Melletin nodded. "I told them you would separate them from their manly pride if they squeaked
so much as a word."
Nerul grinned. "That's the least I would do to them. And I trust everyone in this room knows
how to keep a secret?"
Melletin and Norling murmured their assent.
"But won't they realize?" Tashi asked. "I don't exactly blend in." She gestured to her hair. No one in the East had such fair hair; the lightest color being a mousy brown.
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"I'm afraid it will necessitate a disguise on your part, Princess. If you would consent to wear the clothes of one of our ladies, you could dye your hair.
Professor, do you have something the lady could use?"
"Yes, yes, that's very simple. What color do you fancy?" Norling rifled through his bag.
"I suggest red," said Merl with a lingering look at Tashi. "Then we can say she is a distant cousin who has returned from her education abroad. This will both
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explain the accent and account for her escaping Fergox's purge."
"Then red it is. It will wash out, of course. I brewed it myself for our spies."
Norling placed on the table a vial of dark liquid.
Merl snatched it up before Tashi could take it.
"As we cannot risk allowing a maid to see you as you are, perhaps you would allow me to assist
you, Princess? We have a wash tent through here."
"I ... er ... I ... " Tashi tried to think of a polite way of refusing.
"It is no trouble and I'm sure you understand the necessity of not being seen about camp as you
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are," Merl continued smoothly.
Ramil fumed as he watched Tashi being led further into the family rooms of the tent. Nerul
gazed after the pair, his expression thoughtful.
"It seems my brother has taken a shine to our guest," he said, stretching his muscular arms
above his head and yawning.
"The Princess Taoshira is . . . was my betrothed," Ramil said hotly.
Nerul gave him a sharp look. "Is or was?"
Ramil rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. He no longer knew. "Our marriage plans were
interrupted by our unexpected jaunt to Brigard."
"Oh? My sources tell me that she had called the alliance off just prior to her disappearance,"
Nerul said lightly. "It seems to me that the young lady is free to choose her own partner now."
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Chapter 11
Merl ordered his servant to bring hot water and leave it outside the wash tent. Draping a towel
over Tashi's shoulders, he poured a warm jugful over her hair, whisking it expertly from her neck
and letting it drip into the basin.
She wondered where he had learned the skill of washing a woman's hair but did not dare ask.
Neither of them spoke as he massaged in some perfumed soap, his fingers lingering as they
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brushed the nape of her neck. Tashi felt goosebumps all down her spine and prayed that he
would not notice her response to his touch. Rinsing the suds from her hair, he then applied the
dye. The water turned orange-red in the bowl.
"The professor is an expert in dreaming up these disguises. A very useful ally," Merl said,
breaking the silence as he wrapped a towel around her damp hair. "I'm in charge of our spy
network in Mollinder and, thanks to the professor, we are able to give our agents a new
appearance when needed.
He even has a dye for skin to make you as dark as your friend, Prince Ramii, 193
though I would hate to see that on you. Your skin is beautiful--the color of milk."
Tashi knew that her cheeks were definitely not the color of milk--more the color of raspberries.
No man spoke to a woman like this in the Islands.
Courting was done by the exchange of poetry and hints. Merl was about as subtle as a brass
band.
"Too much flattery, sir," she replied, shifting to finger-dry her hair in front of the stove.
Merl took a comb and began to untangle her locks. "You cannot have too much flattery, Your
Highness. I speak only the truth. I fear you have been neglected if you think my praise excessive.
A beautiful woman should hear such words from all her admirers. There!" He stepped back.
"Now all you need are some clothes. I have sent for some to be laid out for you in my chamber.
Allow me to show you where that is."
He offered his arm and led her to his room. On the bed was a long green gown, scoop-necked in
Eastern fashion.
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"I'll leave you to change," he said, kissing her fingers.
Tashi slipped out of her shirt and pulled the gown over her head. It fell in a full skirt from her
hips and was cinched by a belt embroidered with white lilies. She guessed it must have once
belonged to one of the ladies of the ac Mollinder family. Pacing to the mirror, she presented
herself for inspection, amazed and confused by the transformation. She was used to seeing
herself in the many layers of the Blue Crescent robes; now she stood in a gown that clung to
every curve of her body. Her
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neck felt exposed. She knew from Fergox's court that this was normal for a lady in these lands,
but it made her self-conscious. And her hair: it now rippled over her shoulders, shining with a
copper flame.
Merl coughed outside the door. "May I enter?"
"Yes, I'm ready," Tashi replied, though she felt far from prepared to meet anyone just yet.
Merl stood in the doorway and paused dramatically, holding out his hands.
"You are a vision of loveliness, Princess. You were beautiful in your rags; you are radiant in your riches. My little cousin indeed."
"I'm not sure," Tashi said, putting her hands to her cheeks. "It's not how an Islander would dress."
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"Exactly. You're an honorary Brigardian now. Trust me, you will do very well."
He escorted her back to where the others were waiting.
"May I present her ladyship, the copper lily of the ac Mollinder family."
The men rose on her entrance, Ramil wide-eyed, Gordoc beaming proudly, but Nerul looked sad.
"It was my mother's dress," he said softly, leading her to a cushion beside him. "But I think she would be pleased to see you wearing it, cousin, as it becomes you so well."
Ramil was not pleased when Merl made the suggestion that the Princess, as suited her role as
family member, be provided with quarters in the commander's tent.
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"Surely you see, Prince, that it will be easier to hide your presence among us if we separate
you?" Merl said smoothly. "We can say you are a mercenary soldier come from the southern
desert. Our giant here is Brigardian so no one will wonder that he joined us."
As much as Ramil hated the idea of leaving Tashi to be sweet-talked by a man he had decided
was an unbearable flirt, he could think of no sensible protest to raise against what was a sound
plan.
"Will you be all right, Tashi?" Ramil asked, which was his way of enquiring if she minded being abandoned to Merl's assiduous attentions.
"I'll manage," she replied, amused by Ramil's sullen expression. She knew that Ramil had never 202
desired her as a woman--he'd been quick enough to make his distaste plain back in Gerfal--so
she thought he was being merely protective of her. That he might be jealous did not cross her
mind.
"You clearly have ways of getting news from Gerfal, Your Grace," Tashi said, turning to her host.