Chapter 13
“You search for the missing pieces. You’re trying to recollect who the Karthlander king’s nephews were—but the names and even the faces elude you. Who are you?” Carissian asked Tashama.
“An insignificant Karthlander woman—so you have already said yourself.”
Carissian bowed as the prince entered the room. “She has ties to Balthazar, the cagey old fox, sire.”
The prince stared at her. “She must have been part of the royal staff then.” He turned to Carissian. “Are you sure she’s not a sorceress? Perhaps he was training her—”
“No.” Carissian shook his head. “Balthazar was a royal sorcerer. He only saw to the…” Carissian paused. He glanced down at Tashama’s cotton-wrapped feet, then took the prince’s arm and led him from the room.
“What?” Aleron said, his voice raised.
The sorcerer’s muffled voice mouthed a few sentiments she could not decipher, then he spoke out loud, “Yes, sire, I’m almost certain.”
“Very well, have the healer check at once.”
Tashama sighed deeply as she pulled her hair back, then began to wind it into a braid. The prince paced back and forth while Carissian said to a servant, “Have the healer brought here at once.”
“At once,” the servant repeated and hurried out of the chamber.
“When do I get to return to my chambers?” she called out to Carissian and the prince.
The two men walked back into the room, and both looked at her differently this time.
She frowned at them, then continued to twist her hair into a rope as she turned her gaze to the floor.
“Has your sorcerer told you I want to kiss you again? He lies, you know. He’s only feeding your big ego, you do realize. ”
“How old are you?” the prince asked.
“I’ve been asked that an awful lot of late. Do you not know that asking such a thing of a woman is truly impolite?”
“She’s twenty-three,” Carissian said. “She’s rattled and is having a difficult time blocking my exploration into her thoughts.”
“Then she would be the right age.” The prince took a deep breath.
“Balthazar would have stayed with her when the king and queen passed on.”
“If she’s the one.”
“The one what?” Tashama finished twisting her braid. “Does anyone have a ribbon for me to tie my hair with?”
The prince considered Tashama further as she caressed the tail of her braided hair. “If she’s the one, what should we do with her?”
“I’m not certain. She’d be a great pawn,” Carissian said.
Aleron studied his sorcerer while the old man rubbed his chin.
“Loran is well entrenched in his role as leader of the Karthlanders. I doubt he would want the woman, if she is the one, to remove him from such a lofty position. And his sorcerer, no doubt, would be a great obstacle as well. However, it wouldn’t hurt to ransom her.
Then Loran can dispose of her as he will. ”
“Dispose of me?” She tilted her head to the side as she still held her braid tightly in her fist to prevent it from unraveling. “That sounds rather ominous.”
“The notion doesn’t seem to disturb her. Why is that? He surely would throw her into the sea, should she be the one, and we were to return her to him,” Aleron said.
“Perhaps she believes Balthazar will rescue her.”
“Balthazar,” she scowled.
The healer hurried into the room and quickly bowed to the prince. “Sire, you would like to see me?”
“Inspect the woman’s ankle and see if she has a dark heart-shaped spot on her skin.”
“Which ankle, sire?”
The prince and Carissian turned to Tashama. She shrugged. “Don’t look at me.”
The healer hurried to unwrap her left foot, then examined both ankles. He shook his head. The prince motioned for him to continue. The healer unwrapped her right foot and examined the left ankle, then the right. He nodded as he twisted her leg hard to the side for the prince to get a better look.
“Ow! Let go of my leg!”
Carissian nearly bumped heads with the prince as they studied the tanned spot forming the perfect heart-shape on the crest of her ankle, the size of a dime.
“You are Tashama!” Aleron turned to his sorcerer. “She was thought to have died with the rest of her family.”
“Apparently not.” Carissian beamed. “The mystery is solved.”
“She’s no longer a threat to me, then.” The prince considered Tashama while the healer rewrapped her bandages.
“The lady doesn’t realize it, but for the moment you’re her savior.”
“Savior!” She glowered at the prince. “Why, he’s no more my savior than Balthazar is.”
“Where is Balthazar?” Carissian asked.
“How should I know? If he were here now, you would not be questioning me.”
The prince smiled. “Tashama, princess of Karthland, and the true heir to the throne.” He turned to Carissian.
“She was being brought back here to find a mate. She’s of age.
Somehow, Balthazar sent her to the wrong place, don’t you think, Carissian?
” He studied her. “He was trying to reinstall her in Karthland, but she cannot lead without a husband.”
“Ha!” She released her braid. The golden strands quickly untwisted, and she tried to stand. The memory of the painful burs digging into her water-softened feet etched across her mind, and Carissian grabbed hold of her arms and made her sit. “You cannot walk yet.” His brows furrowed deeply.
“I can do as I please!” She scowled at the floor.
“Wherever this Texas is that she has lived has certainly made her unruly. Our women would never behave as she does. She wouldn’t be a suitable wife for any man!
” Aleron stared at her hair, then said to one of his servants, “Have one of the ladies veil her hair. Her hair should not be exposed as it is, especially since she is a princess.”
“Why so ever not?” Tashama ran her hands through the silky strands. “Does it entice you too much?”
Carissian smiled as the prince frowned at her. “I told you she was wily, sire.”
“What are we to do with her?”
“Let me give it further thought, Your Highness. In most probability, we should send word to Loran that we have his cousin here under guard and see how he responds.”
“He was a spoiled brat and a veritable bully, the last I recall of him.” Tashama ran her hands over a satiny pillow while she rested her cheek on her knees.
“He was always an angry little boy—mad at the world because my father, not his, was king of Karthland. Since he has continued the war, I assume he’s still angry with the world.
Being the ruler of Karthland changed not a thing. ”
The prince knelt next to her and touched her hair. “If you were the ruler of Karthland, would you stop the war?”
“Of course. I've already told you that I didn’t feel it necessary. The soldiers are weary of fighting. I even heard your own armored knights say so the day I was taken prisoner by your lake. It’s time to end the war.
I doubt Loran will feel the same way. He won’t stop until he’s proclaimed emperor of the entire region. ”
“What is the gift you spoke of?” He lifted her chin and studied the golden flecks in her green eyes.
“I can see the future for some—not for all though.”
“And you can read thoughts as Carissian can?”
She smiled. “Sure.”
The prince looked over at Carissian, who shook his head. “She’s blocking my reading of her thoughts again, sire. She’s very good, this one.”
The ladies walked into the room with veils and pins in hand.
Tashama shook her head at them. “I will not wear those.”
The prince stood, then motioned for the women to get on with the task.
She sat quietly while the maids attached two rainbow-colored sheer veils to her hair.
They stood back to admire their handiwork.
Tashama pulled the pins out, folded the veils, and then placed them neatly on the floor.
“I thank you, ladies, for helping me with my hair, but my hair was just fine without.”
The ladies looked over at the prince, who motioned for them to veil Tashama’s hair again.
The prince and Carissian leaned against the desk with their arms folded across their chests while the ladies attached the veils to Tashama’s hair again.
When they walked away, Tashama pulled the pins out and dropped the veils to the floor.
Everyone looked over at the prince, who rubbed his chin in thought. He leaned over to speak to Carissian in private, who stared back at the prince. The prince nodded, whereupon Carissian walked out of the room.
When the sorcerer returned, a guard followed him with a rope. The prince waved his hand at Tashama, but the guard said, “But she cannot stand.”
“Make her lie down on her stomach then. Just get on with it.”
The guard knelt by Tashama. “Miss…”
“Princess to you, sir.”
The guard looked at the prince, who nodded.
“Princess, would you please—”
“Why certainly.” She turned on her stomach and placed her hands behind her back. “I will do anything for you, kind sir, since you ask so sweetly.”
The guard hurried to tie her wrists together, then looked for the prince’s direction. “Make her sit up so the ladies can veil her hair.”
“Yes, sire.” The guard helped her to sit, then the ladies hurried to attach the veils. Once her hair was veiled, Tashama got onto her knees and began to walk toward the door.
The ladies giggled as the men all laughed. “You are making a fool of yourself,” the prince said.
“No, sire, you are showing your people how cruel you can be to a royal princess who is your captive.”
“Carry her to her quarters,” the prince said, “and untie her there. In her own chambers, she can wear her hair as she pleases.”
The guard lifted Tashama off the floor and the ladies hurried out of the door.
When they were all well out of the range of his voice, Carissian shook his head.
“You should attempt to pacify the lady, sire, so that should we be able to reinstall her on her throne, she would look more favorably toward a peace treaty with us.”
“Her husband would be the one to make such a decision. How can she have a husband if she will not obey one? She is a lost cause, that one. If I’m able to tame her ways, her husband will thank me for the training we’ve provided here.” He paced across the floor, then smiled. “I have work to do.”
“Yes, sire. I will consider what to do with the lady concerning Loran in the meantime.”
“Do.” Aleron headed down the hall. When he arrived at Tashama’s chambers, the guard knocked on her door. Princess Listra answered it, and Aleron said, “What is the princess doing now?”
“She’s sitting in a chair next to the window. She seems to enjoy the fragrance the breeze draws into the room.”
“Is her hair veiled?”
The lady shook her head.
“Have her hair veiled, and she can sit with me in the gazebo now.”
“Yes, sire.”
Princess Listra reentered the room, and Tashama said, “Sit in the gazebo? Very well, I would like that.” There was some silence, then she said, “No, I don’t want the veils on my hair. When I return to Karthland, I will abolish such a notion. You would do well to revolt against such an archaic…”
The prince strode into the chambers. “Either she wears the veils, or she stays in her room.”
Tashama smiled. “I’m enjoying the gardens from here, thank you, sire. Perhaps some other time we could sit in the gazebo.”
Aleron glared at her, then turned and stormed out of the room.
“Oh, my lady,” Listra said, “you shouldn’t treat the prince in such a manner.”
“I’m a royal princess in my own right and ruler of my own kingdom. He has no right to tell me what to do.” Tashama folded her hands in her lap.
“But you’re a guest in his—”
“Prisoner, you mean. Are guards at my door?”
“Well, yes.”
“A prisoner, I tell you.” Tashama stared out the window and saw a dark-clothed figure walking along the garden path. “What is that?” She pointed at the sight.
“She’s with the religious order of the Bachavin.”
Tashama studied the woman, clothed in a black gown and veil, her face hidden beneath a black cloth, allowing not even a glimpse of her eyes. “How absurd. How can she see in such a contraption?”
“She can see. She’s wed to the king of the gods, Bachava. No mortal man may view a woman of the order.”
“And this god lives on Mount Olympus, I suppose.”
“Mount Olympus?” Listra furrowed her brow in concentration as she tried to recollect such a place. “No, Mount Monadanock.”
Tashama sat back stiffly in her chair as she spied the prince sauntering along the path with a dark-haired woman, arm in arm. The woman’s familiar voice scolded the prince lightly as it carried on the breeze. “You had her in your chambers again. What am I to think of such behavior?”
“She’s only a means to an end, Daveal. She’ll have a home here for the time being until she can be of no further use to us.”
“Did you kiss her?”
“Why would I want to kiss a Karthlander woman?”
The voices and footsteps faded away, and Tashama’s cheeks warmed. “I want to take a bath.”
“The healer said you’re not to get your feet wet.”
Tashama reached down and unwrapped the cloth on her right foot as Listra ran over to stop her. “Leave me be! I wish to see how my foot is faring after that brutal prince injured them so.”
“You shouldn’t have run away.” Listra tried to grab Tashama’s hand to stop her.
Tashama scowled, “They are my feet. Let me see them.”
“They’re not to be unwrapped.”
“By the prince’s orders?”
“No, the healer’s.”
Tashama pulled the cloth free from her foot as Listra hurried to the door. “Get the healer! The princess has removed the cloth from her foot.”
“Cloths from her feet,” Tashama corrected as she pulled the other free.
“Do hurry,” Listra said to the guard. She returned to Tashama’s side and wrung her hands as Tashama studied the puncture wounds, still red and swollen. “The air is not good for the wounds, my lady. That’s why your feet must remain wrapped until the healer says otherwise.”
“Nonsense. I’m tired of seeing my feet bound like I’m being mummified. Even if the soles of my feet are a sight, at least the rest of my feet look nice and normal. Besides, the healer said they should be fine by tomorrow.”
The guard pushed the door open, and the red-faced healer hurried to her side. “Word has been sent to the prince,” he said to Listra. Then he turned his attention to Tashama. “You must keep the bandages wrapped around your feet, my lady.”
“But you yourself unwrapped them earlier today—not once, but twice.”
“By the prince’s orders, but against my better judgment.”
“Well then, by the princess’s orders, my feet are to remain unbound. They feel hot and sweaty in those bandages. The cool breeze feels fine between my toes.” She wiggled them slightly.
“This is a foolish notion, my lady, and can be dangerous to your health.”
“I wish to have a second opinion!”
“The prince is coming,” the guard warned.