Page 79 of Tashama
The prince watched her as she closed her eyes, and the flickering flame cast a warm light over her ivory face. She licked her lips, then twisted slightly to get comfortable, making the prince sigh deeply.You are sight more wondrous than I’ve ever known.
Early the next morning,Tashama shivered as the fire had long been extinguished. Her back was warm, and she smiled as the prince snuggled close to her.
She closed her eyes, but then voices without words caught her attention, and she sat up suddenly. Seven men and three women sitting on white horses with their blond manes stirred by the light breeze as the party watched her from a few feet away.
She rose to her feet and woke Aleron. He jumped up and pulled his sword from his sheath. She grabbed his hand and shook her head, then turned to consider the blond-haired people with fine features and pointed ears. “Elorian Elves,” she whispered. “They won’t harm us.”
The leader of the group motioned for his women to dismount, then waved at his men in the same manner while he continued to sit on his horse. “What do they want?” Aleron whispered back.
“I don’t know.”
Aleron and Tashama watched as the men hurried to construct a square tent while the women pulled bundles off their saddles. “The woodland nymphs called them to come to our aid,” Tashama whispered.
A male voice spoke to her, and she turned her attention to the leader. “He says we must change our clothes. The forest colors of the elven garments will help to camouflage us.” She hesitated as Aleron shook his head.He’ll learn my language before long.“They’ll cloak us while we travel with them.”
“I must return to Banff.” Aleron sheathed his sword. “I cannot leave my kingdom.”
Tashama turned to the leader and listened to his words spoken without body. “He says you do not have to come with us. You may stay.” She faced Aleron. “You cannot stay, Aleron. Loran will kill you if he finds you.”
The ladies said to Tashama in their silent way, “We are ready for you, my lady.”
“I need to change,” Tashama said to Aleron. “You would do well to do so.”
Tashama walked into the tent. Aleron grabbed the garments offered to him, then yanked his tunic from his chest.
“Why will they not speak to me?” He pulled the green and tan tunic over his shoulders, then hurried to fasten it across his chest.
“Oh, you are tickling me,” Tashama giggled as the ladies helped her on with the gowns. Giggles erupted from the elven maids. “Because, Aleron, they feel you have perpetuated this war between our peoples and in so doing their own people have suffered as a direct result of the continued conflict—disruption of commerce, thievery on the part of the soldiers who forage into their lands for foods, and so on.”
“Loran is the one who keeps waging war. We only defend ourselves.”
“Ah, it is not that you want to take over my kingdom too?” Tashama walked out of the tent.
Tashama smiled as Aleron stared at her gowns. She touched the green ribbons cris-crossed between her breasts, accentuating her feminine form, then ran her hand over the overskirts of blended tans and green sheers cut sharply up the length of the garment in triangular form, allowing the viewer a glimpse of her shapely legs. He took a deep breath as he finished pulling on his boots.
“You could be an elven maiden.” He hurried to repack his satchel.
She pulled her blond hair back over her shoulders. “Only I do not have the correct shape of ears.” Tashama turned back to listen to the leader of the elves. “They have brought only one horse for us to ride, as the woodland nymphs carried only word of me on the wind. They suggest I ride with one of the other maidens, while you take the steed.”
“I will ride with you, as I would not want to become separated from you.” Aleron mounted the horse, then reached down to pull her into the saddle with him. “Since they seem to be rather at odds with me, I would not desire to be traveling without you.”
Tashama smiled. “They only fear we’ll slow them down this way. They say it’ll be many hours before Loran can find a way to cross the swollen stream. He has already gathered another army of men, however, to accomplish the task.” Tashama glanced over at one of the maidens who spoke to her, and she nodded and smiled.
“What did the lady say?”
“She says you are very handsome for a human.”
“And you agreed with her?” He pulled Tashama closer. She rested her head against his chest and nodded. “And what do the elven men say about you?”
“They are careful not to speak concerning me.”
“Oh?”
“I am Tashama and will bring peace to the region. I am the key to prosperity for the entire population. You say I cannot lead my people without a husband to do the task for me, but this is not so. Certainly, I will wed soon, but it is not my husband who will quell our difficult times. Indeed, this husband of minewill beimportant as he will desire to please me, so he can win my favors.”
The prince took her message and smiled. She smiled and rested her head against his elven tunic. “I’m sure your husbandwill do everything in his power to please you, Tashama.” Aleron leaned over to kiss her head. The elven maidens giggled.
The brilliant ballof flame settled in the west as the party of elves and their human counterparts arrived in Ramoria.
