That wasn't enough, not nearly enough against the humiliation she was suffering. What else
could she use to protect herself against despair?
A true believer goes on believing even when all else is lost.
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It's the last thing I have to hold on to. If I let go of that, then I have lost my soul. I've killed Tashi.
But grim determination didn't stop her feeling wretched. Nor did it stop her tears. She did not
care what the onlookers thought. She was still, after everything, only a young girl. Only human.
She hoped they would remember that.
Alone in his chamber, Ramil fumed, pacing up and down. He had watched that whole sorry farce
unwillingly--a naked sword poked in his back by the guard behind him. It had been made very
clear to him that if he spoke, or even tried to leave, the guard would run him through on
Fergox's orders.
Ramil thumped the wall. The poor Princess had walked to her doom without any idea what lay in
store. She had been humiliated before everyone, but at least she had not gone quietly. He
mentally applauded her defiance. Under that Blue Crescent reserve there was a fine, spirited
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girl. He wondered how he had not noticed back in Gerfal. But what must she be thinking and
feeling now, holed up somewhere with those priests? He was desperate to do something for
her, to let her know that she had a friend in the castle. It would do no harm to his own pride to
explain that he had been forced to watch her ritual shaming. He could not bear her thinking he
collaborated in it with Fergox.
Ramil looked around his room for inspiration and
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noticed the desk under the window. A sheet of paper lay ready for any letters he cared to write.
Pushing the inkpot aside, he picked up the paper and set to work.
"Princess, Princess!"
Tashi raised her head to the door. It was getting dark and even colder. She felt as if her feet and
hands had turned to ice. But no one all day had called her "Princess." "Witch," "demon" and other even worse names, but not that.
"Who is it?" she asked tentatively.
"Ramil."
Tashi was not sure she was pleased to hear his voice. He'd seen what had happened and made
no effort to stop it. Her cheeks flushed at the memory.
"To what do I owe the honor?" she replied, taking refuge in sarcasm.
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"I ... I wanted to give you this." He held out something white. "It's all right. I got permission from the priests to be here. I told them I was going to rescue you from evil ways. I don't think I and
the red brethren had quite the same thing in mind, but they agreed I could see you
nonetheless."
Stiffly, Tashi got to her feet and moved to the door. The only light came from the lantern out in
the corridor where he stood. It was very hard to see what he had in his hand.
"Go on, take it," Ramil urged.
She reached out and took a tiny paper model.
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"What is it?"
"A dragonfly." Ramil sounded sheepish. "I'm not very good at it. Yours was much better but it was the best I could do."
The crude dragonfly quivered in her hand.
"Thank you." Tashi found that she was crying again. Before this journey, she hadn't wept for years, and now she couldn't stop the tears coming. "I am very touched that you thought to do
this for me."
"Come here." Ramil stretched his arm as far as he could to brush the tears from her face. His thumb gently traced the line of her cheekbone. She really was very pretty, he realized. "I just
wanted to tell you that you were magnificent in there. And you have never looked more royal to
me than now."
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She shook her head.
"No, Princess, I mean it. And what is more, I regret every stupid thing I've said and done in your presence. I'm to blame for this and I promise you, Your Highness, that I'll think of a way of
rescuing you. If you'll let me, of course."
Tashi leant her face against the door, comforted by his hand just touching her cheek. "I don't
understand what I've done--why he is doing this to me,"
she said bleakly. "Is he making the same demands of you?"
"Not exactly," admitted Ramil. "He's using us to make our countries go to war and then he is going to take them over. Me, well, me he wants as a puppet prince married to one of his
Spearthrowing daughters,
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God help me, and you he wants to present to the Blue Crescent Islanders as his bride."
Tashi shuddered, revolted by the thought of Fergox touching her again, let alone marrying her.
"But I can't, I don't ... he thinks I'm an infidel."
"He believes you'll convert. He wants to use you to smooth the way to the change of state
religion in your home."
"I'd rather die first."
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Ramil nodded. It was exactly as he expected. "I promise I won't let it happen."
Tashi gave a sad laugh.
"I know you don't think I have it in me, but I'm going to get you out of here. It will just take time and planning. We can't rush into it like we did on the road; we'll work together, not separately. I
came tonight to beg that you will not give up hope."
"I'll try not to, Prince Ramil."
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Call me Ram. It's what my friends all call me."
"In that case, I'm Tashi." She paused. "But that's not what my friends call me back home."
"What do they call you?"
"The Princess Taoshira, Fourth Crown Princess of the Blue Crescent Islands and dependent
territories. We're very formal, you know."
Ramil smiled. "I've noticed. And I also think, Princess Taoshira of the rest of it, that you are
making a joke."
Tashi nodded, her face wrinkling into an answering
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smile. "But you can call me Tashi. It's my family name. I don't feel very much like the Princess
Taoshira right now."
"Thank you, Tashi." Ramil dug in his pocket. "Oh, and I should have given this to you when we first met. I hope it's not too late." He handed her a second paper model. Tashi took it from him, looking puzzled. "It's a horse."
She put her hand over her mouth to disguise her amusement. "And very like it is too, sir."
"It's my personal sign. It's me."
Tashi stopped laughing. "Oh, I'm sorry. I must have offended you--"
He put his finger gently to her lips. "No, no, you forget, I am not an Islander but an ignorant
boor. We do not take offense easily. Just look after it for me, will you? And remember, I'm
coming back for you."
She appreciated the sentiment but knew better than to expect so much.
"Good night, Ram," she said sadly. "And Goddess bless you."
Ramil saluted. "Farewell, Tashi. God be with you."
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Chapter 7
King Lagan's spies returned with disturbing news from Brigard. A young man answering the
Prince's description had been seen tied to a circus wagon and forced to walk miles. The same
spies had reported no sign of the Princess.
The King debated the news with his chief advisers long into the night. Could it be Ramil? Lagan
supposed he should be thankful that it sounded as if his son was alive, but how had he been
smuggled across the border and why?
Had he been betrayed by the Blue Crescent people? Had the Princess arranged for him to be