Kros Voyeh Ch. 08

Soothingly, Lislora translated, "It's alright, Hodrim. She won't allow him to harm you."

Her cousin spun on his heel, "I would not harm a child or my wife!"

"Then act like it! You ripped her out of bed while she was still asleep!"

He turned back to the boy still being embraced. "Leave us, I would never harm her."

"You threw her to the floor! She didn't deserve that. She's in my care and I won't abandon her."

Draeseth drew a breath and then spoke to Isonei, "You were placed in his care?"

Lislora had expected him to apologize.

The Aran apparently didn't, answering his question without demanding it. "Yes. Sellac Gesosin charged him with teaching me Torgan and seeing me to prayers."

"She had no right. I will speak with you privately, wife."

"You should all go back to your rooms. I will deal with this matter." The Sellac's displeased tone sent all of the children scurrying except for Hodrim. "Your Highness was not granted permission to enter this house. And to drag the Duchess out of her room in only her chemise is unconscionable!"

"I have the right to fetch my wife. She does not have my permission to be here."

"She is barely your wife, the Aran agreement-"

"Was recognized as binding! I have been permitted by the priesthood to bed her and live with her as my wife. It is my right as a husband to fetch her and as a Prince of Torga to enter any house I wish.

"You had no right to give my wife's care over to some doorstep foundling. I choose how much Torgan she is to learn and she prays next to me. No one else."

Hodrim glanced at Lislora, who shook her head and gave her cousin's back a furious look.

"This child has a much firmer grasp of prayer and of Ganas' will than you do, your Highness. While do not believe you could do a better job of reclaiming her than he can I cannot argue your rights. I argue the way you have chosen to exercise them." The Sellac looked as though she'd tasted something bitter. "Young Hodrim, you should return to your room while we have this discussion."

He began to disentangle himself obediently as Isonei pressed tearful kisses to his head. In comparison to the almost distraught Aran, the boy looked calm. Hodrim gestured wordlessly for Isonei to kneel, and to Lislora's surprise, the woman did so without hesitation.

She received a kiss on her forehead and a gesture like the benediction that Lislora knew she found sweet and charming. The Aran smiled one of her heart-wrenchingly sad smiles up at him.

As the boy started past Sellac Gesosin, the older woman reached out to place her hand on his head, "That was well done."

"I will take my wife and depart, so that you may return to your rest," Draeseth sounded calmer though he still looked tense from behind.

Isonei rose uncertainly from the floor and stood, waiting. She looked to Lislora and came when she was beckoned, but Draeseth caught her arm and held her in place as the Sellac spoke.

"It's late. Allow the Duchess to rest and rise with us for prayers. After breakfast tomorrow she'll be brought out to you, your Highness. The quarters-"

"I will leave with my wife, now."

"The quarters we keep for visiting noblemen and priests will be made available to you."

"We will not stay and trouble you further."

Lislora could hear the scowl on his face and the Aran woman looked resigned as if she'd understood.

"Very well. I cannot prevent you. Lady Lislora will remain by the Duchess' side as she dresses to ensure proprieties are kept to. I would suggest you speak to the poor woman. She wished to remain."

Draeseth didn't look pleased as he guided the Aran back to the bedroom. Inside of it, he leaned with his back against the door as if someone might try to force it open.

Lislora made a gesture encouraging him to speak as Isonei found her clothes.

"We are to talk as you dress, wife. Lislora will be our chaperone."

"What is there to talk about?" The Aran's voice was quiet and her movements were slow as they had been when Lislora had woken her and escorted her to see Draeseth after the incident in Evenos.

His eyes narrowed and his mouth set in an angry scowl. "Do you expect me to believe that you did not attempt to flee me? That you do not intend to escape to your Daga?"

That made Lislora look from him to the Aran in surprise.

Isonei took a deep breath before answering, "I know I should try. But I don't know how." The woman looked at him tiredly, "I don't know which way to go or how to hide in Torga. There is no point in trying to steal a horse and escape when I don't know where I'm going, when I don't have anyone to help me."

"The one who gave you that note won't help you?"

She studied the Aran as the woman continued dressing.

"The note was in the purse of money tied into my cloak. I don't know who it came from for certain. I have a few guesses but if I were wrong..."

Lislora mouthed, "What note?" at her cousin and was given an annoyed wave of his hand as he asked another question, "Did you speak with Krouth of it?"

"No. Even if he'd given me the note to ease my mind over my family he has no intention of allowing me to go back to Leria or Ara. He views me as family, the same way I view him, and he feels very strongly that I shouldn't be given over to demons, as he calls the Dagas."

Draeseth nodded slowly. "Why did you want to spend the day away from me if not to flee? There was no quarrel."

"There was no quarrel because I didn't feel I could endure one. Instead of refusing to allow you to use my body to give Lislora your desire, I allowed it." The miserable look on the Aran woman's face made Lislora feel wretchedly guilty.

It seemed to have the same effect on Draeseth and he moved away from the door. "Wife... I was confused. You are the one-"

"Stop. Draeseth, I promised myself I wouldn't ever allow that again. There isn't anything-"

"By the seven hells and all the godforsaken demons fucking-"

"Enough! You know better than to speak that way here. She doesn't scold you as she should when you mistreat her or even demand an apology. I don't think the woman has ever been anything but gentle and kind to you, yet you treat her roughly enough to make fleeing seem like a reasonable response, even to you!

"I've spoken with her and begged her forgiveness today for the wrongs I've done her. If you won't do the same, at least show the woman you have some regard for her. Stop forcing her to stay. Give her the choice."

"She'll leave me. I cannot lose her."

"You haven't shown her with tenderness how much you care for her. She's uncertain whether you love her or not. Do you believe forcing her to stay will show her that she's loved? Let her have the choice, cousin. You know I'm right."

He looked as if he'd been struck as he bowed his head. "Yes." Lifting it he looked to the solemnly watching Aran woman. "If you do not wish to be my wife, I will allow you to join the convent here." The words might have been made of broken glass judging from the pain on his face. "But first you must come with me to my father's Court and be my wife for a short while longer."

"To let you save face?" Isonei nodded slowly as she pulled on her overdress and fastened it. "Will you refrain from giving me gifts and put any money you intended to spend toward things for the children?"

Lislora could see she regretted the question before he began to answer.

"If you remain my Duchess, I will let you spend all I have on the people of the Kroscur. I promise you, you..." He trailed off, casting a helpless glance to Lislora.

"You have broken your word to me over and over again. I won't make any more promises to you. I have no way to hold you to anything but our Arrangement, and under it, half of the year is mine. I will be under Halloc Aurim's care."

"And returned to the convent." Draeseth bowed his head, closing his eyes as if he feared the answer of the questions he intended to ask. "If I amend the Arrangement? So that you can hold me to my word? Will you give me my half of the year?"

"Why do you want me?" Isonei met his pained gaze with her own as he lifted his head. "If you thirst for water why would you force yourself to drink wine?"

"I want both. If I must choose I will choose the one who finds kindness easy and who forgives..." He stepped toward her and cupped her face, "I know you will forgive me eventually. Your gentle nature will not allow you to do otherwise. I will amend the Arrangement. You will have whatever you need to help me care for my people. The Duchess of Kroscur will be famed for her kindness as well as her beauty."

The words twisted like a knife in Lislora's belly, but she remembered her words to the sleeping woman earlier in the night. Seeing her uncertainty, Lislora tried to give her a gentle nudge in the right direction.

"Isonei? You can do a great deal more as Duchess than you could do as a postulant. If you have half a year to spend here..."

The nudge seemed to work and Isonei closed her eyes before nodding in Draeseth's hands. Draeseth exhaled in relief and kissed her head, offering a grateful look to his cousin. Lislora only wished the Aran looked less miserable about the decision.

No sooner had she thought that, than Isonei seemed to grow determined. "I want to bring Hodrim to the Keep."

The Torgan Prince looked slightly baffled. "I will give you children, woman."

"I want to bring all of them; I'm trying to be reasonable." Isonei tilted her chin up with a look of defiance on her face. On the tiny woman, defiance almost seemed laughable.

"I will consider it." Draeseth tilted her chin back down. "Perhaps as a reward, if you charm my family and do not let them know I have come so close to driving you away."

Unlike most other things, the Aran didn't seem to want to let this matter drop easily. "You said you wanted a large family, letting me adopt..."

It seemed to amuse Draeseth. "We will amend the Arrangement, for every child you adopt you must give me two. Once it is amended and we come home, I will allow you to bring Hodrim to the Keep. It will amuse my father that you want as large a family as I do." He stroked her face beginning to smile. "Come. You will ride with me; we should be home by dawn."

"We can't sleep here?"

"No. We will sleep at home." He turned to the door but as Isonei met Lislora's eyes it was clear she wasn't pleased with leaving immediately.

Lislora suspected she knew why. "I will look after him, Isonei. 'Dear Hodrim' will be eager to see you again."

"Thank you, Lislora." Isonei darted forward and embraced her before allowing Draeseth to usher her out.

Exhausted, Lislora undressed and climbed back into bed. At least she'd been able to get Isonei out of this place. If Draeseth took her words to heart the woman would be treated better and might even come to see her situation differently. The thought gave her some hope.

°°°°°°°°°°

It felt too early when a Sister came to rouse Lislora for the early prayers. Some of the children seemed overly tired as well, probably from the excitement in the night. Young Hodrim, however, had looked heartbroken when he'd come to fetch the Duchess and discovered she'd been taken back to the Keep in the night.

After the prayers had finished, he approached the Sellac with Lislora and the other two women in coarse grey gowns.

"Sellac Gesosin?" The boy kept his eyes down, knowing he was speaking out of turn.

"Young Hodrim, have you done something you need to repent for?" The older woman gave him a tired look.

He shook his head, "I wanted to ask about-about my duties. When I rose to fetch the Duchess..."

"The Black Prince took her home. You will have to wait to begin until the priests come to make their inquiries. No one here is able to begin your studies properly."

"I..." Lislora began and then thought better of it.

"You? You should be able to read and write Torgan, and you do speak Aran, but how well do you write it?" The Sellac sounded annoyed.

"I read it and write it as well as my cousin, Prince Draeseth. We shared a tutor. My great-uncle insisted his studies not suffer when he visited the Kroscur and my father was able to-"

"Why would you volunteer to teach young Hodrim on top of your punishments and duties?" The woman sounded sceptical.

Lifting her gaze, Lislora answered, "The Duchess made it clear to my cousin that she wishes to adopt Hodrim. As part of my penance in doing kindness for her, I offered to look after him as best I could. He needs to learn to read and write Torgan, and Aran as well, if he wishes to go far in the priesthood. Teaching him Aran will let me keep my word and be a pleasant surprise for her when he goes to live at the Keep."

"You truly think the Black Prince will allow it?" The Sellac frowned slightly.

"I do. He wants her to stay at his Keep, but the Aran Arrangement gives her half of the year away from him. If the child she wants to adopt is-"

Sellac Gesosin sighed. "If he appeases her and brings the boy, she'll stay to be close to the child." She frowned at Hodrim for a moment. "Is she truly as sweet-natured as she seemed?"

"Yes. Duchess Isonei is sweeter than honey and softer than soap. I was surprised at the way she defended young Hodrim."

"Perhaps it would be beneficial to allow him to be sent." The Sellac turned her attention back to the patiently waiting boy. "Lady Lislora will begin teaching you after lunch today. Until then, you still have your customary duties."

"Thank you, Sellac Gesosin." Hodrim offered her a relieved smile before rushing away.

"I expect you to continue being so diligent in your penance, Lady Lislora."

As the Sellac turned to precede them down the hall, one of the other young women gave her a cutting look. In the Sellac's study, the three were told to undress to be taken one at a time into the small room for their punishments.

The thought of waiting naked was intolerable and Lislora kept her chemise on as the other two undressed entirely.

"You cannot pretend modesty when you seduced another woman's husband, Lady Lislora." The Sellac gave her a pointed look. "This is part of your punishment."

She opened her mouth to protest but one of the other women shook her head and made a gesture for her to stop. Blushing furiously, she stripped off her chemise and took her place at the back of the short line where the Sellac pointed.

Some time after the Sellac had taken in the first woman, the second spoke in a hushed tone, "If you had argued that you were the one who had been seduced it would have made your punishment worse. I made that mistake when I first came here."

"Thank you."

They were silent a few moments more.

"I-I'm Lady Lislora."

"I know." She paused, "I was Lady Herleesa but I think now I'm just Herleesa."

Another silence fell and they heard the muffled sound of shrieks.

"Evenyla screams. I think it's why the Sellac makes her go first, to try to build fear that today will be worse." Herleesa turned slightly and glanced back at Lislora, "Whose husband was it?"

"Duchess Isonei's." Lislora winced as a particularly wrenching scream came from the closed door.

"But she was... she didn't seem angry."

"No. I wasn't lying when I said she was sweet and soft. The rare occasions she gets angry it passes in the blink of an eye. She's a very forgiving woman."

"That's why you're trying so hard to do your penance? Because you feel guilty?"

"Yes. I let her husband seduce me even though she treated me as a dear friend." Lislora looked out of the window for a moment. "I think, perhaps, part of me thought it might be a relief for her to be put aside. He makes her miserable because she doesn't quarrel or chide him."

"You wanted the Black Bastard?" Herleesa looked aghast.

"I've known him all my life. He can be a surprisingly good man at times."

Herleesa lifted her hand and listened before snapping to face the front silently. A moment later, the Sellac opened the door and Evenyla limped out, sobbing and shivering. Herleesa went in, leaving Lislora to wait her turn uncomfortably as the other woman dressed.

Evenyla, once dressed, had composed herself somewhat and hissed at Lislora. "I hope you don't expect that hateful pinch-faced hag to be more gentle because you're making a show of contrition."

"I don't. I genuinely feel guilty for going to bed with Duchess Isonei's husband." Turning her head slightly to look at the scowling woman, Lislora continued, "I was welcomed into her home and treated as a friend. Even after I betrayed her trust, she forgave me the moment I asked for it. She didn't make me sleep on the floor or strike me, the Duchess embraced me and attempted to console me."

The younger woman bitterly looked down at her hands. "From the way Brenula spoke, I expected her to be a demon behind closed doors."

"The Aran Prince might have been, but Duchess Isonei is almost sickeningly sweet." Pausing to glance at the still closed door, Lislora spoke conspiratorially, "She was the Aran Prince's intended. Prince Draeseth stole her away from him. He was very proud of that fact."

"No!" Evenyla's face had brightened and she looked to the door herself before giving Lislora a sign to be silent.

Facing the door meekly, a few moments later it opened and Herleesa came out moving stiffly, her eyes were dry but her chin trembled. Lislora entered the room and knelt where she was directed.

"You looked as if you wanted to argue about your punishment." The Sellac spoke with her back turned, adding more herbs to the small burner.

"I almost did. I didn't seduce the Duchess' husband but I did allow him to take me to bed."

"How did the Duchess treat you when you spoke with her? Did you beg her forgiveness and confess your misdeeds?"

"She was kind. I confessed everything, even that it had been my fault that she had been poisoned by the swine at her wedding feast. Duchess Isonei forgave me immediately and even embraced me to console me."

"She would make a wonderful Sister, but a poor Sellac. A woman so gentle could never offer appropriate discipline. The suggestions she made, however," Sellac Gesosin turned with a bemused smile on her face, "They keep crossing my mind. I think one so gentle must be touched by Ganas in some way and if her words are his will, a way will present itself."

Helpfully Lislora volunteered, "The village she spoke of is Neregos. If you wished to send to Prince Draeseth for my jewelry to help pay for some of the plans, I haven't yet offered my compensation to you. He also has my small, open carriage. Though," she inclined her head with a frown, "I don't own a horse."

"The Duchess may not have been meant to become a Sister but she was clearly meant to come here." The Sellac looked very pleased. "A messenger will be sent, requesting your things."

For a moment, Lislora thought she might not be subjected to the day's punishment. And then the Sellac reached for the prorteruralst and began to intone the prayers. Each blow felt worse than the one before as the touch of rue was brought down where the welts from the day before had barely faded.

By the time her blows were finished she was wailing in pain and trying to catch her breath. The thought of the cleansing liquid made her want to run from the room, it took all of her will to remain as the Sellac dampened the cloth.

The sudden pounding on the door sounded like a reprieve. Sellac Gesosin stepped away, cloth in hand to discover who was interrupting the purification.