Kros Voyeh Ch. 25

"I would have no further argument on the matter tonight, so that no one believes my gentle Duchess to be forced a second time. She helped my second Duchess to choose the wording of the new Arrangement and she has never asked to have the old one dissolved. I was forgiven for my poor behavior, that should suffice for the moment."

"Proceed."

"We would have it be recorded that we protest this Aran perversion. As one voice all of the Kamruses denounce the decision to permit it, your Majesty," Gillaugrim spoke and a chorus of voices spoke up firmly in approval as he finished.

"It is not your place to permit or deny such things." King Orgath scowled at them all. "Remain silent or leave."

To Lislora's surprise, they didn't go anywhere. Draeseth looked grim as the scribe began reading what sounded like the paper she'd written.

"Are you both agreed that if one wife shall die or one Arrangement is dissolved by his Highness, he will be required to give the remaining wife a proper Torgan marriage?"

"We are," Draeseth answered firmly.

Lislora felt suddenly uncertain but there was no going back now. Too many eyes were on her and too much was at stake. "We are."

"Are you both agreed that the wives will not be kept in the same house? They require separate lodgings."

"Yes, those should be stated. Lislora's house and the Keep of Kroscur." Draeseth spoke solemnly, "They will trade places as their time with me comes and goes and I will see to their security."

"And comfort," Lislora spoke up quickly. "Whichever of us isn't currently at your side shouldn't feel put aside."

He made a soft amused sound. "Agreed. It should also be written that I will not visit the wife staying in the house. The children may travel freely, however."

"Agreed, though permission from both wives can be asked for should you need to visit."

"Why would I need to visit?" He smiled faintly.

"If one of the children were injured and couldn't be brought to you." She knew better than to say 'if the child were ill.'

The amusement faded from his face. "The caveat is needed. It would break me not to be permitted to see my son while he lay injured."

"The First Duchess will have Shprayt and Ailzem, and the Second Duchess will have Penst and Dipf. The Duchess with him during that month will accompany him to events or to Court."

"Agreed." They both spoke at once.

"On the matter of childbirth, a pregnant wife will spend the year with her husband exclusively."

"Yes, but social visits may be arranged," Lislora inclined her head.

"Agreed. I love them both and I would miss seeing them. My First Duchess would have them be like sisters. I have no doubt they will get along well socially."

"Adoption is to be limited to the number of children born to the woman?"

"Yes," Draeseth spoke firmly. "My wives are soft-hearted women and I would prefer my house not to be filled entirely with other people's children."

"Agreed." She gave him a slightly annoyed look.

"The children born to both are to be equals in the eyes of the law?"

"Yes. And if anything happens to one of my wives the other will raise the children as her own."

"Agreed." Lislora inclined her head, "That includes the adopted children. They'll be raised as if they're our own."

Draeseth made an annoyed sound, "The two of you may mother them, but they will not be the equal of my own children and I will not allow them to inherit from me."

"Isonei and I will have something put aside for them, and we'll have you pay for their educations as if they were our own."

He frowned but made a gesture of acceptance, "Agreed."

"A ledger and budget separate from the household will be established, is that correct? For both Duchesses to draw from for projects in the interest of the well-being of the people of the Kroscur?"

"Yes. I will allot as much as a quarter of income from taxes and trade for such things, no more." He glanced at Lislora, "Less would be better but the two of you will be at my study door insisting on more if I give you too little."

"Are there any other points you wish to have written?" The scribe was glancing over his work.

"Any disputes that may occur will be dealt with between the three of us, the children will never suffer for any disagreements we may have," Lislora spoke up, altering her earlier wording slightly.

The scribe looked to his Highness who gave a curt nod, "Agreed."

There was a moment of more writing and then the man seemed pleased, "If his Majesty approves, the Arrangement agreement may be signed."

"Have it done and make a copy."

Draeseth signed the agreement first and then Lislora did the same. She glanced at the Aran who was looking exhausted and asked quietly, "You need to amend the Arrangement you" she hesitated, "made with her?" Her feelings were mixed. It was difficult to think of the man she loved and had just bound herself to behaving as it was claimed he had.

"Isonei, come help me decide on the amendm-"

"Have it done at your leisure. It is nothing of interest to the rest of us." His Majesty rose and everyone in the room followed suit. Some lingered, however, as the King departed sourly. Issuing indistinct commands.

Lislora assumed it was to have the Aran man escorted back to his room. Something about his face reminded her of Isonei when she wasn't wearing her usual mask of cheerfulness as he was marched out between two guards.

The tiny Duchess looked baffled and their husband offered his arm, "You have displeased my father. It will take a great deal to find your way back into his good graces, Isonei. You refuse the simple things he asks of you."

"He doesn't understand that what he asks is far more than he realizes. If he understood, he wouldn't ask for those things." The Aran shook her head with an almost defeated look on her face.

"He will have time to cool his temper." Burgath approached wearing a peculiar expression that Lislora found unpleasant. "The Arrangement Lislora signed said that she has Draeseth to herself while she carries his child."

"Yes. That is how it's done." Isonei inclined her head.

It felt like a weight lifting from her shoulders. For a moment she'd been afraid the woman would have changed her mind.

"Will you be leaving?"

That seemed to startle the woman, "I'm not certain. The three of us need to discuss that and the amendments to the standing Arrangement."

"We will discuss it tomorrow. We still have to attend dinner." Draeseth stepped in reassuringly.

"Dinner won't be pleasant for any of us, you know that. He gave the order to have her place laid at the lower tables as he was leaving. Next to Olauth."

"Would you please speak Aran? I would-"

Draeseth interrupted her, "My father may not wish to have you at the table." From the set of his mouth, she could tell he was contemplating leaving the woman in her rooms.

"I wouldn't be offended, Draeseth. Eating in my rooms would be welcome."

"He would put you at the lower table, Isonei." Burgath's managed to look apologetic as he gave a partial explanation

"If I understood correctly, I shouldn't be attending feasts at all. You can give him my sincerest apologies. Lunch was almost too much, and with this on top of it, I can't face another social engagement today."

"My mother will support you in that." Burgath seemed to relax slightly. "You have her favor at least."

"For which I'm grateful." Isonei offered one of her wan smiles. "Your mother has been very kind."

"She prefers you to Lislora, and she understands your grief. That you are the reason Kresh is no longer at Court has also endeared you to her."

"Isonei will have Shprayt and Ailzem. Your mother can enjoy her company at the bouts." Draeseth laid his hand on top of Isonei's on his arm as Lislora stood quietly. "Father's displeasure will fade. No one can remain angry with my silver Duchess."

In response, the Aran leaned against their husband gratefully and he made a pleased sound, smiling for a moment, "I will take my Isonei back to her rooms."

"I will walk with Duchess Lislora." Burgath offered his arm. "You have given us a second sister and I wish to welcome her." The way his eyes narrowed was anything but welcoming.

"I will walk with both of my Duchesses." Draeseth beckoned, offering his other arm, "I need to speak to both of them before dinner."

As Lislora stepped forward to take it, Isonei released Draeseth's arm. "I'll walk with my borrowed brother. He doesn't seem happy to walk alone."

"It would be easier for me to caution my brother's new wife to be kind to you if I walked with her." Burgath changed the angle he held his arm slightly in invitation to the woman with a smile that seemed genuine. "I worry you might give up too much as you try to welcome her."

"You should think better of her, she can be as kind and gracious as I am. She only needs the opportunity to show you." The pale woman's smile looked somehow fragile as she took the smaller Prince's arm. "And she makes Draeseth very happy without sending him into fits of jealousy."

"I can see the effort it takes for you to be charming tonight, Isonei. I will make certain Father does not have you brought out for dinner."

"That would be very kind, Burgath. I think this must be what a rag feels like when all of the water is wrung out of it."

That watching Lislora make the Arrangement with their husband might be distressing for the Aran woman hadn't occurred to her and she felt a twinge of guilt. "I didn't expect her to... Do you think our making the new Arrangement upset her?"

"No, my flower, but these matters are emotional for Arans. That the Arrangement she made with me wasn't the joyful occasion it should have been was my doing. I should have been more patient but I knew she would forgive me."

"Did-did you really do all that they said you did?"

He made a soft sound and looked ashamed for a moment, "Yes. Ganas grant me mercy. She forgave me and our wedding night was the most perfect night of my life."

A wedding night. She remembered suddenly that he'd promised to spend the night in Isonei's rooms. "Husband, this is meant to be our wedding night... I-I know you promised her..."

"I wasn't thinking of our wedding night when I did."

She heard Burgath murmur something indistinctly to Isonei and the woman replied softly, just as unintelligibly.

"I know she can't be left alone, but if we send Krouth to look in on her and promise to spend the day with her tomorrow, perhaps it would be enough? Her rooms are guarded."

He exhaled slowly, "That is true. But I would make certain she isn't displeased by my absence before I agree."

"As my husband pleases."

As they arrived at Isonei's door, Burgath made a show of kissing the woman's hand. "I have to ready myself for dinner, should you need anything at all, dear Isonei, you have but to ask."

Placing her hand over her heart in response the Aran tried to smile but it looked as fragile as it had before.

"If I hear of her sobbing alone a second time, the demons in the seven hells will flinch at the beating I give you, you black bastard." The firmly spoken threat might have been laughable if not for the fury glinting in Burgath's eyes.

Draeseth inclined his head wordlessly and led them inside. When he hesitated to speak she squeezed his arm gently. A displeased sound escaped him and he clamped her arm to his side to keep her from pulling away.

"Lislora would like me to spend tonight with her. It is the closest she will have to a wedding night."

He was taking a breath to say more but the Aran spoke up softly, "I understand. It would be strange if you made the Arrangement with her and then spent the night with me."

"Tomorrow I will spend the day with you."

"If you wish. You may change your mind, and I won't hold it against you." Isonei inclined her head and offered them a wan smile.

It seemed to have the same effect on him that it usually did on her and Lislora stroked his arm soothingly as she saw the flicker of guilt cross his face. "I will have Krouth look in on you after dinner."

"Thank you." The Aran turned her tired, pale gaze on Lislora. "I know you haven't asked, but I do have some advice to offer you about dining with them, if you'd like to hear it?" Instead of simply continuing the woman waited to be given permission, a curt, guilty nod. "If his brothers jest with you don't take offense, and if you do, don't let them see it. Answer them as if they're your brothers and you're confident and comfortable. And I know you're a gracious and kind woman, you've shown me in the past. At every opportunity, you should show them the same, don't allow an unkind word to pass your lips. You'll find they treat you better."

"Thank you for your advice." Lislora looked down at the floor for a moment. In the face of the woman's unrelenting kindness, she felt like a usurper. "If you need him..."

"No. Enjoy your wedding night." Isonei placed her hand over her heart.

Draeseth smiled grimly, "My brothers may all thrash me if I do not spend tomorrow with you."

The woman sighed and looked forlorn as she studied his face. It suddenly occurred to Lislora that the woman had insisted she was going to put salve on his injuries.

She spoke up hurriedly, "I will apply salve to his face, I promise you."

"Thank you." Isonei looked at least somewhat relieved at that.

Placing his hand over Lislora's, Draeseth led her out to prepare for dinner.