consequences.
Tashi knew she had to do something. "My dear friend," she said with an'
attempt at warmth in her tone as she smiled at the First Wife, "you take the jest too far. Your
Highness, we were merely ..." She struggled for an explanation. "I boasted to my friends that I was scared of nothing, so we made a wager that they could not frighten me. I must admit they
won; I was sincerely terrified when they swooped in on me."
All four wives stared at Tashi with undisguised amazement but Korbin frowned.
"You pass your time in the Enclosure playing games, Taoshira? Have you no respect for this
place?"
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"It seems not, Your Highness. I'm sure you can believe that of me as you know what I'm capable
of. Perhaps it is these ladies who are acting out of character? Maybe if they were given a home
that was less of a prison and a place for their own worship, they would not fall prey to the
temptation to pass their time with such frivolous bets."
"Are you telling me what to do, devotee?" Korbin said with a frigid tone.
"No. I was only reflecting that on my ill-fortuned embassy to Gerfal, the host nation allowed me
the freedom to worship in our way even though it was an abomination to them. I was wondering
why we were less generous and forced strangers into the heart of a temple they despise, with
people they do not trust. It is almost as if we are driving them to cause trouble."
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Tashi turned her back on them all. "If you do not mind, I'm tired and wish to sleep."
Bending gracefully, she scooped the knife from under her mattress and passed it to the First
Wife.
This gesture revealed what everyone suspected: that she had lied about the reason the wives
had come to her and had done so to protect them from punishment. But there was nothing
more to be said if she did not change her story now. The four exiles retreated under guard.
Korbin lingered for a moment, fingering the door handle.
"Why?" she asked simply. "Why lie for them?"
"You never understood me, Korbin," Tashi said. "Think what you like, but having just escaped one war, I do not want to provoke another."
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The next week, a villa was found for the wives, complete with a place for a temple where
worshippers of Holin could gather as long as no human sacrifices were made. Peace returned to
the Goddess's Enclosure.
Two months after the incident in Tashi's room, the new ruler of Holt sent word to the Blue
Crescent court that he was coming to conclude negotiations on a marriage alliance with the
Fourth Crown Princess. He apologized for being unable to come any earlier as he had a kingdom
to subdue after the tumultuous fall of Fergox. He wanted to be confident that it would remain
peaceful in his absence while he left it in the hands of his
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viceroy, Zaradan of the Horse Followers, for a few weeks. He signed himself Ramil ac Burinholt.
The Crown Princesses, including the newly elected Fourth Crown Princess who had replaced
Tashi, met in closed session. The first decision they took was to agree to see the young man on
the terms he himself had proposed.
"Though the Fourth Crown Princess is too young to marry, we can agree to the betrothal," said Marisa, nodding to the shy twelve-year-old of impeccable matriarchal lineage from Kai. "She can
marry him in a few years."
"I do not think that is what the Prince has in mind," warned Safilen. "He thinks he is marrying Taoshira."
Korbin stroked her blue robes as if to soothe herself. They all knew they were taking a risk
allowing him to set foot on Rama, but for peace with Holt this was a price worth paying.
"The Prince is a ruler. He wants a political alliance with us to consolidate his fragile hold on the 392
crumbling Empire. He will compromise," she declared.
"He will want to repay the favor we did him by taking the exiles off his hands."
"You underestimate the strength of his bond with Taoshira," Safilen objected, her patience with her censorious sister worn to the bone.
"But she is beyond his reach, dedicated to the Goddess," Marisa pointed out.
"The priests are very pleased with her devotion and say she is much quieter since the Holtish
exiles left. I think we can safely say
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that the episode in her life with the Gerfalian prince is closed."
"With love, nothing is safe," muttered Safilen, wondering if Marisa had ever really loved anyone in her long life of selfless service to the nation. If she had, she would not be so complacent. "But let us see him and find out which of us is right."
Ramil found the journey in the royal barge a torture. He wanted to run along the banks, vaulting
the fences until he burst in upon Tashi and swept her up in his arms.
But I'm in her territory now, he reminded himself. / mustn't upset my hosts.
Instead he behaved himself, sitting in the chair provided for him, waving to the crowds on the
bank who had gathered to see the Dark Prince, killer of Fergox, new ruler of the Holtish Empire.
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The Etiquette Mistress, whom he remembered from Gerfal, met him at the door. Ramil greeted
her like an old friend, completely forgetting she disliked him.
"This way, Prince," the woman said with a low bow. "The Princesses are waiting in the Hall of the Floating Lily."
Ramil followed her down the corridor, barely taking in the beauty of his surroundings with its
delicate tracery, silk hangings, and hidden gardens. He entered the hushed chamber, seeing the
four Princesses ahead of him, seated on their thrones, resplendent in robes of
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blue, green, white, and orange. All had the same white faces and veiled hair he remembered
Tashi wearing. He was a little surprised that the smallest of the four, on the Throne of Nature,
had not turned to show him some sign of recognition, but then maybe Tashi was also trying to
behave. The thought made him smile.
Ramil reached the edge of the circle of thrones and swept a low bow, feeling his moment of
triumph had arrived.
"I come, Your Highnesses, to claim the hand of the Fourth Crown Princess."
He turned to Tashi, expecting to see an answering glitter of joy in her eyes, and found himself
staring at a stranger. "But where is the Fourth Crown Princess?" he asked, suddenly realizing that something was very wrong.
"This is the Fourth Crown Princess," Korbin said steadily.
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"Then what has happened to Tashi--to Princess Taoshira?" He could feel his heart pounding.
"Taoshira was obliged to join the devotees of the Goddess in the Silent Court," replied Marisa.
"She is no longer a crown princess."
Ramil's brain struggled to catch up with this news.
"Her election was discovered to have been flawed and her behavior unworthy of her office,"
added Korbin.
Ramil took a step towards her. "Are you telling me that you threw her out?
After all she did for you and for my people?" His rage hummed in his ears, his diplomatic skills
deserting him. "She was beaten and
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tortured by Fergox's priests for defending your Goddess, all the while behaving with dignity and
courage, and yet you say she is not worthy!"
"She denied her faith," Korbin said firmly.
"She had a moment of doubt. Do you have hearts beating under those robes of yours? I would
like to have seen any one of you do better in her shoes--