Kros Voyeh Ch. 11

"How did such a sickly little thing-"

"Delicate." Lislora corrected her carefully. "She wasn't sickly in the Kroscur, just delicate, like some of the flowers that only grow in the winter garden."

Daela nodded and gave her a speculative look as the chemise was pulled on. "His Highness is more accustomed to robust women."

"His Highness is none of your concern." Krouth's gelid tone made the woman glance over incredulously but the scowl on his face encouraged her to pin her eyes to the floor and say nothing else.

"These two are the best of them, Lady Lislora. You should don the green one for dinner after I've had it readied, but the brown can be worn now. His Highness had me send for a seamstress to have gowns made."

A tan underskirt, was followed by more layers, mostly in darker shades of brown. The open throated shirt had pale ruffles along the edges of the collar that peeked out both above the collar and the opening of the throat. And against the dark brown overdress the tan looked nearly cream. Lislora flushed looking at it in the mirror as her hair was braided. The effect emphasized her exposed throat salaciously.

Following Krouth out and away from the King's wing she couldn't help but wonder if she'd insulted the man somehow that he'd put her in such a dress. Absentmindedly, she tried to tug the throat closed.

He seemed to notice, falling back to speak barely above a whisper, "The others were worse. Some had nearly Aran necklines, they bared the entire neck."

She shuddered and nodded. Her stomach growled angrily but she didn't actually feel as if she wanted to eat.

"Hare in the dark sauce you prefer has been served for lunch, as has salted pork and-"

"Are the kitchens here safe for the Duchess' food?" The horrible thought struck her.

"They are. Her Grace's food is prepared separately by Xago. The kitchen staff all know that her food may not touch hare or swine and the consequences would be dire if it were to occur. Her illness is related to the child she carries."

"The priests were so certain..."

"The wheat and barley test is seldom wrong. The healer in the Strecur, Elder Vignach, recognized the Duchess' condition from her urine almost immediately. Her tiredness and motherly manner, he said should have been signs.

"I tried to explain that she's always had a motherly manner, but it has become somewhat more pronounced." He glanced at Lislora with a wry smile. "You won't need to be concerned about her treating your child poorly. I don't believe she'll make a distinction between him and her own son."

"I wanted to raise him, myself." Lislora shook her head and then tilted her chin up striving to see the bright side of the situation, "But if I can't, I'll be grateful that it's Isonei who raises him. She's a kind woman and I know she'll be loving toward him."

"I have no doubt. She was insistent that you be made to feel welcome. I was told to have your favorite things on hand to ease your unhappiness. The only concern you may need have is that your son may be spoiled and made soft. His Highness has spoken of that concern to me. Her Grace has always been carefully treated and has never even ridden on a horse alone-"

A startled laugh burst out of Lislora, "Never?"

"She was baffled that his Highness was permitted to do so as a child. Torgan boys may chafe under such a coddling mother."

"They'll love her, though. Their father will see to it they learn to fight and ride and if they so much as get a bruise their mother will be there to kiss and coddle them." The thought made her heart ache.

"These are the chambers given to his Highness." The servant stopped at a door and opened it for her.

They were fine, comfortable rooms. An open main room with a dining table that held a small feast ringed by several seats, a comfortable sofa and several carved and well cushioned chairs that matched it. Hodrim sat almost nervously in a chair wearing what looked like clothes borrowed from one of the Princes' old chests. The rich brown tunic was trimmed with dark red.

"You look very handsome, Hodrim."

"Prince Adareth lent Master Hodrim a few things he'd outgrown." Krouth eyed the boy with something that almost looked like pride. "They fit surprisingly well."

Draeseth came out of a doorway straightening his own black tunic. "My brothers are generous where my wife is concerned. She adores the boy, they'll see to it he has what he needs." He paused looking at Lislora before inclining his head and clearing his throat, "You look lovely, Lislora."

"The dress is scandalous but I'm grateful to have something to wear."

He smiled faintly, "I like the dress. After having spent time in Ara and Leria it doesn't seem quite as scandalous as it once would have." Gesturing toward the table he glanced toward another door, "My wife should be woken to eat something."

"Your Highness, she asked to be allowed to sleep until she wakes. The merciful breath makes her very tired. I haven't even risked disturbing her to remove the Kamrus' gift."

The Prince's brow furrowed, "Gift?"

"He sent her a copy of the Book of Truths in Aran. I had made inquiries after something more suitable than the book Mes brought her."

"Mes?" The tone of Draeseth's voice made Hodrim's eyes widen and he sank slightly down into the chair.

Lislora stepped closer to the boy to reassure him.

"Your Highness?" The maid appeared the other doorway, her eyes pinned to the floor.

"You gave my wife an inappropriate book?"

"N-no, your Highness. I-I gave her a book of Aran myths. His Majesty had said-"

"I give my wife gifts. No one else."

Krouth smoothly intervened, "His Majesty has given a command to have things found to delight the Duchess. Xago found the book in the market and passed it to Mes for her Grace. It mentions Aran Gods in several of the stories, though it isn't what you might call a religious text. She very thoughtfully has it put away after reading it.

"The Kamrus' gift was well received and her Grace was so eager to read it she began immediately. She's fallen asleep on the book."

"I'll fetch it."

"Her Grace-"

"If she wakes she can choose to rise or go back to sleep."

Draeseth turned to open the door and the sour servant looked almost incensed. Lislora watched him hover near the open door.

After a moment she heard the faint sound of the Duchess whining unhappily. It was followed quickly by her cousin murmuring to the woman. There were more faint sounds and then her cousin's quiet laugh and more murmuring. She thought Krouth might drag him out by his collar from the expression on the man's face.

"Her Grace must be permitted to rest!" He hissed into the open door.

A moment later, Draeseth came out holding a very expensive looking book. "Put this in its place. My wife has already fallen back asleep."

Lislora studied his face, he seemed more relaxed. "You needed to see her."

"I did." He moved to the table and took a seat beginning to fill the waiting plate. "She was pleased to see me, when I told her I thought she was sour with me she said she can be both." A smile crossed his face. "I'm certain she's more pleased than sour."

"Krouth seemed sour with you." Lislora took her own seat and with the food in front of her found herself to be ravenous, filling her plate eagerly.

He made an amused sound as the servant came back in wearing a cool expression. "I know why I wasn't warned about the hare pocket."

The ghost of a smile crossed Krouth's face as he offered a bow. "Her Grace still wished for you be brought your wine and to be made comfortable. Her request that you be mildly inconvenienced for displeasing her seemed within reason."

Her cousin began to laugh. "She was angry?"

"She was furious about the whoreweed being sold, your Highness. I'm certain she'll remark on it."

"Burgath said you saw her temper without any veil the night she was given veorola."

"She should never be given veorola again, your Highness. It was disturbing to watch. Her Grace became pliable and moved as if in a dream. Her eyes were open but she wasn't awake. I was very concerned for her. But when her Grace began to come back to herself...

"I would never have suspected the Duchess could sound like that. She was as regal as any Queen of Torga, and her fury was as sharp and cold as a blade made of ice. If she'd had a blade in her hand instead of a fork, Princess Kresh would have been struck dead and not merely grievously insulted.

"It passed quickly, however, once she was no longer being provoked and by the next morning she was willing to apologize for throwing the fork. Even so, she's grown very wary of her Imperial Highness. You'll find the friendship has become strained."

"You had no hand in that?" Draeseth took a bite, studying the man.

"No. I contemplated advising more caution or relaying some of her Imperial Highness' words on the expected enslavement of Ara, but it wasn't necessary. Princess Kresh spoke of the Desecration and the destruction of those unholy crypts and her Grace, under the effects of the veorola, offered no softening of her displeasure or even a nod toward courtesy."

Glanging to Lislora, Draeseth explained, "Lerian customs and the Dagas are dear to my wife. She has pride in the Lerians you'd expect only from their own and the Dagas welcome her as family. That means a great deal to her."

Krouth inclined his head slightly, "I would be more pleased if her Grace could acknowledge that the crypts are unwholesome at the very least. The Dagas are demons and she refuses to see it."

"They've been good to her, she struggles to see the bad in anyone, those who treat her well-" He shrugged and took another bite. "You know how my wife can be. You had to find your way back into her good graces."

"Kindness means a great deal to her, that is true, your Highness."

"Did you see to the gift for my Duchess?"

"It's being fetched. For what was described, the price was very reasonable, three silver vloori."

Draeseth made a surprised sound in his throat, "What did the man make? Gilded glass?"

"A wreath of lavendela blossoms out of glass. The labor would have been immense." The servant wore a carefully neutral expression as Draeseth took a moment to contemplate the work involved.

"If I were selling it I would have charged more." The Prince offered carefully.

"A great deal more, your Highness. If it's as elaborate as I suspect, I might have asked three gold cenura." Krouth seemed to be waiting for something.

"What else did he ask for?"

"That Mes be permitted to spend her free time with him. I agreed to it. It seemed prudent. Her Grace would have done so without any compensation if she had been asked."

The large Prince gave a growling grunt. "She would have. That doesn't mean I'm pleased with it. My father still owns Mes, if he takes issue with her spending time with the cook I can do nothing about it, but she has our permission. I would prefer it, however, if she didn't leave the palace."

"That would leave the servant's chamber here as the only place they might... exchange intimacies." Krouth looked deeply disapproving as Draeseth snorted.

"Give them once a week outside the walls but she is to return before dusk. If she falls pregnant, I will not allow her to remain in our service."

Krouth offered a shallow bow and took the patiently waiting maid into one of the doorways.

"You should make them marry..." Lislora frowned after them.

"Mes is my father's slave. She isn't permitted. When father gives her to us and my wife sets her free, I expect they'll ask. Xago can teach the cooks in the Kroscur how to cook food my wife can eat and then go back to working glass. I'll have to pay the man a fair wage but his glass is better than anything that can be found elsewhere in Torga. His apprentices are still striving to master his techniques."

"The Kros Voyeh you gave me is still one of my most prized possessions." Lislora lowered her head and turned her attention back to the meal in front of her. It sounded as if her cousin did the same.

After a time, the maid hurried out and Krouth returned to stand nearby. Lislora gave him a curious look.

"She is going to fetch the gift before her Grace wakes. Should I have the Kroscur carcanet sent for as well?"

"No." Her cousin's sour tone made Lislora look at him curiously. "My father insists that my wife should be adorned in Aran clothes and jewels, even an Aran cloak."

"How is an Aran cloak different?" She gave her scowling cousin a bemused look. "A cloak is a cloak."

At Draeseth's gesture, Krouth brought a cloak that wouldn't have quite reached Isonei's knees. The golden brown sueded leather looked and felt incredibly soft, and inside was what looked like white rabbit's fur.

"This is lovely but it's entirely impractical." She handed it back with a shake of her head. "Why would someone bother to put this on in the winter, much less send it to Torga?"

"One of the Dagas sent it with a note that she should have her cloak available to her in case she takes a chill. Their spies took them word that she isn't permitted access to the one she was given here. She can wear this one indoors."

"Indoors is the only place it would be good for."

Draeseth made an amused sound in his throat. "Snow is a rarity in Ara."

Watching as the cloak was hung, she thought of another question, "Have you discovered the spies yet?"

"No. I suspect one or more of Ougath's servants. Burgath began receiving letters discussing the way I treat my wife, and the ease with which I lie to her after we stayed with him. The cloak was sent after that as well.

"My brother is impressed at the way they can find things out even when no Lerians are present. He suspects they must be spending an obscene amount of money." He made a loud noise and looked at her pointedly, "Isonei is not to leave the palace without me present. Not even to go to the Temple. There's too much risk of her being stolen away. With the amount of spies and the sums of money being spent and offered to keep watch over her and have her returned it's too dangerous."

"I have no intention of taking her anywhere, cousin."

He leaned back in his chair and pushed his nearly empty plate away. "The Queen wishes to take her into Nemauros to look in the market for scarves, it's the Court tradition. Her Majesty rarely leaves the palace and I don't know how much she's been told. I would ask you to fetch me if she attempts to take my wife to the market."

"Wouldn't it be-"

He raised his hand, "If my father keeps it from her, he has a reason. The sum offered for her safe return has more than doubled. The other Houses my wife is kin to have begun adding to the purse."

"More than... She should be in the Keep. For that price her father could raise a small army."

Draeseth made a displeased sound, "Her father offered it to Burgath."

Krouth cleared his throat politely and when Draeseth looked at him questioningly he began speaking. "His Highness has been seeking out Duchess Isonei and trying to arrange time alone with her. For her part, her Grace looks at him as a brother and trusts him with few reservations. Under the guise of escorting her to the Queen's retinue he walked with her among the tapestries and showed her the Aran-"

"He told me. My father was delighted to learn she was kin to several of the famous Houses. I had forgotten House Ravaris was among them."

"How many of them?" Lislora pushed her own plate away as well.

"Five. Her brothers in House Iarmaris may be invited to visit. Burgath has praised their diplomacy." He rubbed the back of his neck and eyed Krouth, "My brother has no intention of selling my wife back to her father. My concern is that because of the warmth of her regard people will think my brother is taking her to bed. She loves him as she loves her Aran brothers."

"Her Grace has grown fond of all of your brothers, your Highness."

"Rogath told me she was sitting on Adareth's bed as if they knew each other well. He disapproved, but Burgath scoffed at him. Isonei was unhappy to hear the boy had been writing poems about her, she has no interest in him as anything but family."

"He was writing... poems?" Lislora gave the servant a concerned look.

"I was unaware, Lady Lislora. Duchess Isonei hasn't sought him out a second time."

"That's Burgath's doing. He said he had a private word with her, mentioning the poems, and she's been more careful."

"Why would she sit on his bed?" Hodrim asked quietly, reminding them all he was still there, even Krouth looked slightly startled.

Draeseth turned to give the boy a frown as he answered, "Arans are affectionate with one another. She thinks of my brothers as her own and treats them accordingly."

"But... They aren't her brothers." The boy frowned back.

"No, but she misses her own brothers a great deal and they encourage her to think of them that way." The Prince's face softened slightly, "Arans have large families and they remain close to them. When her brother struck her she wept, not from the pain of it but because her brother was angry with her. She's miserable without her family. Taking my brothers as her own eases her longing for home."

Hodrim nodded slowly looking to the floor, "She can't go home because of the demons but her family misses her as much as she misses them."

"Yes." Draeseth looked at the boy speculatively for a moment, "I've hoped that giving her children will make her more content. The Duchess wants a large family, adopting you will give her some of what she longs for."

"I can pray that she gets the family she wants." Hodrim looked back up solemnly.

"Master Krouth will see to it you pray as often as you require. He has a book of prayers and observes the proper times for them."

"This close to the Temple I can have the boy taken for the prayers if he would prefer."

Her cousin made another amused sound, "You enjoy praying in the Temple, taking the boy would let you do that."

"He was intended to study to be a priest." Lislora spoke up with a reassuring smile to Hodrim. "Young Hodrim was permitted to choose early."

"Perhaps instead of the toys and gifts my wife will insist on, he can be given tutors." Draeseth smiled as the boy came to the edge of his seat with a hopeful expression.

"I will see to it, your Highness."

The Prince's gaze wandered back to the closed door of the bedroom. Krouth noticed and a faintly annoyed look crossed the servant's face.

"Her Grace always says-"

"You wish to send me to the Temple to pray before my wife rises." Draeseth narrowed his eyes slightly. "I miss having her close but I have no intention of waking her."

"Joining her in bed might wake her, your Highness. She would try to stay awake to speak with you. Her Grace must rest. His Majesty will expect her to be cheerful and charming for dinner."

The loud, displeased sound Draeseth made, made Lislora flinch slightly.

"The Duchess always enjoys your company most after you've spent time praying, your Highness, and the Kamrus may enjoy hearing that she received the gift warmly and intends to write him a thank you note."

"I will go but if my wife wakes I would have you send for me."

"As your Highness pleases."

He rose from his chair and offered his hand to Lislora, "Would you like to come with me?"

"Not in this dress, cousin. I would feel too ashamed."

"Krouth will see to it you have something more modest soon." He smiled wryly and headed toward the door before stopping and looking to Hodrim, "You may come with me if you wish."

"I thank you, your Highness." The boy stood to follow.

Once they had left, Krouth moved to the second doorway and opened a door. "Your bed has been made in the study if you wish to see the room or rest..."