Page 115 of Tashama
Aleron pulled Tashama from the water. “Come, we will have to get gowns for you, and you can change in my quarters. We leave now.”
The two hurried to Aleron’s apartments, and he gave her a towel. She wrapped the towel around her wet clothes, then used a fan to dry her hair as Aleron hurried into his bedchambers and changed into his dry clothes. As soon as he was finished, he returned to Tashama and dried her hair as she slipped out of her outer gown. Then he helped to pull off the gown under this. “I’ll find some dry clothes for you and be right back.”
He hurried out of his chambers while Tashama slipped out of her wet shift, then wrapped herself in the towel again. Then she shoved her wet gowns under his bed and returned to the bath to wait for his return.
Footsteps approached, and she stood next to the bath wall as she feared it would be someone other than Aleron. Listra hurried into the room, and Tashama cried, “Oh, Listra, whatever are you doing here?”
“Aleron had no one to ask but me for gowns. Hurry, put these on.” She helped Tashama to apply a dry shift, then the outer gown with long sleeves, and last, the overdress with cuts down the side. “We must also apply veils. These are dark and should hide your blond hair.”
After Tashama was well-disguised, Listra grabbed her hand and led her out through the window. “But Aleron?”
“He will join us, but he wishes for me to get you to the carriage. There are three. One for Fatima and her entourage, one for me and mine, and one for an anonymous well-paying noble couple…I believe this to be you and Aleron.” Tashama smiled. “He loves you, you do realize?” Listra said. “For him to give up all for a woman…” She shook her head. “I only wish I could find aman to love me in that way. I’ll sit with you and Aleron until you go your own way.”
“His people will not abandon him.”
After they loaded into the wagon, they began to head toward the gate. “I hope for his sake and all of our royal family connections that this will be the case.”
“But Aleron has not joined us.” She peered out through the leather flaps on the carriage.
“He said he’ll come. But you know how he is. He insisted we get on our way at the top of the hour, and you were to go with us. He said there were several who were involved in some scheme concerning you, and he feared even further for your safety.”
Tashama leaned against the leather seat back. She didn’t want anyone to get into trouble for having offered to free her from her incarceration. On the other hand, the thieves were getting well paid, Carissian just wanted to be rid of her, and Daveal, who knew what she truly had in mind? Tashama took a deep breath.
Ten miles along their journey, the horse’s hooves pounded behind them, and Tashama peeked out of the window. Aleron smiled at her as he rode his familiar stallion. She shook her head. “Not in the least bit obvious.”
The entourage stopped. One of the servants tied the horse to the back of the carriage, then opened the door for Aleron. He bowed his head to Listra as she bowed hers in greeting. He took his seat next to Tashama, and she squeezed his hand. “I worried about you.”
“I had to investigate what was going on in your quarters. As I peeked into the place, I saw one of Oshon’s cavalry officers storm back out into the gardens, and when he departed, Daveal and two of her servants scrambled out from under the bed and hurried the same way. I was about to leave when I saw twobedraggled men, soaked to the skin, leaving your bath, then head out through the gardens too.”
Tashama stifled the urge to laugh. “I guess they didn’t find what they were looking for.”
“Had I not been attempting to keep this rendezvous with you, I would have had them all arrested for questioning. But if I had any doubts about stealing you away from Banff, I know now it was the right thing to do.”
Tashama nodded.
As they rode, two of the servants hurried back to the rear carriage, as the cavalcade was paused.
“Sire,” the one said as he opened the door.
Aleron left the carriage so as not to alarm the women. “Yes, what’s the difficulty?”
“Karthlander scouts were spotted beyond that bluff.” The man waved his hand in the direction of the sighting.
Aleron studied the area. “We detour east then.”
“But then we’ll be in Alsation territory.
“Better than dealing with the Karthlanders.”
“I heard that,” Tashama said from inside the carriage.
“East.” Aleron returned to the carriage. “Such as it is now, my lady.” He kissed Tashama’s cheek.
She smiled and snuggled her head against his shoulder.
“Will there be trouble with the Alsations, sire?” Listra asked.
“Not if we can help it.” Aleron kissed the top of Tashama’s veiled hair.
