Kros Voyeh Ch. 27

Notes: 1) If you see this anywhere but Literotica, it isn't supposed to be there!

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Lislora had been nervous as Gharol brought a small breakfast, entirely unasked, but Isonei was either too distracted by all of her things being packed or she truly didn't know or mind about the woman having been Princess Kresh's servant. The Aran was constantly peeking into the bedroom or stepping inside the door to observe and ask questions. When the woman would wander back into the main room she tried to engage her in conversations about Hodrim, or the house in the Kroscur if only to keep her out from under the servant's feet, but the topics couldn't hold her attention.

In Isonei's place, she'd probably be as distracted and worried as well. Though, she had to admit to herself, she wouldn't be carrying around a demonic book as if she were afraid someone might snatch it away. It would have been given over to the priests without a second thought. Kamrus Olauth might be unsettling and unpleasant but he wasn't a demon, that much she was sure of and that was all that mattered.

As the preparations were finished and the last chest of Aran valuables had been removed, Lislora studied the lost-looking woman in mourning rags. All of this was difficult and the only thing she could think of to improve everyone's mood was a meal.

"Ximesra, have lunch brought. Something filling, and make certain the cook sends something to lift her spirits."

Isonei blinked at her and she translated, "A meal might help us both. It has been a long and difficult day."

The Aran woman nodded and offered a faint smile, "It might. It's thoughtful of you to suggest it. The priests were insistent that I should eat more."

As they waited for the maid to return, Lislora rose from her seat and walked around the main room. Some flowers for the woman would be kind and perhaps some Aran books. She ran her finger over the few slim Torgan volumes of poetry on a shelf.

The Munian returned with a tray that looked and smelled delicious. The plates of dark bread, roasted vegetables, and meat with thick brown gravy made her mouth water.

"They were told to serve hare today. No trays were to leave that didn't have hare on the plates. This is all for Duchess Lislora."

Lislora covered her mouth trying to think of something to say. That his Majesty would want to poison the woman twice was unthinkable!

"But the kitchen won't allow the silver Duchess to go hungry. Half of them were slaves..."

The maid reached under her skirts and after a moment pulled a wrapped bundle from beneath them. "I have clean food for you."

She nearly opened her mouth to dispute that but the Aran woman didn't seem upset or disgusted at the way her meal had been brought, smiling gratefully as the small, simple meal was laid out for her. The maid had brought one of the candies that had been sent to the kitchens for the Princesses with her as well.

"All of the other candies were given to the Princesses. They were only able to save one of these for you."

The realization that Isonei hadn't had any of the candies made her feel a little guilty and vaguely ill.

Isonei didn't seem to notice, smiling warmly at the Munian woman. "Thank you and thank them for me. This is a kindness I cannot repay."

The thanks delighted the maid and when Ximesra glanced back to Lislora it felt pointed, "Do you need anything, your Grace? I tried to be certain everything on the tray was to your liking."

She was a Duchess now and she would not be cowed by the servants. Inclining her head coolly as she came to the table, she dismissed the woman, "No, that will be all."

The Aran began nibbling on her food as she gave an almost motherly prompting look to thank the maid.

It made her want to argue the matter and she prodded some hare onto her fork, "I know you thank them, Isonei, but thanking everyone each time they complete a task is ridiculous."

The argument was apparently unexpected and Isonei nearly choked on her food.

As the woman swallowed, the maid spoke up for her, "Arans are known for expressing gratitude, your Grace. They write notes for everything and there's a jest among the Sons of Mun when they marry an Aran, you'll know the child takes after his Aran parent more if he comes out thanking his mother."

"You had to remind me that I need to write his Majesty a thank you note after he tried to poison me?" Isonei turned and gave the maid a look of what she was certain was mock annoyance.

"No one would fault you for forgetting." Ximesra shrugged with a wry smile as if speaking to a friend and not someone above her.

"My father might. After lunch, I'll write a letter that would make him proud."

The woman looked lost in thought as she ate and Lislora didn't want to disturb her. It was a relief to see her eating all of the small meal that had been brought, however. As she finished, she broke the braided candy in half and offered it to Lislora with a smile. The thought of taking it and being the reason the woman only had half of a single candy that had been brought so far for her was unbearable.

"No, thank you, Isonei, but I do not want anything sweet. You lived off of honey. I need eggs and savory, salty things." Lislora sopped up the dark sauce on her plate with a piece of bread. "You could barely eat anything, and I am constantly hungry."

Isonei winced, drawing back the offered candy.

"Don't discuss that. Talk about anything else, your Grace. You'll upset her."

"I meant no offense."

"I know." The pale Aran woman raised her hand. "It's a difficult subject for me but you should be allowed to talk about it."

The pained look on her face made Lislora want to offer any comfort she could. There was only one thing she could think of immediately, "You can take comfort in the Book of Truths, all things happen in accordance to Ganas' will. It may be painful but he knows best."

The pain on Isonei's face turned to fury, an oddly frightening expression on the delicate woman's face.

"What did I say wrong?" She swallowed and leaned back, considering rising from the table.

"I told you to talk about anything else, your Grace. You might as well pour sand in an open wound."

"I was trying to comfort her! The look in her eyes could break a shield!"

Isonei took a deep breath and composed her face. "Don't try to comfort me anymore, please. I find nothing comforting in the thought..."

As the Aran drew another deep breath looking angry and anguished, Lislora realized what she'd said, that Ganas had willed her loved and wanted child to be taken so violently. There was no comfort at all in the thought.

"I... I am sorry, Isonei."

"Thank you."

There was silence for a moment and then the woman inquired softly, "Have you considered names yet? Will you choose something Torgan?"

Before she answered she looked at the maid who gave a small nod. "Draeseth wants an Aran name, and they are very fashionable," she paused, "His father suggested Thaedreth."

Isonei looked at the table with an unreadable expression. "I had asked Draeseth to choose between that name and Mallath. King Orgath tried to convince us to choose the name my father had intended for me, Isionath. Draeseth wasn't fond of it and I liked the name Mallath."

Lislora nodded slowly, it had been a cruel suggestion probably meant to start a quarrel between the two of them. "He said he would prefer a name other than Thaedreth but he would not say why. Isionath is a very handsome name."

"Loreth sounds very handsome as well, or Draeleth?"

It was a relief to see the woman's face soften and she offered a smile, "I like those. Lorim was my father's name."

"It wouldn't hurt to have a daughter's name chosen as well, just in case. My father was so surprised I wasn't a son I didn't have a name for a week." Isonei scrunched up her face and puckered her mouth as if she tasted something sour.

Lislora gave a small laugh before agreeing tentatively, "Draeseth is very attached to the name Kothesei. Though I did consider changing it to Kothelosa."

"I like that! That's like his mother's name, Athelosa. Have you suggested it? It's beautiful."

"I have not, but I will." She wasn't certain she wanted to name the girl after Krouth but it was a lovely name.

"You should. I think he'd like it." Isonei finished nibbling on her candy and looked at the desk across the room. "I need to write my letter. If you're tired you're welcome to rest in my bed."

"I try not to sleep during the day. Would you like help in writing your letter? Perhaps I could make suggestions?" It was doubtful the woman would want or need help but it would let her keep her pride and learn how to write a thank you note.

"That's very thoughtful of you." The look on Isonei's face as she picked up the demonic book said she suspected as much but didn't intend to tease her.

°°°°°°°°°°

"Isonei, as much as your son's legacy means to you..." Lislora desperately tried to find a gentle way to say it, "His Majesty might... it's a delicate subject to broach. The expense of freeing the slaves..."

A brief, almost cat-like smile crossed the Aran's face and was replaced by a bright, innocent smile. "Lislora, when something kind is done, it must be acknowledged. If it cost him a great deal he should know just how grateful I am."

She would have protested again as the Aran began writing with a look of concentration, but the Munian woman coughed quietly and looked as if she were trying not to laugh as Lislora glanced at her.

The letter as Isonei read it out to her was thorough and impressively gracious. The Aran had waxed poetic in her gratitude for her son's legacy and for the warmth with which his Majesty had made her feel a part of his family. At the end, the wish for his Majesty to reap the full reward of his generosity and hospitality and to find such welcome everywhere he may visit seemed insincerely excessive.

A knock came at the door as Lislora opened her mouth to say so. It opened before Ximesra could reach it.

A Halloc whose name escaped her entered and spoke immediately, "Duchess Isonei, I was asked to escort you to the chamber where the King and some of the Kamruses wait."

"Of course, Halloc Urroth." Isonei didn't seem upset and picked up her demonic book to go with him.

The feeling that the Aran had no idea what could be waiting made her full belly twist unpleasantly. Accompanying her was the least she could do. Lislora stood with a determined frown.

The Halloc noticed and lifted his hand slightly. "Duchess Lislora, forgive me, you were not asked for."

"Thank you for sitting with me, Lislora. I enjoyed your company." Isonei offered a small smile and an inclination of her head.

"It was a pleasure, Isonei. I will be in my rooms when you finish if you wish to talk afterward."

"Thank you." The Aran followed him out with more composure than Lislora thought she would have been able to summon in the woman's position.

"Do you think she knows what might be waiting?"

"I do." Ximesra looked at the door with a proud smile. "Master Krouth said she's more clever than she likes people to think."

"If she were her note wouldn't have-"

The Munian woman looked as if she wanted to laugh again.

"What is so amusing?"

"She wrote an angry thank you note. Arans..." The white-haired woman shook her head.

"Isonei told a story... the Gracious Quarrel or some such thing she called it. A tale of two feuding Aran Lords who exchanged gifts and notes that," Lislora picked up the letter looking at it carefully, "that waxed poetic..."

"Yes!" The maid began to laugh, "But the way to know for certain is the closing of the letter. If it could be a curse if you turned it to catch the light..."

Lislora read the closing once more, "'May your Majesty reap the full reward of your generosity and hospitality and may you find the same welcome you give in every place you visit.' Ganas be merciful. She's trying to provoke him!"

"He tried to have her poisoned. This is the most perfect Aran response, and forgive me for saying so, your Grace, his Majesty will enjoy it more than it will make him angry. Sharp-tongued women hold his interest. Her letter is clever and if you read it the right way it's spiteful and sharp while remaining gracious and elegant. If she does what he asks once he's in a good mood again..."

"As grateful as I am that I no longer have to share my husband, part of me wishes she could stay with us to accompany him to Court. She does all of this better than I do." The thought of coming to Court and facing the King and Queen every year made her feel tired.

"Your Grace?" Ximesra was looking at her with a faint frown. "Perhaps you should lie down for just a short while? I know you said you would prefer not to but it is the day after your wedding night..."

"A short rest might not be a poor choice." She offered the woman a rueful smile.

The maid held out her hand to take the letter. "I'll have it put in an envelope."

"I'll give it to Master Krouth. I would feel more comfortable if he looked over it. Isonei thinks of him as a father figure, if he feels she should rephrase things she may listen to him."

The Munian dropped into a curtsy with a frown. "Yes, your Grace."

As she walked back to her rooms, Lislora looked the pages over again with a more critical eye. The words were gracious enough to be read as genuine but if she tried to see the spitefulness... yes, it was there.

"That's why she likes Burgath," the words were muttered under her breath. Perhaps he'd been right when he'd said Isonei was like the Queen. The Aran might have been more content if she'd married the more conniving brother. They were certainly better suited.

Arriving at her door she reached out her hand to open it and Krouth managed it before she touched it.

"Your Grace." He opened it wide and stepped aside.

"I wanted to speak with you, Krouth. Isonei wrote this letter for his Majesty and it..." She handed it to the man who took it with a frown. "I have concerns."

As he read a small smile began to curve his lips. "Thorough and gracious."

"I was worried she might unintentionally upset his Majesty by thanking him so profusely for freeing the slaves but Ximesra seems to think it was deliberate. She said it was the most perfect Aran response to the way he tried to poison her with hare today."

"A thank you wielded in spite is a very Aran method of conveying displeasure." The sour servant looked almost pleased. "This is well done, his Majesty may enjoy it more than it provokes him."

"Ximesra thought he would. I wanted you to read it to make certain she wouldn't upset him further."

"This may put her back into his better graces and allow his Highness to make her stay at Gogmenos more comfortable."

"She would have been better suited to Burgath than Draeseth as a wife." Shaking her head she moved toward the bedroom.

"I believe, your Grace," the sour servant's tone was cool, "that while Duchess Isonei appreciates the cleverness of men like Prince Burgath she wishes a husband with-"

"Lady. Lady Isonei." Lislora drew herself up as she corrected him. "Draeseth has put her aside."

"Yes, your Grace, but no one else is to know. We were commanded to continue calling her by the title of Duchess. I will put this in its place and continue with my duties. Gharol will be sent back to the rooms to attend you." The man wore a studiously neutral expression as he took the letter away.

She almost called after him that she didn't mean it as an insult to the woman but shook her head instead and went to the bedroom. Perhaps she did need to rest.

In the bedroom, she undressed and caught sight of a faint mark on her neck left by Draeseth's biting kisses. She flushed and touched it lightly. When she'd seen such marks on Isonei she'd been scandalized and pitied the woman, it had been impossible to understand why the Aran had been unbothered by them. Since she'd come to understand, she almost wanted to encourage him to leave more.

Now that she was the only Duchess in the Kroscur... Lislora shivered and for a moment she felt giddy and then the realization that she would be returning as the Duchess when she'd left as a mistress struck and she felt nauseous. Everyone would think she'd had him put the Aran woman aside and that she had a hand in sending the woman to Gogmenos, perhaps that she'd even had a hand in the poisoning.

Bolting to the washing room she didn't even grab her robe, there was no time. The hare she'd had for lunch came back up and it felt as if everything she'd eaten in the past days followed it. She stood panting and dry-heaving for several moments even after everything possible had come up.

"Your Grace?" Gharol's voice was concerned and Lislora burst into tears. "I'll take away the basin and have more cold water fetched, your Grace." The Karisian woman poured water from a pitcher standing near the window and wiped her face gently with a cool damp rag. "Try to rinse your mouth, your Grace. I'll get you into a clean chemise and help you lie down before I take it away."

Nodding, she allowed the maid to help her and once in bed she spoke quietly, "Gharol?"

"Yes, your Grace?"

"I thank you. Tell Krouth that I want you to come with us to the Kroscur."

Gharol's face broke into a smile and she dropped into a curtsy before leaving the room and closing the door. After a few long moments, Lislora rose and opened the door a small crack. It was too quiet in the bedroom with it closed and she wanted to be able to hear when Isonei came to speak to her.

It felt as if she had barely closed her eyes when she heard Draeseth's voice, "It's done. Father dissolved the Arrangement and put her in the custody of the priesthood. I need to speak with Taugh, have him meet me by the Queen's gate shortly.

"She will need guards to protect her from Kamrus Olauth as much as from any attempts at abduction. Father had the book taken from her and given to the Kamrus and when he said a prayer and cast it into the fire his robes burned instead of the book. He commanded her death when she pulled it from the fire and saved his life.

"I fear he will give the command again when I am not there to protect her."

"I will have him sent for and give the command to meet you at once, your Highness. She should not be holding the book that way. I will bring a blessed cloth wrap it in, that should diminish the demonic effects."

Lislora heard the door open and close and rose quietly to begin dressing.

"He will bring something to wrap the book in. No one will try to take it from you again. The demonic protection does not harm you perhaps because it was gifted to you."

It sounded as if the Aran sighed heavily but her words were indistinct.

"I do love you."

Lislora put her underdress down and came to stand close to the door to listen.

"Kamrus Gillaugrim has come to respect you, he will see to it you are not harmed and that your food is clean."

"I think Ximesra and Xagorath will still be willing to come with me. If you need to spend too much on the guards, you might ask Ximesra if she would accept my opal ring as payment."

The sound of Draeseth taking a seat was clear. "I will offer them some of your things in payment. The rest will be sent to the Kroscur. I do not think Lislora and I will linger long. Father is furious."