Page 88 of Tashama
A woman walked into the room and curtsied. “Your meal is served. I will return for the platter in a little while.”
The woman left, and Listra rinsed her hair. “That is not a good sign.”
“What?”
“The prince doesn’t want to eat with you this evening.”
“We have been together alone long enough.” Tashama wrapped a towel around her hair.
“Robes are hanging on the pegs over there for our use.” Listra pointed her dripping wet finger at the wall. “We haven’t had the time to use them before, but tonight, I believe, would be the perfect time for their use.”
Tashama pulled one of the velvet robes off the peg and touched her finger to the rose-pink fabric. “Pink or green?”
“Either is fine for me.” Listra climbed out of the bath, then pulled the towel over her skin.
“Are you hungry?” Tashama walked into the room wearing a pink robe, then observed the lobsters, prepared in their shells, on platters covered with grapes and apples.
Listra joined Tashama. “No, I was fed well.”
Tashama fingered the grapes as she eyed them with suspicion.
“What’s wrong?” Listra tied her robe around her petite frame.
“Would it not be easy to rid themselves of two nuisances with just a dab of poison?”
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Listra stared at the food, then frowned. “Some poisons are impossible to detect. Odorless, colorless. We would only know if the food was tainted if we were to partake of it.”
“I have not eaten for a long while, but if I eat of this, I may never eat again.” Tashama lifted the tray, then carried it to the window. The guards turned to observe her, and she threw the food onto the walkway. “Poisoned,” she said, then carried the tray back into the room.
Servants hurried to clean up the mess, a grape escaped the others’ fate, and she picked it up. The knocking on the door caused the two women to turn and face it.
“Yes?” Listra called out.
A guard opened the door. “The prince desires your presence at the meal.”
“Another meal, Listra. But I presume this one will be safe.” A smile crossed her face. “Should we go dressed like this?”
“The prince might like to see you attired thus, but he would surely frown on seeing me dressed this way.”
“I will wait for you to clothe yourselves properly.” The guard closed the door behind him.
Tashama hurried to pull golden gowns over her head, while Listra pulled pink ones over her own. Then, the women took turns drying their hair. By the time Tashama had attached veils to Listra’s hair, the women were already late in attending the prince’s supper.
When they arrived at the great hall, everyone had already taken their seats at long white-clothed tables, and the princesses were directed to one of the lower tables. Tashama observed Daveal sitting beside the prince at the elevated head table while Carissian sat on the other side of his sovereign. Tashama took her seat beside Listra.
Tashama asked the lady who sat next to her to pass the bread, but the lady ignored her. Tashama turned instead to Listra and smiled. “I guess she doesn’t like my company.”
Listra shook her head. “We are being treated in such a manner because we took the prince away from them when he was due to be crowned. Within a week or two, he selects his bride from among the single ladies. There was much fear that he was lost, and Oshon might have ruled in his place. He is my cousin as well. Oshon would not have led the Maldovians as well as Aleron.”
“I do not believe either is that well-suited for the job.”
Tashama turned to the disagreeable lady. “I have returned the prince to you, but believe me, he snores at night something fierce when he sleeps with a lady. He has no manners either. Why, I had quite a time getting him to turn away from me while I stripped my wet garments from my skin.”
The lady’s mouth dropped open as her eyes widened, then she picked up her plate and hurried to another table.
Tashama laughed out loud, then reached over for the bread.
