but no one greeted it with joy. Each petal that unfolded was another step nearer to invasion.
King Lagan had done
everything he could think of to prepare. Wardens had formed into bands of fast-moving raiders,
ordered to harass Fergox's army as it marched through the forest, but Lagan knew that the
major battle would happen outside the walls of his city. That was where the war would be
decided.
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Lady Egret, now one of the King's counsellors, approached him on the battlements one sunny
morning as he stared out across the ocean. The twenty Blue Crescent ships were still moored in
the harbor. They had defended Falburg from pirate raids, but Lagan wished heartily that the
alliance had gone ahead as planned.
The King turned on hearing the distinctive tap-tap of her cane. Lady Egret was smiling.
"Good news, my lady?" the king said, guiding her to a seat. "I could do with some."
"Yes, I think it is good," she said, lowering herself carefully onto the bench.
"Duke Nerul reports that Fergox has handed over command of his army to Junis and is returning
with al speed to Tigral."
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This news was so unexpected; Lagan was aware that he was gaping in a most unkingly fashion.
"And this is certain?"
"As certain as my bones ache every morning," she replied with a smile.
"And does the duke say why?"
"There is a full-scale slave revolt in Tigral. Beautifully timed, I may say, thank the Father."
Lagan rubbed his hands. "I could not have ordered it better myself. I don't suppose you can add
icing to this cake of news by giving me word of Ramil?"
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She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. All I know is that he and the Princess headed
south, attempting to reach the sea and sail to the Islands that way. Perhaps you should look to
the ocean for news of him now, not to Brigard."
The King nodded. "Thank you, lady."
"No more proposals of marriage today?" the old woman said with a glint in her eye as she rose.
Lagan put his hand to his chest. "Having heard your warning, I am too afraid of Lord Egret to
dare to importune you."
She chuckled. "Ah, would that I were young again and then maybe I would make my lord
jealous. Sadly, those days are long gone." She bent her head to him and hobbled away, a distinct
spring in her step.
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Zaradan escorted Tashi to the southern shores of the Inland Sea. The way lay through the
pastures of the great herds, jealously guarded by the desert people. Without the Umni as her
guide, Tashi would have been stopped before she had gone very far. As it was, they rode
through the tent villages and were made welcome each evening by a different headman.
"My grandson's betrothed," Zaradan would say with a regal sweep of his hand to Tashi, now well hidden under purple desert robes. This was enough for her to be accepted.
In the hours spent together in the saddle, Tashi grew to admire the old man.
He was no friendly soul like Lagan, ready with a hug and a word of encouragement, but harsh
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and indomitable, rather like his land. Yet he had a kindly streak and a respect that showed in his
dealings with her. He had begun to call her "daughter," as if he considered her already married to Ramil-- a bittersweet title for Tashi, not knowing if she would ever see him again.
At the port of Tarqui, a ramshackle town of white houses and wind-blown palms, Tashi realized
she had reached the point where she would have to leave the stallion behind.
"Umni," she said as they dismounted on the harbor, "please take Thunder for me." She handed him the reins. "Keep him for Ramil."
Zaradan touched his head then his heart. "I promise to deliver him to my grandson."
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Tashi took off her light saddle bag, containing Ramil's shirts and her old clothes ruined in the
river, then said her farewells to the horse.
"If you find Ramil," she told Thunder solemnly, "take care of him for me."
The horse bumped noses with her, then butted her gently away.
Zaradan sent a man ahead to scout the dockside. No Empire ship would be safe for Tashi; it
would have to be a trading vessel from another nation, like the neutral lands to the south or the
Ice Archipelago. Tashi waited patiently, watching the seabirds diving for the scraps thrown to
them by the fishermen gutting their catch. The man returned swiftly.
"Umni, there is a Blue Crescent trader in the harbor!" he declared. "They said they'd take on a passenger."
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Tashi felt her heart leap. Finally, the Goddess was smiling on her.
"Well then, let us negotiate your passage," said Zaradan, offering her his hand. "It will be interesting to have proof of your identity from a countryman."
"Countrywoman, I expect," Tashi corrected him, hurrying towards the square-sailed boat with a feeling of coming home.
The return to her people, however, did not proceed smoothly. Uniloma, salt trader from
Phonilara, refused to believe Tashi's claim that she was the Fourth Crown Princess, even when
she removed her desert veil and showed her blonde hair. Instead, the hard-bitten old
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trader called the Goddess's curses down on the head of the girl who could make such a
sacrilegious assertion.
"I've seen the Fourth Crown Princess," Uniloma declared. "She was on her barge heading off on some grand voyage. Beautiful she was: so poised and calm, face white as it should be, hair
veiled."
"But that was me!" protested Tashi from the dock-side. "I was sitting on the Throne of Nature wearing an orange sash."
"Any fool knows what the Fourth Crown Princess wears. That proves nothing. You don't behave
like an Islander, young miss; you look like one, but you're acting like an Easterner."
Tashi opened her mouth to refute this but then closed it again. It was true: her countrywomen
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would hardly recognize her these days as she had
become so emotional. Her behavior was indecent by Blue Crescent
standards.
Zaradan stepped in. "So you say this girl is an impostor?"
"I can't see how she can be anything else," Uniloma stated resolutely.
"But, by your admission, she is an Islander. Will you carry her to Rama? I will pay you well for
your trouble."
"As long as she does not come up with any more nonsense like this, I'll take her." Uniloma's eye was on the purse at Zaradan's waist.
Zaradan nodded and dropped a bag of coins into the woman's wrinkled palm. Tashi turned
away, humiliated. A cloud covered the sun and the water turned grey.
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Small waves chopped at the jetty. Everything looked bleak and colorless.
She felt a pressure on her arm and found Zaradan at her side. He bent and kissed her on the
brow.
"It took me a while but I believe you, daughter. Captain Uniloma will too when she realizes that
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people, even crown princesses, can change. You've become more yourself, that is all."
"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for having faith in me."
"And you, my daughter, have faith that I will help Ramil. And when I see him, I will tell him
where he can find you."
It was a slight hope he offered but far better than nothing. Tashi nodded and bowed a deep Blue
Crescent bow to a king. She then picked up her bag and boarded the ship. Uniloma was ready to
sail, having loaded her cargo. Tashi kept out of the way as her countrymen cast off and turned