Kros Voyeh Ch. 29

She took a deep breath once the hovering woman had stepped away and sipped the tea. What she needed was for Draeseth to come back and for that Phaethian to be sent away.

A knock came at the door and the maid reappeared to open it.

"Your Highnesses."

Lislora rose and smiled as the Princesses came in dressed in their mourning cloaks. "Is it time for dinner already?"

"It is. Father said Uncle Arrun isn't allowed to be alone with us?" Ror frowned and looked at her as if she had an answer. "Mother said he was the best of her brothers."

"Your father just wants to be certain you're safe, your Highness." She allowed Gharol to help her into her mourning cloak. "Gharol, do you remember your tasks?"

"Yes, your Grace." The maid dropped into a curtsy. "I'll be close by if you should need me."

As she made her way to the dining room, flanked by the Princesses she noticed that Kas was oddly subdued. The girl usually hopped and danced, today she was as ladylike as her sister. It made her remember the rare occasions Isonei had been subdued and it brought her to a stop in the hall. Crouching down, Lislora took the younger girl's hands.

"There's nothing to worry about, dear one. Your father is the King of Torga, nothing, and no one can harm you." She smiled at the girl and earned an embrace in return.

"Dear one?" Ror stepped a little closer.

"You are my nieces. I want to be respectful, because you are Princesses of Torga, but you are both dear to me."

The older girl looked almost tearful as she nodded.

"Let's go to dinner. Your father will be waiting for you." She smiled warmly and both of the girls looked more cheerful.

Kas ran ahead to their father as they entered the dining room. Ror looked around more cautiously as they made their way to the table.

"Aunt Lislora, why are some people not in mourning clothes?"

Lislora was just wondering the same thing to herself. "I'm not certain, your Highness. Perhaps they were confused. A state dinner is usually a cause for celebration."

She was certain she was lying to the girl as she said it. King Rogath had said he was instructing people to wear their mourning clothes. To come dressed for a celebration was defying the King... to defy the King in the presence of a member of the Phaethian imperial family... The skin on the back of her neck prickled.

As she got to the places set at the table and saw the grim look on her husband's face she knew this was a place neither she nor the Princesses should be.

"I'll take them back to our rooms." Lislora reached for Kas' hand as she met the King's gaze.

"Do."

As she turned with the girls and began calmly making her way back toward the door they'd just entered, a grey-skinned, tattooed man with Kresh's fiery red hair entered the room flanked by Duke Shoban and two men she recognized from the row of King Orgath's brothers at the public blessing of the Kings.

Stepping back she pulled the girls against her skirts and pressed against the wall. Everything felt surreal and slow as she watched weapons being drawn. The Phaethian she assumed was Prince Arrun was speaking in his tongue and she couldn't understand a word of it. As they stepped past where Lislora stood she started to move, pulling the girls to the door. Someone barked what sounded like a command and she dragged the girls into the corridor.

"Guards! GUARDS!" Her shout echoed in the empty hall and no one answered. Her pulse beat in her ears.

"Your Grace!" Gharol took hold of her arm and Ror's shoulder. "We have to run! They intend to-"

The door opened and the sounds of shouting and fighting spilled out. Lislora dragged the girls back and put them behind her and Gharol put herself between them and the advancing Phaethian saying something firmly in the man's tongue.

He struck her and she fell to the floor, speaking words that sounded vicious whatever their meaning.

Kas darted out from behind Lislora's skirt answering him furiously. The man looked enraged as he grabbed hold of Kas. Whatever he spat in Phaethian both of the girls screamed for their father and Lislora lurched forward, grabbing his wrist and squeezing as hard as she could.

"Release her at once!"

With his free hand, Arrun pulled a needle-like blade from a fold of his garment still babbling in his incomprehensible tongue. Fury overtook her and she yanked on his arm forcing him to release Kas and bringing him close enough to drive her forehead into his nose, something she'd seen boys do while fighting at home in the Kroscur.

Her heart was pounding as he stumbled back and touched his bloodied nose saying something else drowned out by incoherent shouting as the dining room door opened. Before she could do anything, Gharol had picked herself up from the floor and, shrieking, hurled herself at the tattooed man, clawing at his face, only to be flung back to the floor. Lislora turned and grabbed the Princesses half picking them up as she skittered out of Draeseth's way. The men slammed against the far wall.

The fight was over in seconds. She turned away, pulling the Princesses' faces into her over cloak, herself glancing back in time to see the Phaethian Prince's innards spilling across the floor as Draeseth took his heel to the man's head causing an eye to burst from the socket. Shuddering, she closed her eyes and tried not to vomit. The girls couldn't be permitted to see that.

As Lislora forced her eyes open; Gharol was approaching slowly, trembling. "Help me get them away from all of this, Gharol."

Draeseth was staring at her shoulder as he came closer still holding his bloodied knife. "Take the girls to our rooms and stay with them, guard them with your life."

"Are you injured?" She loosened her grip on the Princesses as Gharol tried to block their view and take them from her.

"My flower..." He looked afraid as he reached out to take firm hold of her with the knife still in his hand. "I would have you stand still."

"Draeseth-" Adareth came hurrying out of the dining room and gagged at the sight of the Phaethian on the ground, turning away.

"My Duchess has been injured. Send for a Halloc, brother. I sent the Princesses to my rooms for safety with the maid."

The younger Prince looked at them and then bolted back into the dining room.

"Injured?" She tried to turn her head and he released her shoulder, grabbing her face.

"Remain still, my flower." Draeseth took a deep breath, "The blade is still in place."

Lislora blinked and slowly she realized, the Phaethian had been holding the blade one moment and the next he wasn't. "I didn't-I don't..."

Her vision started to swim.

"Don't faint, my Duchess, speak to me. Tell me, what happened." He eased her gently to a sitting position on the floor against the wall.

"He was babbling in his language. Gharol became upset and argued with him, he struck her and knocked her to the floor. He grabbed Kas and whatever he said the girls screamed. I made him let her go. I-I remembered watching the boys fight at home, they would strike with their foreheads."

Draeseth grinned and breathed a laugh, "You head-butted him. That's why his nose was already bloodied."

"He'd drawn a thin blade. When he grabbed Kas, I thought he was going to harm her."

His grin faded, "You attacked an armed man to defend my niece?"

"She's my niece too, and a Princess of Torga. No one will harm them in my presence."

He looked proud and furious as he leaned to press his face to hers. "Woman."

"Where are my-" King Rogath stormed out of the dining room and stopped, staring.

"I sent them to my rooms for safety. Our maid was trying to murder that wretch as I came out, she'll defend the girls." Draeseth looked up grimly. "You may want a Halloc to look at Kas, Arrun grabbed her and was going to harm her with the knife. My wife attacked him and bloodied his nose. She took the blade intended for your youngest."

"I'll go to my girls, Shoban is dead and so are three of our uncles, the rest of the cowards have surrendered. I've sent servants through the back corridors for healers and Hallocs to tend the wounded. We're going to war with Phaethia." He sounded almost surprised and when Lislora looked up at him he seemed shaken.

"The Imperial Princess murdered our father, their Prince tried to end your reign and your daughter's lives." Draeseth paused and she lowered her chin and her gaze to meet his, "My flower, you must stop moving."

"The letter he brought said that Imperial Princes and Princesses are to be returned to the Emperor for correction. To do otherwise is a declaration of war. I had hoped we might be able to avoid it but when we send Arrun back like this..."

"Wait to send him. Speak to Burgath first." Draeseth took hold of her chin as the door opened and Aurim in his commoner's clothes came to them with Halloc Urroth.

"One of you should come with me to look after my daughters." King Rogath gestured down the hall. "The other will stay here and see to Duchess Lislora. Make certain she's well taken care of."

"I'll stay with the Duchess." Aurim gave the Halloc a curt nod and came to kneel at her side. "How long is the blade?"

"I didn't get a good look at it. It's very thin, it didn't seem quite as long as the knife I gave my husband..." She felt the cold chill going up her spine and tried not to shiver. Draeseth gripped her shoulders.

"She may begin to shiver and tremble. The blade needs to be removed carefully and the wound will need to be washed. I'll have to fetch someone, the Temple provided me with all of my-"

"Krouth should have whatever you need. Can she be carried?"

"She should remain still as much as possible until the blade is removed, any movement could cause it to do more damage. Hold her so that she remains still and warm and I will fetch whatever Master Krouth has on hand."

"It's in his chamber in our rooms, Gharol, the maid, will be able to help you."

Aurim rose and hurried away. Her husband knelt as if he were sitting in her lap and pressed her against the wall holding her still. Whether it was her imagination or the wound finally making itself known, her shoulder had started to ache. Still, somehow her mind slipped away from the matter and back to what Aurim had said.

"You should correct him. It's Lord Krouth now."

Draeseth exhaled, "That is what concerns you, woman?"

"It seems important."

"Ganas give me strength, you took one wife and child from me, let me keep this one even if she tests me."

Resting her head against his shoulder she felt surprisingly calm. "It's starting to ache but... can such a thin blade-"

"It can kill. A wound doesn't need to be large..." She felt him swallow. "Promise me you will never attack another armed man, my flower."

"I would do it again, any woman of the Kroscur would."

"Is her Grace..." Gharol's concerned voice rang down the hall.

Draeseth eased himself into a more upright position and glanced down the hall, holding her chin in place. "Why are you not with the Princesses?"

"His Majesty said I could come back."

"She met me in the hall with Master Krouth's things." Aurim knelt next to her again with a medium-sized wooden chest.

"Lord Krouth." Lislora corrected him. "He was-"

"This is not the time, my flower. Krouth will appreciate your insistence that he be called by his new title when he returns but you will be still and allow the Halloc to work."

"He has an impressive collection of medicines and herbs. I didn't think it was permitted in the palace." Aurim sounded amused.

"Krouth was given dispensation to look after Isonei. He studied at the Temple years ago. I've never met a man more skilled with herbs."

"He should have been a Halloc." The man put something on a cloth and then used a small knife to cut away her over cloak and gown exposing her neck and shoulder. As he did something small and metallic fell to the floor. "The wound isn't as deep as it seems, Ganas be thanked. The blade was so thin that part of it broke as he struck."

"Be careful with the tip." Draeseth blocked Gharol's hand as the woman attempted to pick it up. "Kresh was known for poison, I would not trust her brother to have a clean blade."

"With a blade this thin, I wouldn't doubt it."

Lislora closed her eyes as she felt the thing come out of her shoulder, but the pain that followed as Aurim pressed the cloth firmly into the wound was far worse. It drew a whimper of pain from her but she bit back the curses. Another cold chill raced up her spine and she began to shiver, unable to stop.

"Hold this in place, your Highness. I need to..." He held up a vial and shook it. "Dust? Labeled silver?"

"Silver filings. From Ara. They use it in their salves and medicines. He finds herbs more effective but he says it has its uses."

"I'll ask the man when he returns."

She opened her eyes and saw the man carefully looking through the chest.

"He has some salves prepared, one for bruises, one for abrasions... I would have used the same ingredients for both... there is one for open wounds. Do you know if it's fresh?"

"Master-Lord Krouth made that to have on hand for the bouts." Gharol peered around the former priest with a frown. "Are you certain you have all of the pieces out?"

Aurim laid the blade near the broken tip and exhaled, there was a small piece missing. "I need to get a better look at the wound before I apply the salve and wrap it."

Draeseth pulled her head into his shoulder with one hand, holding her other arm as the man began to poke and prod, squeezing her shoulder. The scream of pain was barely muffled by his tunic.

"I have it."

The prodding stopped but her shoulder and entire left arm throbbed. She wailed as the wound was washed again but managed to compose herself somewhat as the salve was applied and the wound was wrapped.

"Take her to her chamber. She should be kept warm and be made to rest. I would advise you to pray that there was no poison, or that Ganas will protect her and your unborn child from it."

"I will. I thank you, Halloc Aurim."

"I hope someday to be a Halloc again, thank Ganas that the wound was not worse and for what little skill I possess."

Draeseth lifted her off of the floor and adjusted her, she pressed her face into his tunic.

"In thanks, I ask you to use Krouth's medicines and salves to help others. He may be sour with me, the man is particular about his herbs but I will have whatever you use replaced. Gharol will assist you and bring the chest back when you've finished."

"I will be careful and judicious with them and I thank you for her help."

Her arm and shoulder ached, throbbing with each step he took as he carried her. At their door, he kicked it and it opened.

"Where is the maid?" King Rogath sounded concerned.

"I left her to help Aurim with Krouth's herbs. She has a good eye."

He carried her in and as he took her to the bedroom she heard, "Is Aunt Lislora well? Is she going to die?"

"She's injured, my red torgandine. She took the blade your uncle intended to harm you with in her shoulder."

"She needs rest." Draeseth sounded reassuring as he laid her on the bed. "Let me tend to my wife and-"

"I want to help." Ror was standing at the bedside with a stern frown on her face as Lislora looked over.

"It's nothing, dear one. My arm and shoulder hurt a little but I'll be fine. Your uncle is just being thoughtful and protective, you have no reason to worry over me." She gave the girl a smile and saw her relax. "But if you want to pray for those who are injured it would be kind."

"I'll take them to pray for those injured in defense of the crown." Rogath smiled from the doorway. "You have our thanks, Lislora. To defend my girls with your life... your King is in your debt."

"My King, I am your brother's wife and a Duchess of Torga. It is my duty and my privilege."

"Let your Aunt rest, my fiery topazarite. You can help me choose a gift to thank her."

Draeseth closed the door and eyed her with pride before he stripped the bloodied and torn clothes from her. "I would join you in bed, my Kros Voyeh but there may still be work to be done. You will rest and when I return I will bar the door and show you my appreciation, at length." He bent and gave her a lingering kiss, covering her as a knock came at the door. "Rest."

She heard a murmur at the door and a maid came in, closing the door behind her and wedging the vanity chair against it. The woman gave her a small smile before dropping her eyes, "I was sent by his Majesty to watch over you. I usually attend the Princesses. Prince Draeseth told me to block the door and allow no one into the bedroom until Gharol returns."

"He may have meant for you to block the door to the main rooms, but..." She studied the woman's chastised face, "if you know some of what's happening..."

"You were there, your Grace." The maid glanced up curiously.

"I don't speak Phaethian and I was trying to get the Princesses away from all of it."

The woman glanced at the door and then nodded taking a step closer to the bed. "All I know are rumors, your Grace. Prince Arrun arrived with Duke Shoban and then rested in his chambers while the Duke went to speak to his uncles. His Majesty forbade the Princesses from going to speak to the Prince when he tried to summon them."

"He tried to murder them in the hall." Lislora gingerly touched her shoulder. "Gharol and I defended them until my husband came."

The maid's eyes grew large, "His own nieces?"

"Phaethians can't be trusted. Their own mother said she would kill them if King Rogath didn't make her Queen, despite having murdered King Orgath in cold blood. They're Torgan Princesses, any of their mother's family will murder them."

The woman nodded and looked to the door nervously. "His Majesty will put them somewhere safe until the palace has been fully cleared of traitors. There will be more executions. Perhaps even of royalty."

"I know that Duke Shoban is dead and three of King Orgath's brothers. They died in the fighting. My husband and King Rogath were Victors of the Melee, and they have their brothers at their backs, how could the traitors have hoped to win?"

The woman straightened proudly, "All of us who were freed will fight for the King as well, we remember that he stood and spoke on our behalf."

Lislora gave the woman an approving smile, "Kneeling as Isonei called for justice is one of the prouder moments of my life."

"You were there?" The maid's eyes lit up like a child's.

"I stood next to the scaffold with Ximesra. Isonei's voice is soft but even though the Kamrus was the one speaking loudly I couldn't take my eyes off of her. The woman was intended to be the Queen of Ara and she carries herself with the pride of a Queen."

The maid clasped her hands in her skirt and looked as if she were going to beg for more tales of the Aran woman, but Lislora wasn't able to stifle her yawn.

"Rest, your Grace. I'll keep you safe." The woman looked fiercely proud as she turned to face the door.

"I thank you."

She let the heavy tiredness pull her down.