Page 57 of Tashama
“Surely you have other business to attend to.”
“I’ll see you momentarily, Tashama, to see how you fare with walking once you’ve changed.”
Aleron grabbed the sorcerer’s arm and led him out of his bedchambers. “You can really be quite annoying at times, Carissian.”
“Yes, sire.”
Tashama slumped deeper into the bubbles. Aleron took a deep breath, then pulled Carissian from the room.
Later that afternoonTashama sat in her chair by the window while Listra embroidered the mermaid’s golden strands of hair on Aleron’s tapestry pillow. “Is it nearly finished?”
“Yes, it is—and not too soon either.”
Tashama saw the young thief in his shabby, blueberry-colored tunic crouching by a dark, green-leafed shrub dotted in blue flowers the same shade as his garments. He nodded to her as she caught his eye. After placing his hands together, he rested his head on them as he closed his eyes. He opened his eyes and shrugged.
Tashama indicated that she had slept, using the same gesture of her hands, and then pointed toward the other wing of the castle. He nodded. He displayed a slip of blue paper to her, then stuck it between the delicate leaves of the shrub. She bowed her head.
He dove out of sight, and a guard shouted, “Stop that boy!”
16
Listra dropped her tapestry to the marble floor and ran to the window. “Did you see who it was?”
“Not a sign of anyone.” Tashama frowned when the head of the guards hurried to her window.
“Did he…did the boy threaten you in any way?” The guard huffed and puffed as he tried to catch his breath.
Listra shook her head. “We didn’t see him.”
“But he was on this very path. He had to have come right by here.”
Tashama sighed deeply. “I must have been distracted as I watched Listra embroider.”
The guard turned to Listra. “A guard will be posted in the gardens, in the future.” He bowed and rushed off.
“He’ll tell the prince.” Listra straightened her back. “Were you protecting the young man?”
“If I did not see him, how could I be protecting him?”
Listra shook her head. “I cannot see what you can with these special gifts of yours, my lady, but your cheeks darkened when the guard questioned us.”
“I blush easily, if that is what you’re referring to.”
The folded blue sheet of paper fluttered slightly in the breeze.
She took a deep breath as she hoped Listra wouldn’t catch sight of it. “The guard is one of the ones who watched as the prince removed my sheer overdress. Having him watch me like that, then seeing him here before me once again, embarrassed me, nothing more.”
Listra’s lower lip dropped as her eyes widened. “I’m sorry. I had no idea,” she said quickly, then hurried back to her chair. She drew her tapestry off the floor. “I’ve been afraid to ask you what you saw about my future. I saw your eyes widen as I touched your hand while helping you earlier this morning. I know you don’t want to tell me what you saw, but I can't shake the notion from my mind. My imagination is very vivid, and I think I must be going to die soon or…”
“You will betray the prince’s trust in you.” Tashama considered how she’d get the thief’s message waving back at her.
“Surely you do not see me do this. I would be exiled and lose the love of my family and everything I believe in. Maybe you are wrong.”
“Yes,” Tashama said softly. She truly liked the woman. Had she been blessed with a sister, she would’ve wanted her to be just like Listra.
“You are never wrong, are you, my lady?”
Tashama shook her head.
