Chapter 22 #3
Tashama slipped into the water. “Come, Prince, you guided me through the passageway and down the side of the cliffs. Come with me now, and I will assist you through the water.”
“Is there no other way?” Aleron crouched at the water’s edge.
“Loran will be here soon. Valmor has no power over water. We’ll be safe going this way.”
The prince shook his head. “This goes against all that I know, but I will trust you, royal cousin of the water sprites.”
“Slip into the water and hold onto the ledge.”
The prince did as he was told, then Tashama drew close to him. “Someday I will teach you to swim, but today, I will use a lifeguard maneuver I learned in Girl Scouts.”
“In Texas?”
“Yes, now lean back and relax. I’ll keep your head afloat and will swim with you to the other side of the lake beyond the waterfall.”
“And then?”
“And then, I will instruct you further.”
Tashama pulled Aleron toward the waterfall, and as the water splashed over his head, his posture stiffened. “We are almost there,” Tashama whispered in his ear. “And they are almost here,” she added as she saw Valmor stalk into view. She smiled.
“He cannot see us beyond the waterfall, and he would never think we could swim across the lake.” Then she frowned. “But he can sense we’ve been here.”
She pointed to a light area in the water beneath the rock wall. “We must dive below and swim to the other side. It is the only way.”
“I cannot swim under the water.”
“You can, my prince. If I can crawl through a pipe-like tunnel for nearly two hours, you can swim beneath the surface of the water for a minute or two. Take a deep breath, and I will pull you along. One…, two…, three.” She dove beneath the surface as she pulled him with her.
She smiled as the water nymphs clustered about the prince as they tugged at his clothes and hair while they helped her to get him to the air. They finally made it past the wall of rock. Tashama pulled the prince to the surface, then held his head above the water while they both gasped for air.
Then, she swam across to the other side of the lake and held onto the rock as he climbed out of the water. He turned to help her out when he caught sight of white gowns shimmering in the corner of the cave.
When the lady recognized the prince and Tashama, she ran forward. “Sire.” She curtsied low to him.
“Listra,” he scowled at her.
“Forgive me.” She turned to Tashama. “We have failed, my lady.”
“I cannot believe you of all people,” the prince said.
“What is wrong?” Tashama touched Listra’s tear-soaked cheek.
“Carissian blocked all the passageways to Karthland. He shook the mountains while we were lost in the mists. He has come for the prince, and he has come for you and me now.”
“Where are the thieves?” Tashama squeezed the water from her hair.
“They have hidden. I couldn’t let them get caught because of me.”
“I cannot believe you would have aided the princess’s escape as you did, Listra.” Aleron wrung out his tunic.
“Oshon and his men were going to murder her, sire. You know that as well as I. I couldn’t let that happen.”
“No one will murder her,” The prince glanced over at the passageway that led into the cavernous room. He smiled to hear Carissian’s welcome voice as Tashama rolled her eyes.
“Carissian,” the prince said in greeting. “Seems your quick thinking has saved us all.”
“You, maybe,” Tashama said. “Not me.”
The guards rushed into the room, and the prince said, “The women are to be guarded all the way back to Banff. Take them to the horses.”
“Will they be shackled, sire?”
“No. Carissian and I will be along shortly, then we will ride together.”
“I should have left you behind in Ramoria,” Tashama said.
“You wouldn’t have made it without me.” The prince couldn’t conceal the delight he felt in being with his people. He knew he had a good chance of losing Tashama should she have made it to Karthland.
“And you, without me.” Tashama shook her wet hair at him.
“Swimming with you was indeed an exhilarating experience. I will take you up on your offer to teach me to swim.” He considered Tashama’s green gowns, which clung to her figure.
“I retract my offer.”
The prince waved for Tashama and Listra to be removed from the cavern. They left the room, and the prince grabbed Carissian’s arm. “So tell me, Carissian, what has gone on while I’ve been away?”
“Your people are waiting for the crowning of their king.”
“Good, I’m ready to do my duty.”
“And the princesses?”
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 squirted the 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.
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?”