Kros Voyeh Ch. 10

"I will send a message to my father. You should rest. I would have you take my brother's carriage back to the Thoncur tomorrow at a more leisurely pace." He glanced up and beckoned Lislora to enter. "Go to the kitchens and ask for a meal and a room for the night."

The man bowed and left without a word as Lislora approached the desk.

"My father is furious. He commands me to bring you before him tomorrow, preferably before lunch. If I attempt to postpone my return and miss the Aran meal he is preparing for my wife, I will be enjoying his displeasure for months to come."

"Before lunch..." Lislora sank into one of the covered chairs.

"We will be leaving in the night and traveling as quickly as we can. I suspect the Aran meal is a dinner but my father was deliberately unclear." He tossed the letter down. "He sent a letter from my wife as well. I haven't yet opened it."

"I thought she wasn't to be told."

"If my father is displeased enough he may have tried to stir her to anger against me." He picked up a sealed letter and turned it in his hands. "My Isonei's anger fades quickly but she can be hot-tempered."

After a moment, he gritted his teeth and broke the seal, steeling himself to read it. His face began to soften almost at once. "She had Krouth put her words into Torgan so I could not misunderstand. Isonei reminds me that the father's line is the most important and says that a child is a joy. The letter insists I bring you so that we can all discuss the matter together and she would have us both know she isn't angry. She will embrace you as a sister and your child as her own.

"She chides gently that I should have discussed this with her before leaving, she worried that something was wrong. My wife feels that this is something to be celebrated, not fretted over. I am to be very kind to you and see to your comfort as thoughtfully as I see to hers."

He handed her the letter and she stared at it in disbelief. "Please don't let her see the letter I sent."

"If she hasn't yet, I won't. I'll have it destroyed." Draeseth exhaled loudly, "Returning to Court is no longer as daunting a thought. Was the maid successful in gathering the few things she was asked to find?"

"Mostly. Master Gilim has Mezi and some Aran spices, but the tiny onions are hard to come by this time of year."

Leaning on his hands, he grunted, "Have what he found brought and packed onto a carriage. We leave before the early prayers."

"I'll let the maids know and have things arranged." Lislora rose from her chair, giving him the letter back, and bustled out to see things done.

The evening passed in a blur and it felt as if she'd no more closed her eyes than she was being woken again to dress and make her way to the carriage. Once inside it, she sat next to Hodrim, across from her cousin. Keeping her eyes open was too much of an effort and she fell back asleep before they had gone far.

Lislora woke to a tapping against her foot and rubbed her eyes, startling the boy who had been sleeping against her side into wakefulness.

Draeseth was tapping his foot against hers looking amused. "I cannot sleep and the sun is rising, I thought I could wake you without waking the boy."

"I've never slept in a carriage. I'm surprised I could."

The Prince laughed in his throat, "Isonei falls asleep almost as soon as she seats herself. She curls against my side like the boy was curled against yours. I think her father must have taught her that when he traveled with her. It would make travel with a small child easier."

"My mother sang and played games with me when we had to take the carriage." Lislora smiled at him wryly.

"Her mother died when she was very young. Her father took her on business trips to Leria and some places in Ara. He has a temperament, not unlike mine or my father's in some ways. She spoke of being chided often for misbehavior."

"Why didn't he leave her at home with a carer? It would have been easier on them both."

"Spending time with her was the only solace he had for his wife's death. He has two others but he loved Isonei's mother best."

"She said, one for ambition and one for shrewdness."

"Yes. Her eldest brother's mother is sister to the Aran Queen."

Lislora's eyebrows rose. "Why wasn't Isonei at Court?"

"I think she was chided too greatly for her playful nature. She was afraid of making a misstep and upsetting her father. The man has moods like mine. Daga Liadith also suggested her father was too attached and insisted on keeping her close. Sending her to Court would have been sending her away."

"If she learned to coddle and soothe him the way she does you..."

He grunted and inclined his head. "She dotes on my father as she does her own. He has spoken of extending my time at Court just to have her brighten his moods. If she fears upsetting my father as she fears upsetting her own she will stay in his good graces effortlessly."

"I can't imagine her being in anyone's bad graces. Why the Kamrus dislikes her baffles me."

Draeseth made an annoyed sound. "He's angry that I took part in the Aran festival. That my brothers would doesn't surprise him, but he believes some sort of demonic influence must have persuaded me." He gave a dismissive snort, "That I would have my desires stirred by a beautiful Aran woman is beyond his understanding."

Hodrim tugged at her sleeve and whispered in her ear as she bent, "What festival?"

Her cousin's eyes were sparkling and she thought he might have heard the boy's question.

"I'm not familiar with Aran festivals, and it may not be appropriate to discuss with a child." Lislora gave her cousin a pointed look.

The boy frowned and Draeseth waved his hand, "As my wife explained it to me, it's a celebration of the unknown. They believe a goddess dallied with a nameless god and conceived the world. They wear masks and," he paused, "drink and dance with strangers. If they don't part ways at dawn they're married for a year."

"They believe the world, the dirt beneath our feet is the child of a goddess?" His brow furrowed and Lislora tried to gesture for her cousin to stop.

The Prince began to laugh in his throat. "Their religion is much more peculiar than that. They believe the goddess then dallied with that child and then gave birth to the Arans and their gods."

Lislora couldn't hide her horror or curiosity, "What of demons? Did their goddess birth them as well?"

"She didn't say, but the Lerians are deeply amused by the Arans and what they think of demons. Arans believe that if you kiss a demon on the mouth he'll vanish."

"Ganas help them all." She covered her mouth.

"Daga Liadith jested that the Great Gate protects them in the north but the Arans protect their southern border with kisses." He grinned almost indecently.

"Someone should tell them they're wrong." Hodrim frowned and looked at them both earnestly. "The Duchess is too kind to let her believe such things."

Draeseth made a pleased sound in his throat. "The effort is being made to reclaim my gentle wife. Arans are loyal, however. She would be glad to pray to Ganas but the thought of giving up the Aran gods completely galls her."

"Krouth said they were neglectful." Lislora glanced at the pensive-looking boy.

"They seem that way to me as well. They only pray when nothing else can be done, and even then, the prayers are kept vague. She says you must trust the gods to know what would be best for you. Praying for any specific thing baffles her."

"If you're starving you can't pray for food?" She gave him a sour look and he inclined his head.

"From what I understood, you would pray and give an offering, perhaps, to let them know you would like to no longer be starving."

"Arans are ridiculous and their gods are useless."

"You shouldn't say that to her." Draeseth leaned back and smiled, "She gets upset when the priests refer to the Aran gods as false gods."

"Perhaps if you didn't coddle her she might see how ridiculous-"

He cut her off with a loud displeased sound that made Hodrim flinch. "She has been nothing but respectful toward me and my beliefs, she will be shown respect as she is being reclaimed." Draeseth folded his arms and scowled, "And if I coddle her at times, my wife strives to see to my happiness even in her misery, why should I not?"

"Of course, cousin." Lislora stared at her hands waiting for his mood to pass.

"But..." Hodrim tentatively started to speak and she felt her heart sink.

"But?" Her cousin's tone was cool and she knew the child was about to upset him further.

"But you didn't coddle her at the convent." Hodrim sounded concerned and Lislora glanced at her cousin to see him giving the boy a thoughtful look.

"I sometimes lose my temper, even with my gentle wife. Her father has moods as I do, she understands them and is always patient with me. Duchess Isonei is a better woman than I deserve. I try to be good to her."

"She seemed kind." The boy offered small, shy smile, "And her voice sounds as if she's never spoken a sour word."

Draeseth's face softened and he smiled in return, "She can be sharp at times but she's never cruel. Even when I've deserved sharp words she apologizes. I've never met a kinder woman."

Prickles of jealousy made her want to argue but Lislora kept her mouth closed. He wasn't wrong. She tried to ignore the conversation that had sprung up between Draeseth and Hodrim about the Duchess. The child wanted to know how Isonei's father felt about her being in Torga and it seemed her cousin was trying to answer carefully to conceal the extent of her father's displeasure.

At a lull in their conversation, the Prince made an odd sound and suggested a game he'd played with his brothers, Coward. Lislora pulled her attention back in time to see Hodrim give the large man's hands a dubious look.

Draeseth broke into a grin as he raised his hands, palms down. "I'll allow you to be the one to strike first."

"Why don't you play Open and Closed?" Lislora volunteered helpfully, a striking game might end in tears.

The Prince gave her an annoyed look and Hodrim shook his head, "That's too dull. We changed the rules to play Open, Closed, and Point." He made the gestures as he spoke. "Whoever wins Open and Closed gets to point. You have to turn your head as they point and if you turn your head the same way," he made a jabbing motion with his finger, "you lose."

"We can try." Draeseth held out his hand.

"You have to shake it and look the other person in the eye. It's not fair if you see what the other person is doing before you've chosen." Hodrim made a fist and began to shake it, looking the Prince in the eye very seriously.

The large man laughed in his throat and nodded, holding the boy's gaze and shaking his hand as Hodrim was doing. Lislora watched with amusement as Hodrim beat the Prince twice in a row and poking him in the arm, but losing the third round and earning a jab himself. They were preparing for a fourth as the carriage came to a stop.

It was a relief to step out of the carriage for a few short moments to stretch her legs and eat. As she prepared to go back inside, she saw Draeseth help Hodrim up onto the top and say something to Mes.

Once she and her cousin were back in the carriage it began moving again. She couldn't help but ask, "Were you bored playing the game? I thought it was amusing to watch."

"No. It was pleasant, my brothers would have enjoyed it when we were younger." He looked pleased sitting back comfortably. "I wished to speak with you. There may be little time we can spend speaking privately."

"Where..." Lislora swallowed nervously afraid to ask where she might be staying.

"Father would have you put with his women if I asked him to give you a room. I would not subject you to such an indignity. Krouth will have a bed arranged for you, probably in our study. My rooms will be somewhat crowded with so many in them. Hodrim will need to sleep where you do."

"I think that's the first time you've used his name." She gave her cousin a faint smile and he offered an annoyed grunt. "I didn't think your usual rooms had a study."

"They don't. I was given a guest suite. It's somewhat larger than my usual rooms so that my wife can receive visitors and write her letters in comfort." He grimaced slightly, "The woman writes thank you notes for everything. We stayed with Ougath and Lord Vigrim, both, on our journey to Court. She wrote them such gracious letters my brother has asked us to return and Lord Vigrim sent her several bottles of his best wines."

"You took her the long way?"

"I thought it would be easier on her, two days of more leisurely travel or one long demanding day's journey. The trip to Ougath's left her exhausted and on the verge of being ill. We stayed longer than we intended so that she could recover." Draeseth leaned back at an angle stretching his legs to the side. "His healer discovered she was with child. The priests had insisted it couldn't be possible. The man was uncertain how long, but insisted it wasn't longer than a month, perhaps two at the most."

"Your wedding night." Lislora covered her face and her cousin laughed.

"I suspect as much. If he survived his mother being poisoned, my son will survive to be born."

"He may be small." She winced as soon as the words left her mouth.

"If he is, Isonei will have an easier time. I promised to have him dedicated to Ganas, but father may not allow it. Kamrus Gillaugrim said I should keep my word, and if my father overrules me perhaps it was Ganas' will."

"A priest would need to be clever and, if he inherits his mother's kind nature, I have no doubt he would be well-received in the priesthood."

He inclined his head. "The boy will receive a priest's education regardless. I can't imagine a child of hers becoming a fighter."

"I can't imagine a child of hers would need to be one." Lislora gave him a pointed look and he grinned.

"Ours will have to be. His brother will have half of Torga charmed and the other half will probably want his head for catching the eyes of all of their daughters. He can protect his brother."

"Ours may be as handsome." The speculation that Isonei's son would be more beautiful needled her.

"He may, but charm goes further. Adareth is slim and sickly looking, in comparison to the rest of us, but the women of the Court fawn over him." Draeseth attempted a grating falsetto, "He's a poet! Write me a verse, your Highness?"

"Please never make that voice again, cousin. It was disturbing and undignified." She eyed him dubiously. "Does Isonei enjoy that?"

He laughed in his throat. "I wouldn't attempt it in front of her. It might delight her and she would beg me to do it often." Folding his hands over his stomach, he inclined his head, "Father may ask me to wear an Aran doublet to the meal."

"Did you bring one?" Lislora leaned back getting more comfortable, herself.

"No. I left them all in the Kroscur, despite both you and Isonei saying they flatter me."

"It did, but the way it emphasized your shoulders and hips, cousin..." She could feel herself flushing.

The Prince flushed as well, despite his broad grin, "Isonei says the Torgan tunics cover me with too much fabric, she enjoys showing off my form."

"The woman is indecent!"

Draeseth broke into loud laughter. "At times, but it would be a lie to say her constant praise of my beauty isn't pleasing."

"You seem happy."

"I am, for the most part. I would prefer to be at home but Court hasn't seemed as daunting this year."

"How long will we be staying?"

"Isonei and I must stay for the bouts. This year I fight for my wife's amusement and not for Princess Kresh's. I will do what I can to allow you to return to the Kroscur. Enduring father's displeasure will be unpleasant and I would keep you from it if I can."

"I thank you." There was a long moment of silence before she cautiously mentioned, "You didn't let me read his letter."

"It was venomous. He's furious about the letter you sent. His temper will have cooled somewhat but neither of us should expect to be received warmly."

"He's angry with you as well?"

"I didn't show him the letter or allow him to dictate my response. He would have sent someone to investigate the claim and try to prove you had dallied with other men, freeing me from any responsibility. Instead, I chose to come, myself. I asked for a signed letter from Sellac Gesosin saying you were chaste during your stay in the convent and had confessed to no other dalliances. It will make it difficult for my father to claim your child is someone else's."

The knowledge that things could have gone horribly, horribly wrong settled on her chest like a leaden weight. Lislora nodded slowly. "I thank you, cousin."

"Your plight is my doing and this child is mine." Draeseth made a soft sound, "My son will be more fortunate than I was. Isonei will dote on him and you won't be forced to keep yourself out of her sight."

"He won't have to endure your wife being cruel to his mother." She smiled faintly. "It makes me think of this terrible dream I kept having at the convent."

"Terrible dream?"

"The three of us were riding in an open carriage that was being pulled by a bull." Lislora paused as he made an amused sound. "There was no driver and I tried to get you to do take the reins but you were unconcerned and enjoying the ride next to your wife. So I had to climb over you both to get to the driver's seat.

"As I did a child fell out from beneath my skirts." She waved her hand dismissively, "I stopped the carriage, but when I turned around the two of you were doting on a little boy who looked like my father. Isonei was cuddling him as if he were hers and he had her silver hair."

Her cousin's eyes sparkled, "This was a terrible dream? It sounds-"

"He was mine! I had to stop the carriage because you wouldn't and you let her take my little boy!" It came out more plaintively than she'd intended and he grinned.

"Isonei would give him back if it upset you. It does make me wonder if the son she gives me will have her silver hair. My father would insist I try for a daughter as soon as she's able. Silver Maidens of the Kroscur would be a lovely sight."

"You sound as if you wish the wheat had sprouted for your wife." Lislora eyed him with fading annoyance as he shook his head smiling ruefully.

"I want sons and daughters. Once I have my sons the rest could be daughters and I would be content. Perhaps my wife's health will improve now that I know what to feed her. I intend to have a pond dug near the Keep to stock with fish."

"She can't live off of fish." She frowned at the idea of fish being served constantly.

"Xago prepares her food. Chicken and lamb have been served as well. I will bring the man back to the Kroscur if I must, as a cook, at least for a time." He snorted and gave her a sidelong look. "My wife has known that the cook is Xago and said nothing. The maid, Mes, gossips with her."

"She probably thought you'd have him sent away if you knew."

"Krouth has seen and spoken with the man, she should know I know."

"Does she know Krouth gossips with you?" She smiled as he barked a laugh.

"She's never seen me lounging in bed with the man the way she does with her maid."

"No!" Lislora sat up and gave him a horrified look.

He passed his hand over his face and gave her a long-suffering look, "She tries to give the woman her food as well."

"Why?!"

"Krouth says my wife misses her home and the Munians aren't very different. They were both the children of merchants before they were enslaved, sent to trade in Karis. My wife shares a similar coloring and a similar upbringing. Her father is a Lord but also-"

"-something of a merchant. The maid also mentioned they were both born near the sea."

Draeseth made an annoyed sound. "Compared to Torga, all of Ara is near the sea. The air is peculiar there. In the heat of the day, it feels like a crushing weight. They sit in cool alcoves and wait for it to pass." He glanced at her and smile faintly, "The men sometimes open their doublets."