Dragonfly

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--

oh, but I forget, she wasn't allowed any! She stood barefoot in front of the Inkar of Kandar as

that woman tried to kill her and Tashi still refused to fight for Holin--that was the strength of her

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faith!"

Silence fell in the chamber as Ramil struggled to control himself.

"Where is she?" he hissed.

"You ca

"I'm seeing her if it's the last thing I do. Send your guards to cut me down if you wish, but I didn't come all this way for nothing." Ramil moved towards the door.

"What you propose is sacrilege!" Marisa objected. "We refuse to allow any more invasions of the Enclosure."

"Then bring her here to me. One way or another, I'm seeing her." Ramil clenched his hand on his sword hilt and stared down the eldest Princess.

"I say we should let him see her," Safilen said gently. "Let the Goddess punish him if it is wrong to do

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so. Far better that than to start a war with a man who killed Fergox Spearthrower."

Reluctantly, the First Princess nodded and summoned a priest. "Bring the Devotee Taoshira here

at once," she ordered.

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Ramil paced between the thrones of Nature and Justice, making both occupants very nervous.

The newest Princess could not hide her fear as the man they said was to be her husband fumed

beside her. Then a door

opened at the far end of the chamber and a little procession of priestesses entered, a fair-haired

girl in their midst. Ramil held his breath: it was her. He could hardly believe it.

The devotee looked up and saw him standing in the middle of the chamber.

"Ram!" Tashi cried. Breaking with all conventions, she pushed through the priestesses and

sprinted the length of the hall. Reaching him she wrapped her arms around his waist, burying

her face in his neck. He hugged her tight, stroking her hair and kissing it.

"Excuse me, ladies, your devotee and I have some catching up to do," Ramil a

quiet garden and ducked into an arbor, hidden away from anyone pursuing them. He lowered

Tashi onto the bench and sat opposite her, just staring. He reached out and brushed her cheek.

"I thought you were dead," he said.

"I have been," she replied, marvelling to see how well

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he looked. "Slavery becomes you."

He laughed. "Actually I'm not a slave. I've come to offer you Holt as a wedding present. They've

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made me their king and the position is vacant for a queen. So, what do you think?"

Tashi shook her head in amazement. "Is this one of your jokes, Ram?"

"No, my love, I'm deadly serious." He looked at her more closely and saw that she was wearing one of his shirts and robes of the Horse Followers. "I can see that you have as many tales to tell as I do, but mercifully we have the rest of our lives to hear them. Just say that you'll be mine--