Kros Voyeh Ch. 15

The Kamrus' eyes widened slightly but it was clear he was trying not to give her a reaction. "That is not how we rid ourselves of demons in Torga. You yourself are likely not a demon, Duchess, but there may be some influence that yet clings to you. When you are reclaimed, I believe it will free you from any that lingers." He offered Draeseth an almost amused look, "I will not keep you, your Highness, but perhaps you will bring Duchess Isonei back again and allow one of our tutors to begin teaching her Torgan? It would allow her to receive more benefit from the prayers."

"I will consider it." Draeseth inclined his head, offering his arm to Isonei.

Most of the other people had been filing out as they spoke to the Kamrus and Lislora felt a little lighter as they approached the passage back to the palace. Just before they reached it, however, Draeseth released her arm. It made her heart drop into her belly. Rather than protest, she fell back to walk with Hodrim.

When they emerged on the palace grounds again and the door had been closed, he turned to the Aran with a look of amused annoyance. "You were sparring with him."

Smiling, Isonei answered him cheerfully, "Only a little. That was the most pleasant conversation I've yet had with the man. I prefer being needled through a veneer of pleasantness to open hostility. I know how to respond to that."

He made a pleased sound in his throat. "You were afraid he would be as harsh as he was in the Strecur?"

"I was. I won't worry as much the next time we go to the Temple."

Draeseth bent to kiss her head with an adoring smile. "Come. We will go to meet my brothers. We gather in the dining room first."

The thought of trailing behind them and watching him dote on his silver Duchess all through breakfast was more than Lislora could bear. She stopped listening to their conversation, staring off into the gardens and almost didn't notice when Draeseth offered his arm.

"Cousin?"

"I-I don't know if I can endure breakfast after the prayers. Perhaps I could go back to the rooms."

"I promised you I wouldn't let them treat you poorly. I want to have breakfast with both of you."

Trying to swallow her bitterness, Lislora shook her head, "You'll be occupied with your Duchess."

"You're also my Duchess." He frowned.

"And yet she's the one you dote on and constantly kiss and stroke and-"

"She needs me to be loving. I will not behave coldly to her because it would please you better."

His sharp tone brought a lump to her throat.

"Please speak Aran. I can't-"

"I will not refrain from showing you affection. It displeases her."

"Jealousy is amusing at first, but it quickly grows tiring. Before you speak sharply to her for it, think of the times you've been harsh with me for the same reason she's unhappy with you. Perhaps a jealous woman can show you the value of trust and patience where I could not. Some lessons are more pleasant than others."

The Aran's gentle chiding felt like a defense and Lislora was grateful for it. Her cousin gave a growling grunt as a response and they walked in silence for a time.

"Forgive my sharpness, cousin. I've been furious with her for being merely polite or charming people as she does. You have to endure me giving my affection to another woman in front of you. I would find that... difficult. I will try to be more understanding."

As they reached the palace, Krouth opened the door for them. Draeseth guided them to a thankfully empty dining room. Disentangling his arm from hers he turned to solicitously unfasten Isonei's cloak. Instead of staying to watch, Lislora chose to find a seat.

Hodrim came to sit next to her with a small smile.

"I will put these where they belong and have Lady Lislora's things moved to her new rooms, your Highness. Is there anything else you require?" Krouth inquired as he held Isonei's cloak and gloves.

"Something to drink while we wait for my brothers." He made a gesture dismissing the servant but Isonei lifted her hand to forestall his departure.

"Krouth? You might also put some of Draeseth's clothes in Lislora's rooms, and I gave her the necklace she wore to dinner, that should be in her rooms as well."

"Of course, your Grace." He smiled faintly.

The woman's unfailing kindness was as infuriating as it was reassuring. It made Lislora want to tell the woman to stop. She had no way to repay it and it was exhausting to feel constantly in the Aran's debt.

Draeseth made a quiet sound of approval and added, "You may keep some of Hodrim's things in Isonei's closet. If I sleep in Lislora's chambers, I have promised to allow him to keep my silver Duchess company. Mes will bring him to her daily."

"As your Highness pleases." Krouth gave the maid a look and she vanished into a doorway. "Mes will fetch your drinks before she returns to the rooms to assist me. Rimathe will stay to attend you."

Sourly, Lislora muttered under her breath, "Does the Duchess drink any tolerable teas?"

To her horror Draeseth offered something of a translation, "She does not believe Mes can choose drinks that would please all of us."

She flushed as the Aran tried to reassure her, "She's been learning from Master Krouth. I would expect her to bring a variety of things and anything she knows you like would be among the choices. I've never met anyone as skilled as Master Krouth in anticipating the needs of others."

"Are you flattering a servant, Nei?" An annoyed voice carried into the room before the sour-looking Phaethian Princess entered. "You should spend the effort on those who can offer you something in return."

The look Isonei gave wasn't as sharp as it had been the day before but her reply was still cool. "Your definition of flattery is very Torgan, Kresh. Gratitude and appreciation shouldn't be limited-"

Kresh scoffed and waved her hand. "You are infuriating, Nei, but it is too early to quarrel. Will you be joining me for breakfast?"

There was a pause and Draeseth made a noncommittal noise before answering for his wife, "We will be having breakfast in one of my brothers' chambers. I intend to keep my Duchesses with me and our charge."

The Phaethian woman sat across from Isonei with a smug smile. "Rogath said you would be having breakfast with Adareth. I am welcome to join you if I choose. I thought you might prefer to have breakfast with me privately."

Isonei carefully avoided the invitation, "I have plans this morning. Another time, perhaps."

"I outrank you in Torga, Nei. I could insist."

Ignoring the maid as she set down her tray, Lislora watched the pair carefully with a thought forming at the back of her mind. Isonei had been currying favor and she'd begun with Princess Kresh. If the friendship was strained, perhaps the Phaethian would welcome an ally, if only to needle the Aran Duchess.

"Unless I'm mistaken, you don't outrank a Prince of Torga and my husband wishes to have breakfast with his family. That includes both of his Duchesses."

At the reminder of being outranked, Princess Kresh's smile became almost dangerous looking. "I have heard you do not hesitate to overrule him."

Isonei gave her one of the forcefully bright smiles Lislora was learning to see as dangerous. "There are rare occasions when I insist on having my way, but I think he knows by now, his happiness is always a consideration."

With a loud amused sound, Draeseth entered the conversation on his wife's side. "You are in a sparring mood this morning, my jewel. It would be safer if someone were to guard your fork in her Imperial Highness' presence."

The Phaethian woman glared at him as if trying to will him to offer an apology. But instead of paying attention to the Princess, he was gazing at Isonei as the Aran took his hand and kissed his fingers.

"My mischievousness is rubbing off on you, my flower wine. You should be careful, she was quick with her knife the last time we sparred." She beamed up at him.

"Not as quick as you were with your fork, I was told, woman."

"True. But I think she would find it more difficult a second time." Kresh straightened, trying to save face before snapping something that might have been an order in Phaethian. The only thing Lislora understood was Mes' name.

The Munian woman was no longer there, however, and Kresh looked around with a deepening scowl. She caught sight of the Lerian servant and repeated herself. The man looked to Draeseth as if baffled.

"He does not speak Phaethian. You must use Torgan or Lerian." Before the Princess could do so, Draeseth translated the command, "She would have you fetch her a cup of the erra my brother has brought for her from Phaethia."

The man disappeared into the doorway.

"All palace servants should speak it." Kresh scowled at him as if he'd chosen the servant deliberately to spite her. "That is a requirement for service here."

"He serves my Duchesses temporarily." Draeseth met her glare without flinching until the grey, tattooed woman looked away. After winning their staring contest, he perused the drinks Mes had brought before she slipped out.

Lislora felt slightly mollified when he placed a cup of sweet melon juice, one of her favorites, in front of her and took a glass of the more tart cricona juice for himself.

He hesitated to choose a drink for the Aran. "There is nothing on the tray that has not made you ill at least once, my Isonei. I cannot choose for you."

Isonei frowned slightly as she looked over the choices on the tray that had been pushed in front of her. "Do you think it would be possible for the cook to give me the juice from the pickled apples?"

Princess Kresh's lip curled in disgust. "Are you trying to make everyone else ill?"

The green-eyed servant returned carrying her Highness' erra.

"Go back and ask if the cook can give the Duchess some of the brine from the pickled apples."

The man blinked and carefully set down the cup near the Princess before hurrying back where he'd come from. The Princess wore a deeply displeased look and Lislora chose to try to play to the woman's displeasure.

"She's getting a little spoiled, I think." She looked carefully at the Phaethian who picked up her cup and took a sip.

"You shouldn't speak that way of a woman who has gone out of her way to welcome you. I would have poisoned you for that letter alone. Nor would I welcome your child as my own."

Lislora's stomach knotted and she hunted for something to say that could salvage the situation. Isonei leaned forward to look around Draeseth, the woman's hurt expression demanded an answer.

"I only said you were being spoiled. Anything you want you barely have to ask for, and anything you dislike vanishes from sight. There will be no eggs for breakfast..." Glancing up, Draeseth was giving her a sour look.

The Aran woman closed her eyes and rubbed her temples as she offered a gentle chiding, "If you try being gracious, grateful, and kind, you may find people treat you similarly."

"Why does the little Duchess look tired already?" The King asked his question in a tone that sounded almost teasing as he entered.

"Because her husband's whore is being spiteful," Princess Kresh answered immediately with a viciously cheerful tone.

At the King's frigid look, Lislora knew that breakfast would be just as bad as the one the day before and there would be no reprieve from Draeseth because she'd brought this on herself.

"I'm not certain what Kresh said, but I know it was intended to give me a headache," Isonei sounded both tired and annoyed. "You didn't win when we sparred so you're using Lislora's mistake to try again."

"What mistake, little Duchess?" King Orgath rounded the table and stopped behind the Aran, resting his hands on her shoulders familiarly.

Draeseth reached out and took hold of Lislora's hand and squeezed it with a faintly apologetic look.

"Thinking that Kresh would be friendly or sympathetic because of the fork sparring incident and our light verbal sparring. Lislora feels slighted because I seem to get everything I desire and she is required to be more understanding and do without things, like her favorite foods on the breakfast table. We're meant to be equal, and she doesn't feel that we are. It would make anyone sour."

Isonei's understanding words made her feel shamed and humbled.

"It is not intended as a slight." The King lifted his hands came to take the seat at the table's head next to Hodrim. "You are in no danger of starving yourself to the point of illness or harm to your child, Lady Lislora. Torgan women are more robust. Delicate things require delicate handling."

Inclining her head, Lislora quietly asked, "If we are equal, why is she called Duchess and I am-am...?"

"You will become Duchess Lislora when the Arrangement is signed." King Orgath looked oddly amused. "But you are correct. Duchess Isonei holds a higher rank outside of Torga and you will never be truly equal in the eyes of most."

"We should take some time and discuss the Arrangement between the two of us, Lislora. It would make things easier on Draeseth if we're in agreement on some things. And it may ease your mind as well."

She had no answer for Isonei's reassuring suggestion, but she didn't need one. The Phaethian interrupted the conversation.

"You requested that wretched drink, Nei. I wish to see if you can truly stomach it."

The Aran looked surprised to see the drink in front of her and offered the Lerian a wry smile and inclination of her head. "I hadn't noticed that it had arrived-"

"Do not thank the servants!" Princess Kresh snapped, giving the woman a look of annoyed incredulity. "Does she do this only to infuriate me or does she truly thank them for every small thing?"

"She thanks them often." Burgath's voice made her tense. "Arans will incline their heads or speak thanks aloud even to servants. In Ara, we were advised to write notes thanking our hosts even for any small gifts."

Lislora wondered if the man had been listening outside the door for the opportunity to enter and join the conversation.

"Showing gratitude means a great deal to them." Draeseth seconded.

Setting down her cup, Isonei rejoined the conversation with a suspiciously innocent smile and wide eyes. "Did you ever hear the story of the Gracious Quarrel? Two Arans absolutely loathed each other and as they were both close to the King it annoyed him. As clever as Aran Kings often are, he arranged an occasion where they were required to give each other a gift.

"Each tried to outdo the other as a matter of pride and the notes they wrote waxed poetic about the generosity of the gift giver. It wasn't enough to give the best gift, they needed to write the best, most gracious note as well. They did this for years trading gifts and notes even after it was no longer required." She paused and sipped her drink.

"Who won?" King Orgath looked mildly baffled at the tale.

"The King, of course. They didn't like each other and didn't want to keep the gifts so they gave them to him in a display of generosity, each hoping to curry more favor than the other."

Burgath and Draeseth began to laugh and King Orgath smiled broadly. "Little Duchess, you should spread such stories here at Court. I would be deeply amused to see my nobles take up that method of quarreling."

As his Majesty was speaking, Princes Ougath and Rogath entered the dining room with two elegantly dressed little girls. Having been told that the eldest was the image of her mother, Lislora was still surprised at how Phaethian Princess Ror looked. If the younger girl hadn't been the same shade of grey she'd have suspected Rogath wasn't her father.

"Did I hear you say you want the nobles to quarrel more, father?"Rogath asked with amusement as he entered. He seemed slightly surprised as he noticed Hodrim.

With a glance to Hodrim, the King inquired, "Little Duchess, would you like to make introductions?"

"I would love to!" Isonei rose eagerly and rounded the table beckoning for the boy to follow.

Her enthusiasm seemed to make the girls nervous and they moved to hide behind their father and uncle.

"My father would never have allowed us to hide. They should be taught pride." Kresh hissed with annoyance.

Rogath reassured them, "I'm here, there's no one in Torga you need to be afraid of. I promise." The girls hesitated, this time looking at their mother's sour face and not Isonei, "They may need to be introduced to you first, Isonei."

"I can see that." The Aran smiled warmly at them and both girls' attention was arrested by the way she sank to the floor in her fine gown.

Glancing around her, Lislora realized everyone's attention had been arrested by the way the woman knelt. No Torgan Lady would ever wait patiently on the floor that way to greet a child.

The girls required more prodding than they might have otherwise needed because of the woman's oddness. When Rogath finally had them both standing in front of him again, Isonei spoke warmly to them and their father translated.

"This is Isonei of House Ernelis, daughter of Liadith, and the new Duchess of Kroscur, your Uncle Draeseth's wife. She says you can call her Isonei or Nei as your mother does if you wish."

As he finished the woman's smile became mischievous, "Who might you be? I know Prince Rogath has two beautiful daughters named Ror and Kas but in your matching dresses I don't know how to tell you apart!"

The Prince tried to suppress a smile as he translated that as well.

Kas started to smile, "I'm the oldest, I'm Ror."

Rogath made an amused noise before translating, "This is Ror."

The elder girl looked up at him incredulously "She is not! Don't say that father! You're being bad like she is. The priests said lying is a sin."

"I got confused by your dresses, my Imperial topazarite."

The child stepped forward with a scowl, "I am Ror, she was Kas."

"You are Ror? She is Kas?" Isonei blinked in exaggerated surprise. "My, aren't you a mischievous one! Letting your sister pretend to be you!"

His Majesty laughed softly as Ror's eyes widened with her father's translation.

Indignantly, she insisted, "I'm not the troublemaker! She is! Tell her I'm the good one, father!"

Kas broke into giggles.

Hodrim tapped on Isonei's shoulder and spoke sternly, "You shouldn't tease that way. It isn't kind to upset her or to pretend you believe untruths even in jest."

"He chides you for teasing Ror. It is not nice." Rogath was grinning.

"This is my dear Hodrim. He loves me enough to remind me when I should behave myself and I love him so much my heart might burst." Isonei put an arm around the boy and beamed up at him.

Hodrim flushed slightly and grinned as Rogath translated her words, "This is her adopted son, Hodrim. He loves her enough to remind her to behave herself and she loves him so much she may burst."

The girls inclined their heads slightly in response to the introduction seeming slightly unsure as to what the boy's rank might be.

Before the Duchess could stand, Kas stepped closer, boldly reaching out to touch her hair, "Why does she have such strange hair? It doesn't look real."