Kros Voyeh Ch. 03

Lislora lifted her hand placatingly, "There is some money in the household budget that can be used to hire extra help for the day. The Duchess," she spoke the title pointedly, "is from a very noble and wealthy Aran family. The celebrations she is accustomed to are more decadent than a Torgan would put on. If we weren't having royal guests I would encourage her to restrain herself."

At the mention of the royal guests, the cook seemed to grudgingly resign herself to the tasks Isonei was heaping on them.

"And please make sure they keep my food separate. I can't eat anything that's touched the swine." Isonei frowned looking at Lislora intently.

"I will tell them." Turning back to the cook she offered a small grimace of commiseration, "The Duchess wants me to remind you that her food must be kept separate from the rest, she won't eat anything that's touched swine."

"That will add even more work to our load, Lady Lislora. We only have so much room and so many pans in the kitchens."

Glancing at the Aran woman, she relented to lighten the load on the already overwhelmed servants, "If she doesn't know, it won't harm her. Make certain none of the swine is actually served to her."

"Thank you, Lady. The fat will only improve the flavor of her food."

"If she enjoys it perhaps she'll understand that she's afraid of it for no good reason."

The cook flashed a smile and then turned to begin giving orders.

"Come, Isonei, we still need to have the tapestries hung and the best dishes brought out."

"They like you." Isonei smiled at her warmly, "The servants all seem terrified of me, the maids don't even look up."

"They're not meant to. Servants do their tasks and keep out of sight." Lislora smiled faintly at the woman's expression that managed to be both meekly accepting and annoyed.

"Have you sent for the musicians?"

Lislora blinked, "Musicians?"

"I know there won't be anything like the Jara being danced but-"

"No, we don't need musicians, Isonei. It isn't appropriate. This is a Torgan celebration even if we're serving an Aran meal."

"But," the Aran woman's brow furrowed, "if there's no dancing how will the guests be entertained?"

"We'll have singers and the traditional storytellers."

"Perhaps some musicians could be found just in case-"

"They aren't needed, Isonei. You'll see."

"I know we're having the desserts served at the table in the Torgan fashion, but I had wanted the entertainments laid out the way they would be in Ara. Open rooms for the guests to go in and out of make things much nicer."

"They will be expecting to stay in the dining room but... there is a joined sitting room and the grand hall that they both open onto is wide, would that be enough?"

"Could you show me?"

As she took Isonei to the sitting rooms Lislora beckoned to the senior maids who were waiting to be given their orders.

"We'll need the wedding tapestries hung and the best dishes brought out. Duchess Isonei wants to have the entertainments done in the Aran manner. The sitting rooms may need to be rearranged."

Letting Isonei in to look around the Aran woman seemed surprisingly serious. "Some of the furniture will need to be removed and some more sofas and chairs may need to be brought. It should be arranged so that the guests can seat themselves comfortably and enjoy the entertainment but still be able to leave without disturbing anyone. They'll be circulating through the rooms. I want the doors here to be completely open.

"Hmm... I suppose if we put the Torgan storyteller in one room and the singers in the other..."

"You want them performing at the same time?" Lislora nearly gaped at the woman.

"They would be in Ara, but these rooms are too close together. When one stops the other should begin immediately. In my father's house, we would have a room larger than the hall for dancing, one for the desserts if my mother didn't want them outside in the garden, and in each of the entertainment rooms, we would have singers, jesters, and poetry being read. The guests circulate through the rooms and gardens as they please.

"Speaking of guests, baths need to be drawn for Prince Ougath and Prince Adareth when they arrive. I would be happier if I had bath oils to offer but the best soaps we have will have to do."

Relaying the Duchess' orders Lislora could tell the maids weren't pleased with the amount of extra work. Traditionally the guests stayed in the dining room and the entertainment came to them. There were other tasks that needed to be done and adding these on top of them was almost too much.

As Isonei wandered into the other sitting room, a thought occurred to her, "Send Master Krouth to me for a moment? I think I can make these tasks a little lighter."

The maids curtsied gratefully and hurried out. The sour servant seemed a bit put upon, himself, when he entered but Lislora gave him the tasks anyway. "The Duchess wants these rooms opened and rearranged for her guests to use. Are there any of the stablemen or the guards who could move furniture? She seems to have a very particular way she wants things."

"I will find some, my Lady."

"She also wanted to speak to the entertainers to have things arranged exactly as she wants them and we may need more chairs or sofas."

"I will have the entertainers you require brought immediately and have the most senior maid supervise the furniture rearranging. She would know where we can best draw furnishings from and put any that need to be stored for the evening."

Isonei did seem to know exactly how she wanted the rooms and once the labor of moving things had been done, the rooms somehow felt open while brimming with seating. By custom, several entertainers were ushered in hopeful to be chosen, the Aran seemed delighted by all of them and insisted on having them all perform. They would take turns all evening, there would be no break in the entertainment, one room and then the other to keep things from being chaotic.

Lislora rubbed the bridge of her nose, the performers were probably the only ones in the Keep who were happy with the Duchess at the moment. Draeseth would be horrified once he realized how much this one evening of celebration would cost. It was a relief to send the woman to her rooms to prepare for the dinner. All she could think of was how wealthy the woman's family must be to plan an event like this without a moment's worry or asking to consult a ledger. It made Lislora feel a little queasy.

She had barely reached her room when Krouth came down the hall toward her. "I need to speak with you, Lady Lislora."

"Is something wrong? Isonei has them doing far too much-"

"No. Things are going surprisingly smoothly with the amount of help that has been brought. Her Grace is accustomed to having well-filled coffers to draw from." He frowned slightly, "His Highness is not pleased that I informed you of his wife's... unwillingness."

Wincing, Lislora leaned slightly against the doorframe, "It slipped out. He was encouraging her to believe I was simply jealous."

"I am to spend my time waiting on her Grace and not consulting with you about matters beyond my concern." Krouth's expression was one of icy displeasure but he schooled it to his usual sour apathy, "I had wished to ask what you meant when you said she was to be a Queen. She is of a waxing House, the Aran upper nobility..."

"Prince Andnaeuth wants to have an Arrangement with her. He was willing to share her with Prince Draeseth but my cousin confessed to stealing her away. She seemed sad when she spoke of it but... she also seemed very affectionate with my cousin."

"I believe she loves Prince Draeseth despite knowing they are ill-suited. If I have the opportunity I will inquire why she would choose to become a Duchess instead of a Queen." The man's gaze seemed to turn inward. "I will allow you to ready yourself for the celebration."

Inside her room, someone had filled a small basin for her to refresh and clean herself before the celebration and her best dress was already waiting. Lislora brought out her jewelry and washed before dressing and putting her hair up again. Widow's braids were surprisingly easy and she used the most graceful style she knew how to create, pinning the nearly black braids into place. Donning her jewelry and looking at herself in the small mirror she felt elegant and dignified, ready to face the prying that always seemed to occur at such gatherings with decorum.

One her way to join the gathering guests, a maid rushed up to her in a breathless panic.

"Lady! Lady Lislora!"

"What's wrong? Has something happened?"

"The stairs were left unlocked because-because people have been going up and down all day and a-a jester made his way in! He says he wants to perform and that the Duchess would be pleased with his presence."

Lislora frowned vaguely recalling that her cousin had said something about her being fond of jesters, but also feeling certain that he loathed them. "Consult Master Krouth about including him, he should use his best judgment."

The maid dropped into a low curtsy.

"Do not mention that the door was left unlocked. Say he was allowed in because the Duchess was eager to have a great deal of entertainment and send someone to be certain it's locked now."

"Yes, my Lady," the maid sounded relieved bobbing another curtsy and rushing away.

As Lislora approached, the crowd was already facing the grand stair and Krouth was announcing Draeseth's titles.

"-his Highness the Black Prince of Torga, Duke of Kroscur, Victor of the Melee, Shatterer of Shields and Letter of Blood-"

She winced as the Phaethian titles were called out with his more prestigious Torgan titles.

"-presents his wife the Duchess of Kroscur, the Jewel of House Ernelis, and liberated Daughter of Liadith."

Isonei seemed to argue nervously when the last title was spoken. Having it known that she was associated with demons would have given anyone pause. Lislora tried to hide her frown, her cousin should have refrained from offering that title.

They stopped shortly before reaching the bottom and Draeseth addressed the gathered nobles proudly with Isonei gazing up at him with her usual sweet-natured but baffled expression. "I thank you all for accepting my hospitality tonight. An Aran feast has been prepared in honor of my wife, and it is my privilege to ask you all to welcome a woman, whose ways may be peculiar to us, but whose gentleness and kindness fill my heart with joy as a cup running over. Will you give her that welcome?"

As one the men gave the traditional answer, "We will."

As the Princes greeted their brother and his wife, one of the Ladies turned and noticed Lislora, greeting her with a smile. "I expected you to be here! I remember how close your cousin was to you, Lady Lislora."

"It's always a pleasure, Lady Wemla. Prince Draeseth asked me to stay with them for a short time to help her adjust. The Duchess is a bit peculiar, but I've never met a more sweet-natured woman."

"I don't think I've ever seen the bastard Prince look so happy. He's usually almost terrifying even at parties." Her husband, Lord Undreth, turned to quietly add his own opinion. "Does the Duchess speak Torgan at all?"

"No, not yet, my cousin-"

"Wants to keep her to himself for a while longer," Undreth snorted and shook his head. "I can't blame him, a woman that lovely I'd want her conversation all to myself as well." He glanced at Lislora curiously, "Are Arans as charming as the stories say?"

"She is, it's part of why he won't allow her to learn Torgan yet." Lislora's lips twisted as the crowd began to move forward to greet the Prince and his Duchess.

As the gathering moved into the dining room, Lislora became very aware of attention being focused on her. "You've spent a great deal of time with the new Duchess, Lady Lislora?"

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Lislora glanced to the smiling Aran woman on the dais with the Princes, she'd been trying to paint Isonei in the best light possible but she knew all too well that the gossips could twist anything she said. The labor and expense of the meal were clear to everyone and it made the woman seem like a spendthrift. The boar being served didn't help in the slightest, this was a meal fit for a King's table.

"How wealthy did you say her family was?" Wemla smiled cheerfully.

"I didn't. But as I explained, she is from the upper nobility in Ara and-"

"Holds a title of import in Leria, as well, I was given to understand." Lord Gudrum joined the conversation with a smile.

"Yes, but-" Lislora wasn't able to get out another word as another course of exquisitely prepared boar was laid in front of each guest.

"I doubt the Duchess has ever had to worry about the numbers in a ledger." Lord Undreth spoke from the other side of Lady Wemla and was seconded by a nod from Lord Gudrum who had a mouthful of food.

The loud laughter from the high table quieted the conversation and caused all heads to turn in time to see the Duchess with her arms around Prince Draeseth's neck in an impulsive embrace. The kiss they exchanged nearly caused Lord Gudrum to choke on his food, but the no one on the dais seemed to notice as Isonei set them laughing.

It was almost a reprieve that the guests stopped peppering her with questions about the Duchess. Watching Isonei charm the Princes, however, as if there were no others in the room was almost indecent. The conversation grew quiet as eyes were riveted to the sight of her speaking to Princes of Torga as if she were their equal.

Their conversation was indistinct but it almost seemed as if she were flirting with all three of them. When Draeseth seemed to sour a murmur went through the guests that she must be. And yet by the end of dessert, the dour Prince had leaned to press his face to hers and looked as if he wanted to have her on the table in front of the guests.

"She knows how to play to his jealousy," Wemla breathed and seemed to shudder.

"Or she has to soothe it after trying to get his brothers' attention. They both look at her as if she's a fine prize," Undreth spoke as softly.

"The wealth and family she's from," Lord Gundrum inclined his head, "She won't be the Duchess of Kroscur for long; she'll be married to one of the greater Princes before the year is out, mark my words. That woman has ambitions and the skills to see them realized."

Draeseth had stood and offered his arm to his wife while they were speaking. Loudly he announced, "I would have you all join us for entertainments in the Aran fashion. Please accompany us to the rooms that have been prepared, my cousin, Lady Lislora, can help you find your way."

"Entertainments in the Aran fashion?" Lady Wemla looked pleasantly surprised, "Will there be dancing?"

"No." Lislora smiled and graciously gestured for the guests to come with her, "In Ara, the guests circulate through rooms that are laid out with different entertainments, singers, poetry readings, jesters..." Leading them into the rooms she was gratified to hear the exclamations of pleased surprise, "Apparently, if you tire of one entertainment you go to the next in Ara. You'll find the entertainments ongoing and the hall can be used for conversation."

"Not dancing?" Lord Undreth gave her a sly look.

"I very firmly told her there would be no dancing."

"I'd give half my land and my best horse to see the Black Bastard dancing." One of the Lords milling past muttered to the amusement of the other guests.

"Don't say that too loudly. I'd never have thought the man would be laughing much less being publicly indecent with his wife. You could find yourself with less land and short a fine horse." Someone else piped up causing more tittering.

Lislora tried to keep a smile on her face and began to circulate with the guests. The Duchess was the topic of most of the conversations, her cousin was the topic of nearly all of the rest until a jester seemed to materialize in the hall. A grumbling began as one of the men relayed that the jester had been an addition insisted on by the Duchess.

The man was nearly as slender as Krouth, and probably either a freed, castrated slave or one of the half Lerian men from the Dalcur. His coloring didn't seem quite right when Lislora risked a glance at him from the doorway. He was probably from the Dalcur. Draeseth was watching the man intently and speaking to Isonei somewhat apart from the guests.

"My brother has never held a party this decadent before." Prince Ougath spoke quietly standing very close.

"Your Highness!" Trying to take a step back to drop into a curtsy Lislora bumped into the wall.

The amused looking Prince stepped back slightly. "He said you were instrumental in organizing it."

"The Duchess planned most of it, I simply helped her convey her wishes to the servants and offered a few suggestions."

"The frugal bastard married a woman with expensive tastes." Ougath smiled at his own jest and glanced around the sitting room. "She's good for him, though. I've rarely seen him be so pleasant. He's almost like Rogath tonight."

"She seems to make him very happy." Lislora inclined her head.

"How many unmarried women did you invite to this?"

"I believe Lord Boran brought his daughters, Lady Bera, and Lady Brenna."

Ougath gave her an amused look, "Only two?"

"Most of the nearby Lords and Ladies are married. I would have needed more time..."

"Burgath said that Draeseth would break and give her the Arrangement if the priests kept her out of his bed for too long. He's the only one of us who would need to be pressed into a marriage that allows for mistresses. I shouldn't be surprised that it happened suddenly." He glanced around the room again with a slight frown. "Usually unmarried Ladies present themselves for conversation and consideration."

"In the Kroscur, they stay with their father. It's more proper."

He looked at her with annoyed incredulity, "How am I supposed to cheer Adareth without Ladies to coddle him?"

Lislora blinked at him in bafflement. "Is something wrong?"

"He expected our brother's silver jewel to take one look at him and start fawning like the Ladies in the Thoncur do. She's treated him like a brother while gazing adoringly at the Beast of Kroscur; his pride is wounded." Ougath's lips twisted wryly, "If any of her five sisters are half as charming we may have to find a way to smuggle them through Phaethia."

"Forgive the intrusion, your Highness." Lady Wemla curtsied and her husband, Lord Undreth, bowed. "Did I overhear you saying Duchess Isonei has five sisters?"

"You did. Aran families are larger and a great deal more complicated than Torgan families. She has three mothers, six brothers, and five sisters." He smirked at the way the Lady paled and tried to hide her scandalized expression. "Arans can't grasp the concept of bastards. To Duchess Isonei a Black Prince is a Prince the same as any other."

"Has anyone attempted to..." Lord Undreth trailed off, clearly thinking better of finishing his sentence as Ougath gave him a cool look.

"It was explained to me," Lislora intervened carefully, "Arans make love matches almost exclusively."

"That was what I understood as well," Ougath gave her a faint smile, "and it seems to be true. My-"

The sound of glass breaking ended the conversation.

"Is the Duchess ill?" The male voice sounded deeply concerned.

Lislora peered around the doorframe and caught a glimpse of the woman looking so pale as to seem bloodless before Draeseth stepped in front of her shaking her for a moment and cupping her face, trying to make her look up at him.