Page 54 of Tashama
“General Karam has taken Chrisholm Island. Word is he’ll stop at nothing to free the princess from Banff.”
The prince sat at his desk. “She truly is an inspiration to her men. But if General Karam serves Loran…”
Carissian shook his head. “Apparently, his allegiance is to the princess, once he learned she lived.”
“Then their forces are splitting over the woman.” The prince smiled. “Is this not a good thing?”
“Possibly.”
“Then if we keep her here, the troops loyal to the princess’s family will turn on Loran’s troops if they try to take her?”
“Butwe stillhave her, sire. They will band together nevertheless to fight us—perhaps with a divided cause—but with the same number of forces.”
The prince rubbed his chin. “Then we must somehow provoke General Karam’s forces to fight Loran instead. Once both sides weaken, we can take the whole region over.” He turned to observe Tashama. “You will deliver your people to me, Princess. You have been sent to me by the gods.”
“You must…,” Carissian said, then changed his wording, “wouldn’t it be more prudent to return the princess to her chambers tonight, sire?”
The prince stood up from his desk, then walked back into his bedchambers. He pulled a blanket from his bed, then walked back into the room where Tashama slept. After covering her with the blanket, he stood up straight. “I’ll see you in the morning, Carissian.”
Before the sunlightwas even streaming into the prince’s bedchambers, a lantern light shone into Tashama’s eyes as she blinked them in annoyance. The healer crouched near her feet, and she covered her head with a pillow. “I’m removing your bandages, my lady.” He unwrapped her left foot.
“Couldn’t you do it later?” she mumbled under the satin pillow.
“Is she as obstinate as usual?” Aleron leaned down to get a look at the sole of her foot.
She pulled the pillow from her face and frowned. “I should’ve known you would be the reason for this vexation. Do you not know my sleep is not to be disturbed unless I want it?” She covered her face with the pillow again.
“What do you think?”
The healer touched her skin. “How does it feel, my lady?”
“It tingles like my foot has gone to sleep.”
“Good, then you should be able to walk on them without too much discomfort. By tomorrow, they’ll feel almost as good as new.”
“Good.” She rolled onto her stomach.
The healer reached down to unwrap her right foot. He touched the wounds. “Your injuries were less severe on this foot, my lady.” When she said nothing in response, the healer said, “My lady?”
“Go away,” she said under her breath.
“It’s time for your swim,” Aleron said.
She shook her head, and the pillow wiggled with the movement.
“Now, Tashama. I want to see you swim.”
“Later.”
“You cannot swim.”
“You are right. Leave me be. I was dreaming about a handsome prince who swept me off my feet and had taken me to a lovely restaurant in Dallas…”
“My sorcerer says this is not so.”
She pulled the pillow from her head and rolled onto her side. “Is everyone in here?”
“Only those who count. I want to see how your feet feel when you walk.”
