just meant to say, he will make a choice once I’m out of his hair.”
“I do not understand this illusion you make in reference to his hair. His hair is not long enough for you to…”
“No longer here for him to think about.”
“Oh, if you are gone, he will think of nothing else, rest assured. You cannot leave.” She studied Tashama as she took herseat in one of the velvet chairs. “I’ve seen you do this a lot in the last couple of days. If I were Carissian, I could tell what you were thinking, and I would imagine you were contemplating how you would steal away.”
“Then it is good you do not have Carissian’s powers.”
Listra wagged her foot up and down, which caught Tashama’s eye. “Now you are contemplating something.”
“I do not wish for you to leave, Tashama. Loran will kill you, of that, I’m certain. You have not even told me who it is I will marry. And what has happened to Lord Coryn?”
“A band of wild boar killed Lord Coryn and his party of merchants; the elves told me. Since they have not had good relations with the Maldovians, they never told Aleron of the matter.”
“Why did you not tell me before? Why did you not tell Aleron?”
“I was a prisoner once again. Quite frankly, I’d forgotten. But I’m truly sorry for your loss.”
“I wouldn’t have wished the man the kind of death he incurred, but I wasn’t happy with the notion of marrying him.”
