Page 87 of Tashama
The prince shook his head. “Listra is right in worrying that someone, if not Oshon, wants Tashama dead. We cannot dismiss this lightly. The princess must always be safeguarded.”
“What of Loran?”
“He still searches for us in the mountains. Come, let us go. I want to change into Maldovian garments.”
The two men exited the caves. Aleron mounted his horse, and he smiled at Tashama. She glowered at him. “Cheer up, Princess. You would have returned to captivity on the other side of the mountains when Loran caught hold of you in your own homeland. Your accommodations would not have been half as grand as they are at Banff, I would venture to say.”
“Captivity is captivity, wherever it is.” She tilted her head up while she looked straight ahead.
Early that evening,when they arrived at Banff, Tashama and Listra were returned to the guest chambers while the prince headed to his apartments to schedule his coronation.
Tashama yanked off her outer gown while the guards still stood in the room, and Listra hurried to push them out the door.
“My lady,” she said as she helped Tashama with her next gown. “I know how distressed you must be.”
“No, Listra. You don’t know the sorrow I feel.” Tashama sighed deeply. “And when he was passing the tests so well.” She walked into the bath chamber, then pulled her sheer gown over her shoulders. The emerald cloth slipped to the floor, and Tashama jumped into the bath. She dove under the water, then surfaced at the other end of the pool. “There are no roses.” She swirled her hand over the surface of the water.
“No, as we were not expected back here this evening. I will ensure we have some tomorrow, however.” Listra sat at the edge of the bath. “Can you teach me to swim?”
Tashama nodded.
“He’s angry with me.” Listra removed her gowns. “He wouldn’t look at me the whole time we rode back to Banff.”
“I’m sorry, Listra. I hadn’t meant for you to get into trouble over me.”
“The fault was not your own. Oshon intends to murder you. I couldn’t allow that to happen. But it seems odd that this is the way I’ve betrayed the prince’s trust. I haven’t found anyone to love.”
“This will too, come to pass.” Tashama motioned to Listra to join her. Then she helped Listra swim in the water. As Listra paddled her hands and kicked her feet, Tashama released her. Listra sank. Tashama laughed. Listra touched her feet to the floor, then surfaced. “Oh, I do not think I have your ability yet.”
Again, Tashama helped Listra to float, then she scooted her across the water to the edge of the bath. “Kick with your feet.”
Listra kicked with her feet while she held onto the edge of the bath, and Tashama smiled. “I will have you swimming with me in Karthland before you know it.”
“You should not joke about such a thing, my lady. We are already in big enough trouble as it is.”
“I’ll be in bigger trouble should I stay here.” Tashama grabbed a vial of soap sitting at the edge of the bath and squirtedthe silky pink shampoo onto her hand. She ran it through her hair, then the door creaked open to their chambers.
“Are you decent?” a man’s voice called out.
“No!” both of the women screamed.
“The prince asked me to see that you were both all right.”
“We are both all right!” Tashama yelled. “Go away! I am teaching Listra to swim, and you are interfering with her lessons.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Hurried footsteps led back to the door, then it shut.
Tashama turned to Listra. “The healer?”
“Yes.” Listra took a deep breath. “The prince cannot be too angry with us if he wanted his healer to check on our health.”
“Nonsense.” Tashama dipped her head underwater to rinse the soap from it. “He only wanted to know what we were up to.”
“Do you think so?” Listra picked up the vial of soap and applied some of the sweet-smelling fragrance to her hair.
“Of course.” Tashama climbed out of the bath, then grabbed a towel stacked with others nearby. She ran the soft violet cloth over her body as the door opened. She quickly pulled her towel taut, then listened for some word from the intruder.
