Kros Voyeh Ch. 24

"I wasn't aware that Torgans made Arrangements as well." Yornaith's expression was polite but his pale gaze felt cool.

"We are the first."

To Lislora's relief, Draeseth took the seat between her and Isonei.

"If trade can be reopened they may not be the last, the little Duchess has been enchanting all of Torga with her manner. More than one wife could become the fashion. But I doubt we could tolerate them having more than one husband."

The first plates were brought, artichokes with some sort of creamy filling and a cheesy crust over the top. She prodded it with a fork and found it had what looked like very finely sliced nuts as well.

It seemed to meet with the Arans' approval. Yornaith sounded pleased as he inquired, "You have an Aran cook?"

"He comes from Mun. The little Duchess has had only praise for the man, and he can adapt Aran foods to the Torgan palate skillfully."

Isonei nodded agreeably at the King's words and added, "Xagorath even made Torgan manirel. It has less heat and uses the Torgan spices they prefer."

"Sons of Mun trade in spices, I'm not surprised they've learned to be skillful with them." Yornaith inclined his head to the King and asked what sounded like a careful question to Lislora's ears. "They rarely leave their islands for long. How did you convince two from Mun to stay?"

"They came to Torga as slaves," Draeseth took hold of Isonei's hand as he answered for his father while the King's mouth was full. "They have been freed, but they stay for my Duchess. I find them as loyal as Arans."

The reminder of Munian loyalty didn't seem to sit well with his Majesty and Lislora watched as his face soured slightly. "A more pleasant topic should be found." King Orgath gave Isonei a look of annoyance as if the woman had stolen his mistress to spite him. "I have no doubt he will hear about the Duchess and her loyalty-inspiring ways at length during his stay."

"We could discuss the gifts he brought his sister." Burgath suggested wryly, "He was telling her of them in the garden."

Lislora caught the approving look the King gave Burgath and she looked down at her food for a moment. Even she knew that the man was offering up the gifts that had been brought for Isonei to lighten his father's mood.

"He can give them at the end of the meal." Draeseth scowled at his brother for it but there was little he could do.

Isonei, however, seemed baffled. "Discussing gifts wouldn't be a bad idea, my flower wine. I'm eager to tell him about the lovely things you've given me."

Draeseth made a reassuring sound in his throat, "You may show him later."

"Show him the gift your wife gave you." Burgath lifted his glass. "The knife she had made for you is beautiful."

Her cousin's jaw clenched. "I would be pleased to do so but I sent it to be repaired. The stone was damaged and I now carry the blade my second Duchess had made for me."

She began to feel ill as incredulous and clearly displeased eyes fixated on her. She pinned her eyes to her plate. There was a pause and soft murmur of brief conversation between the two Arans.

"The stone broke." Draeseth sounded apologetic.

Risking a glance at the Aran woman, Lislora expected fury, instead, the woman looked stunned and perhaps a little saddened.

"The stone might have been better suited for jewelry."

"It can be replaced." Their husband spoke with relief lifting the Aran's hand to his lips.

"A Torgan woman would be incensed." The Queen's sharp tones made Lislora clasp her hands in her lap and look back down.

"My Aran wife is the most gentle creature I have ever known. Her disappointment is what I fear, not her anger."

Isonei whispered loudly as if she were making a jest to lighten the moment, "If only because I would find it difficult to push you into a fountain."

The men began to chuckle amongst themselves and it even drew a laugh from Draeseth. Llislora didn't understand the reference but she was grateful for what felt like a reprieve.

"Woman..." their husband spoke with clear affection in his tone, "I am a fortunate man. I have one wife to love me gently and without complaint, and one to love me jealously. It is no longer difficult for me to understand why Arans would have more than one wife. Choosing between them would be unbearable."

It made her heart ache but it was what he needed and the Aran had been kind and forgiving over and over again. She needed to accept it.

"It isn't fair to them to have them in the same place. They should have your undivided attention when they spend time with you." Yornaith took a drink of his wine with an unreadable expression. "In an Arrangement, they take separate halves of the year."

"I have been hesitant to discuss it with Isonei. The thought is foreign to me." Lislora spoke up with solemn determination, "But it will be done soon."

"Perhaps another tale of the little Duchess as a child will lighten the mood." King Orgath brought an end to the conversation. "She eats poorly when the conversation is heavy."

Yornaith inclined his head, "If she's borrowed a brother," he glanced to Adareth, "has she made faces at you?"

The table erupted into laughter as Isonei feigned annoyance, making a hideous scrunched up face at her brother showing the tip of her tongue.

"She has borrowed all of my brothers as her own." Draeseth leaned back in his seat slightly with a smile.

"My sister used to torment us with her relentless imitations and those terrible faces-"

The Aran woman made a sound of offense and the King was grinning at her exaggerated look of annoyance.

"-We used to try to hide from her when we couldn't endure another moment of it. I don't advise you to play Hide and Go Seeking with the woman, she could find us if we ran all the way to the orchards to hide!"

"It's not because I'm good at seeking, it's because you were terrible at hiding!"

"Not as good as you are, certainly." He reached out to touch the ragged black mourning rag covering her hair and, for an instant, Lislora thought he looked pained but his face returned to impishness immediately. "Where was it you hid to put all of those flowers in your hair?"

"I didn't hide!"

"Flowers?" Draeseth's eyes were sparkling.

"Our sisters, before they came of age, were invited to a party and they spent the morning arranging flowers in their hair." He turned to explain to the rest of the table, "Before a child comes of age jewelry isn't permitted. Girls will use flowers instead to adorn themselves.

"Little Isonei must have been the age of Princess Kas when she watched them. She snuck out of the house and hid somewhere in the gardens and the next time she was seen, she'd twisted what looked like hundreds of little flowers in her hair. It was a horrible mess of tangles and flower stems covering the child's head."

The men had begun to laugh and even the Queen looked amused.

"It was not! Father said I looked lovely!"

Ougath was wiping at his eyes as he laughed harder at her protestation and Rogath covered his face.

"It took them hours to get all of those flowers out of your hair! The maids begged your father to let them cut it!"

"They did not!" The Aran woman looked scandalized. "They threatened to cut it if I didn't hold still! There's a difference!"

Not even Lislora could hold back her laughter.

"What did she say?" Kas demanded imperiously.

Wiping tears like his brother, Rogath managed to choke out through his laughter, "Do not translate that! Do not! I forbid it!" When he composed himself, he grinned at his daughters, "Your Aunt Isonei was even more mischievous than you are, my red Torgandine. When you're older you can hear the tales of her childhood."

°°°°°°°°°°

The children had been exceptionally well behaved during the long meal, especially since a great deal of what was said hadn't been translated for them. Lislora envied them as they were dismissed. She would still have to sit through the Aran receiving her gifts. Admittedly, she wasn't paying close attention as the Aran was graciously sharing her gifts with their Majesties.

Her mind had begun to wander toward the discussion that would be coming after lunch. Yornaith's comment that they shouldn't be in the same place gave her some hope that her idea of putting the Aran in the house she'd inherited wouldn't gall the woman.

"Receiving a gift meant to ease her discomforts during a difficult pregnancy is difficult enough without her thoughtless husband discussing the matter in front of her as she tries to keep her composure!" Queen Deventha's sharp tone snapped her out of her thoughts. "You speak as if she should be grateful to be feeling better, one look at her face will tell you she'd endure the headaches every day if it meant her child would live to be born!"

Draeseth rose and bowed to the Queen and to Isonei. Looking at the Aran woman, Lislora could see the grief on her face even as she tried to force a pleasant expression.

The slender Aran man rounded the table and embraced his sister, rubbing her back in a way that seemed a little too affectionate to be done in public. "Perhaps we should finish the gifts later. You look like you need some air, Isonei."

"Please."

She caught the look Draeseth gave his father, asking for permission. The King looked slightly peeved and for a moment she thought he might refuse to allow the woman to leave the table.

Her Majesty spoke firmly on the Aran's behalf, however, "She should not have been asked to endure a long meal and put on a cheerful face. As much as I would like to see her gifts, allowing her to retire and receive them privately later would be kinder."

King Orgath made a gesture to Draeseth allowing them to go.

Isonei rose from her seat, struggling to even put on one of her wan smiles. "Thank you, your Majesty. If you'd like to try the soap and oils, I'd be glad to give you enough of each to enjoy the next time you bathe."

"That would be lovely, Duchess Isonei." Queen Deventha inclined her head graciously.

Giving her a kiss on the head, Yornaith spoke firmly in Torgan, "Put all of the gifts back in the box, carefully. It should be taken to my sister's rooms." The gifts were gathered and put back into the chest without argument. "Let's get some air and you can show me your rooms."

"We will walk with you." Draeseth assisted her to her feet. "My Duchesses need to speak privately when we leave them."

"Allow me to accompany you as well." Burgath looked at Isonei with some concern and Lislora thought his eyes lingered on the way Yornaith was holding the woman's hand. "I need to speak to you, brother."

She held Draeseth's arm as they walked out to the garden, Yornaith and Isonei trailed behind them holding hands.

"The amount of affection they show is almost incestuous," Burgath spoke quietly as they walked.

"Arans, brother. Even Lerians find them perplexing."

"For many reasons. Her conversation with the Lerian calling himself Crethe... whatever they spoke of, she wasn't plotting her escape. Her brother told her of the purse being promised for her return and she was genuinely surprised. She said she now understood why you had been so upset."

"I should have known better. The woman only ran from me once, to the convent. She confessed she knew of nowhere else to go and I showed her I could bring her home easily."

"Even so. Father wants her to be kept company while her brother is here to prevent any unpleasantness. The Arrangement matter is to be settled this evening if possible."

"I understand."

Burgath turned to give the Arans an insincere smile and inclination of his head before he hurried away. Draeseth, after glancing at the tired-looking Aran woman, led them to Isonei's rooms without lingering in the garden.

Inside, the Munian maid was fussing over a vase of flowers, she bobbed a polite curtsy and hurried to her place as they entered. As often as she'd walked in the winter gardens the pale dianthus blossoms wouldn't have escaped her notice. Lislora was almost certain they hadn't been grown here.

"These are not in season." She moved toward the table wondering if the Duchess' brother had managed to bring fresh flowers from Ara.

"They're made of silk. Our mother makes them. My father's house and Lord Eliorith's are filled with them as is the home of House Ravaris. Mother often gives them as gifts to family," Yornaith sounded amused as he confirmed that she hadn't overlooked them.

She touched a flower's petals in awe at the skill it must have taken.

"Mine are never quite as lovely, but I don't practice as often." Isonei leaned against her brother's arm as she spoke wistfully, "Mother's can confuse the bees."

"She always enjoys your flowers, Isonei. She still has the delicate red lilies you made her."

"They were supposed to be orchids but I cut them wrong."

"My Isonei is fond of red flowers. I grow Soldier's Wife in my winter garden, it is her favorite of my flowers."

"They were mentioned in a letter she wrote." Yornaith moved to the table to look at the wreath. "Glass? That is exquisite."

Lislora took a seat as Draeseth fixed the man with a sour look at the reminder of the stolen letters.

"Ximesra's brother made it. He was a glassmith before he chose to become a cook. It was a gift." Isonei turned to smile at their husband but it faltered as she took in the look on his face.

"Was it the jester that brought the letters?" Her cousin took a seat near hers. "I suspected him when I finally discovered the theft, but he had not fled back to Ara after the party. He remained hoping to entertain my wife. I was forced to send him away."

"His name was Oberath of House Neriris." The Aran man inclined his silvery head. "There is a dye used for cloth that can give an Aran an almost Torgan coloring. I think he had hoped to bring her back himself but her fragile health prevented him from trying."

She reached out to touch his arm as his jaw clenched, but before she touched him he muttered, "As unbearable as it was to see her ill, I should thank you, cousin. Your jealousy and the servants' disobedience kept my silver Duchess from being spirited away like the letters."

The smile that had been almost a permanent fixture on the Aran man's face faded, "You gave my sister unclean food out of jealousy?" The man's eyes looked like ice and she felt her stomach roil.

"I-it was not-" As much as she wanted to defend herself her stomach had other ideas. She bolted for the washing room barely making it to the basin before the Aran foods began to come back up. They certainly weren't better the second time.

Her attention was on the basin in front of her and the heaving of her stomach but she could hear Isonei's indistinct voice. After a moment, the woman appeared in the doorway.

"Do you need anything, Lislora?"

It took a moment to try to summon an answer and Isonei gave her a look that was almost pitying.

"I'll get Ximesra." Before the Aran had fully turned, the Munian maid was gently pushing past to see.

"I'll fetch her some cool water, your Grace."

"And a fresh dress, please. Is there anything else you need Lislora?"

Silently shaking her head, she realized she had vomit on her sleeve. The maid hurried out.

"Would you like company?"

Lislora wiped her eyes after looking at the other sleeve carefully, "You do not have to be so nice to me, Isonei."

"It isn't difficult to be kind. It costs me very little and makes life for everyone more pleasant." Isonei offered her a small tired smile.

"I thought... I thought you were angry with me. You refused to speak with me this morning."

"No, I-" The Aran looked much as she had at the table, like a grieving woman struggling to put on a pleasant face. "It wasn't a good morning. I needed time alone to let out some of my pain. It wasn't a refusal to speak with you, I couldn't have spoken with anyone."

Adareth had been right. The woman clearly needed someone more than the maid to lean on, "I should have sent him to you. He needed coddling and I... I like being the one he turns to."

"I can't bear the weight of his pain and my own. I'm glad he has you to lean on."

"You-you need someone too, Isonei." Lislora bowed her head feeling ashamed. The Aran woman was always unfailingly kind and she hadn't put forth the effort to help console her.

"I have Ximesra and Master Krouth. They've been taking wonderful care of me. Krouth always seems to know what I need before I do and Ximesra is as much a companion as a maid. I don't feel alone." Isonei's reassurance made her feel a little better.

"I can always tell when Krouth is going to tend to you. He looks like a father finally permitted to look in on his child when his duties with us are complete." Lislora eased herself away from the basin resolving to send the man to look in on her more often.

"Let me help you out of that while we wait." Isonei began helping her remove her overdress. "Speaking of children, I've been thinking. We should encourage Master Krouth to adopt a child or two. He would be a wonderful father."

It nearly made Lislora laugh but before the Aran saw her amusement, their husband made an amused sound and she realized he was on the other side of the partly open door.

"Krouth has too much to do to mind a child, Isonei." Draeseth's amused voice carried into the room.

"Why are you listening at the door instead of entertaining my brother, Draeseth?" The door was pushed open and Isonei gave him a look of mock annoyance.

"Ximesra is going to take your brother back to his rooms as she performs her tasks. He was tired from his journey but he had insisted on seeing you immediately. A rest might make him more pleasant."

"He was a little less charming than usual but he was still polite." Inclining her head slightly, the Aran continued, "Brothers are meant to be protective and he's been worried. You might forgive him a little unpleasantness."

"Only because you forgive mine." His dark eyes sparkled and he lowered his head to press his face to Isonei's.

Lislora glanced away, even as kind as she was, it was difficult to watch him be affectionate with another woman.

"Did you let Lislora put healing salve on this?" The Aran was lightly touching his bruised cheek and split lip when she turned back.

"She did not offer because I do not require-"

The tiny woman interrupted him with a stern tone, "You'll let me put salve on it. I'm sorry that Adareth attacked you, I didn't expect him to be upset after we spoke."

He made an amused sound in his throat. "Brothers are meant to be protective." Glancing to Lislora, he straightened slightly. "Salve will wait until tonight. I will be staying in your rooms until your brother leaves, for your safety."

"My brother wouldn't harm me."

"No," Draeseth stroked her face, "he might try to steal you away in the night. Burgath told me you were unaware of the reward waiting for anyone who returns you to Ara. I was too harsh and I need the time to apologize."