Kros Voyeh Ch. 30

Notes: 1) My thanks to Ellie for beta reading and helping me get the ending adjusted! 2) If you see this anywhere but Literotica, it isn't supposed to be there! 3) This is where we'll leave Lislora for now, her story will continue but it will be taking leaps and bounds of months and possibly years between chapters and it will be under a slightly different title.

I really hope you've enjoyed getting to know Lislora and seeing a different side of things as much as I've enjoyed writing the story!

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Lislora stayed still as Gharol carefully washed the small, inordinately painful wound on her shoulder. The Hallocs had been debating what to do about it. Such a small wound should have healed in the two days since she'd gotten it but it had swollen and oozed instead. Krouth's salve turned a peculiar color when it was applied and they weren't certain if that was a good sign or a bad one. Her slight fever probably wasn't a good one, however.

"Is it very painful, your Grace?" The Karisian maid gently dried the puncture and began to apply the salve once more. "Should I try to help you put your arm into your chemise?"

"Only when I move my head or my arm." She tried to give the worried woman a wry smile but the maid looked on the verge of tears. "It's bearable, Gharol, but I don't want to move my arm that much. Putting the robe over it will do."

The woman nodded and stepped away to fetch the cloth for wrapping.

"Has there been word from Draeseth?"

"No, your Grace." The maid glanced at the door of the bedroom. "But..."

"But?"

"I've heard rumors of the fighting, and some say Lord Krouth won't be the only loyal servant raised to a new position. Some of the Lords who've chosen to support Phaethia will be replaced by those who aid Prince Draeseth in crushing their rebellions. And they say his Highness is in a fury; he's a small army to himself, if they don't surrender when the first call is given he destroys them without mercy."

Lislora sighed, but it brought a small smile to her lips, "My husband is formidable, but I want him to be safe. I want to dictate a letter to him later."

"As the Duchess pleases. I-"

A loud knock came at the main door and she gestured with her good arm for the maid to answer. The woman covered her with the robe, first.

"Halloc-"

"How is she?" The man's voice seemed more concerned than usual and footsteps hurried to the bedroom.

"Halloc Aurim, it's-"

"Your Grace." The man lifted his hand and cut her off. "I've spent time reading in the archives and I received a missive from Lord Krouth. I suspect I know what poison was used. This wound will fester until we lay it open and cleanse it. I pray we haven't left it too long."

"What poison?" Lislora tried to keep herself calm and drew a deep breath.

"There is a creature in the lands on the eastern border of Phaethia, they thought it was venomous but they learned that its mouth is so filthy that its prey dies from the infection and not from any venom the creature injects. It tarnishes the silver filings in the salve. Krouth knew of only one poison that was known to tarnish silver but not kill quickly."

There was the sound of things being moved and metal clinking in the main room.

"I'm going to give you merciful breath to dull your pain and ask you to lie down on a table the other Hallocs are bringing. I will cover your face with a blessed cloth soaked in a calming elixir. Then, your Grace, we will need to open the wound. If the infection has gone into the bone or your heart it may all be for nothing."

Closing her eyes she murmured a small prayer for strength and for the health of her son. When she opened them, the Halloc stood expectantly in front of her with a spoonful of merciful breath.

"I trust to Ganas and put myself in your hands, Halloc Aurim."

Lislora took the medicine and let him help her to the main room where they had placed a table like one used to tend the dead and laid what looked like birthing covers on the floor. The sight didn't help her nervousness. Her robe was stripped from her as she was helped onto the table and covered with a white cloth, blessed she assumed. But being covered, if only by a cloth over her partially worn chemise, was a relief.

A smaller, sweet-smelling, white cloth was draped over her face and she breathed deeply trying to calm herself and mouthing another prayer, this time for Draeseth.

°°°°°°°°°°

Someone pulled her onto her side as she vomited, Lislora shuddered as her stomach heaved. Waking to vomit was unpleasant but as her groggy mind cleared she was relieved to wake at all.

"Your Grace?" Gharol's exhausted face came into view.

"I-I'm awake. What..." She turned her head and the agony she'd been growing accustomed to was gone, her arm was tightly bound to her side and across her belly, however.

"I was trying to give you the honeyed medicinal mixture as they told me to. You haven't been able to keep it down well."

Somehow it struck her as amusing and she laughed quietly, letting the maid lay her back and wash her face.

"Your Grace?"

"Even in my sleep, I can't bear the taste of anything sweet."

That drew a small relieved laugh from the maid as well.

Lislora lifted her head and looked around, "This isn't my room." It was disturbingly familiar, however.

"No. They asked to move you to the Temple. His Majesty insisted I be allowed to attend you."

"I'm grateful."

The Karisian woman beamed and then rose to pull on a cord before returning to her place. "The priests have been slightly annoyed."

"When Krouth returns they may be more annoyed. They dreaded his visits to Isonei." She smiled and the maid stifled a laugh.

A door opened abruptly, "What do you-she's awake!"

"I was told to summon someone when she woke." Gharol inclined her head.

"If you've been unkind to my maid I'll be sour with you all." Lislora lifted her head to give the priest a stern look.

"No one has been unkind, your Grace, only a little annoyed." The Karisian gave the man an expectant look and he bowed.

"Your Grace is feeling better?" The man crossed to the pull and yanked it twice.

"I am. I can move my head and I'm not in pain."

He looked relieved. "The wound was worse than they expected beneath the skin. Your arm will be weak." The priest approached to feel her head and look into her eyes and mouth.

After a few moments of this, she inquired, "Why was I removed from my rooms?"

As she asked, Halloc Aurim and Kamrus Rimathe both entered. The Halloc smiled on seeing her awake and answered, "You needed to be closer for better care and tending. The wound stank so greatly we were afraid we'd left it for too long when we opened it. We removed black flesh from your shoulder, we could only pray and hope that the bones and your heart were untouched. The wound smells much better now, we unpack it and wash it every few hours. Lord Krouth's salve is running low but he will return soon to make more."

"And teach how it's made." The Kamrus added with a smile, "The wound is now large but it's healing very well with the salve."

"Miraculously well." Halloc Aurim inclined his head. "I thought Arans were foolish for using silver in their salves but it seems, in this, they knew better than we did."

"They've added it to the list of supplies to purchase for the Temple stores."

"How long have I been asleep?" Lislora smiled faintly.

"A day and a half, your Grace," Gharol answered as she adjusted the blanket for modesty. It made her realize she was in some sort of one-shouldered shift.

"You'll need to rest for longer, and your arm may never be as strong as it once was," Aurim sounded apologetic, "but I believe the worst of the danger has passed."

"And my son..." She swallowed, studying his face.

"You have had no bleeding. You're a strong woman and your son seems strong as well." He smiled as she breathed a sigh of relief. "But you do need to eat, your Grace. We were becoming concerned that you weren't keeping down the honeyed mixture."

"Sweet things have been making me ill, Halloc Aurim." Lislora gave him a rueful smile, "Isonei lived off of honey but I can't bear it. I want eggs, hare in a thick brown sauce, lamb kidneys-" She stopped as Rimathe started to laugh.

"Something savory will be found." Aurim looked amused as well. "When you've begun eating again and we're satisfied that the wound is doing well, you may return to the Palace."

"Something that Isonei and I both have in common is a great appreciation for the healing offered here at the Temple. I'm grateful for your care. Will you be returning to the Kroscur with us, Halloc Aurim, to oversee the healing house that I'm giving to the priesthood?"

"I will." The man straightened proudly. "And I thank you, your Grace." He turned to the priest who was lingering, "Fetch some veorola tea for her Grace and find something savory. She needs food to keep up her strength."

The man hurried out and the Kamrus moved a chair to sit near her head. "You received a letter from Prince Draeseth. It has not yet been read. I sent one in reply informing him of the poison and that we believed you would recover."

"I'll read it immediately. I had intended to send him a letter before..." Rubbing her face she glanced to where her maid was standing. "I'll dictate it to you, Gharol." She stopped herself, uncertain of whether the woman could write or not.

"The letter was given to your maid. You may use one of our scribes to answer, if you wish." Rimathe smiled and watched carefully as Aurim helped her sit up to look at the wound dressings.

"I would prefer to have Gharol or Krouth do it, personal letters seem too private..." She turned her head to attempt a glance at her shoulder and immediately wished she hadn't. "Ganas be merciful..." The flesh she could see was mottled with bruises and it looked as if a great deal between the bones had been carved out, the bones themselves were barely covered.

"It looks better now than it did, your Grace."

Even so, she looked the other direction as he washed the wound and applied salve, not daring to glance back until it was safely wrapped again. The Halloc partially unbound her arm and rubbed the back of her hand.

"Can you feel this?"

"Yes..." Lislora gave him a peculiar look and curled her fingers trying to pull it in closer.

He looked relieved. "You can move it! There were concerns..."

Tentatively, she stretched her fingers back out and wiggled them, "I can move it. It does feel..."

"Weak." Aurim nodded. "It should stay bound to your side until the wound has healed almost completely. I don't want to risk more harm to your shoulder, your Grace."

"Of course." After having seen it, she was glad to have her arm bound up, the thought of moving it was terrifying. "I trust your judgment, Halloc Aurim."

"The Princesses have asked about your health." The Kamrus rose to help her lie back. "They've come to pray for you twice."

"They are wonderfully sweet girls. Please tell them I'm doing better and they have no need to worry for me. How is Hodrim? You're looking after him well?"

Rimathe inclined his head with a smile, "Young Hodrim is doing well. I won't allow him to make himself sick with worry. Lady Isonei sent him her love and an invitation to visit her in Ara. Now that you're recovering more fully the child will be overjoyed.

"He's been asking questions about why bad things happen to good people like yourself and Lady Isonei. A difficult question at the best of times."

"It's one I've never had an answer for." Lislora exhaled and tried to get comfortable. "I try to trust that Ganas puts things on their right path no matter how difficult it might be but I struggle with it. I'm grateful for his patience."

The Kamrus smiled warmly and stepped aside so that Gharol could adjust her pillows. "Rest. I'll send Hodrim to visit and let their Highnesses know you're awake."

°°°°°°°°°°

Lislora had been deliberating over her response to Draeseth's letter since the day before when she'd been given it. It had been sweet and longer than some of the letters he'd written her over the years. He was worried for her and their son, and he wanted her to know that the small patches of disloyal subjects were mostly being crushed by their own former slaves. According to her husband, he barely needed to be present. She suspected that he was exaggerating and trying to set her mind at ease.

"Your Grace?" Krouth waited patiently with the quill at the ready.

"I'm still trying to think of how to phrase things. I want him to know I'm doing much better now, he doesn't need to know about the state of my shoulder yet. I feel well, except when they give me the medicine. My worries are more that he should keep himself safe. I want him to come home safely as soon as possible."

The slim man began to write without further direction and she tried not to feel sour about it. If she didn't like what he wrote she'd have him rewrite it.

There was a knock at the door of the chamber and Gharol moved to open it at once.

"Your Majesty." The Karisian woman dropped into a curtsy.

Lislora clutched her blanket closer, edging toward the side of the bed slowly. Standing to greet the King was required but her state of undress made her loathe to do it.

"Don't stand, Lislora." Rogath waved his hand with a smile and the Princesses followed him in. Krouth stopped his writing and rose to bow.

Kas rushed over to the bed, "Aunt Lislora! We have a surprise for you!"

The King laughed and inclined his head to Krouth. "Lord Krouth, I needed to speak with you about it. My brother was insistent that you are the one handling all affairs in his absence. I wanted to gift him a painting of his Duchess. When she's able to sit for a sketch, I'll send the man to you."

"His Highness will enjoy that." Krouth bowed with a proud smile and then gestured toward the letter, "I was taking a letter for him from his wife. Is the gift a surprise?"

"No, but I hope that it can be completed quickly. I know that he wanted to take his wife home to the Kroscur and I was considering sending my girls with them for a visit." With a glance at the girls listening intently, he switched to Aran, "When the war begins I want them to stay with Aunt Lislora. I know she will keep them safe and the Bitter Keep was given that name because no army has ever taken it without bitter losses."

"We're coming to visit you!" The younger Princess beamed. "Father says it's so lovely there that no one wants to leave, is that true?"

"It is!" Lislora laughed and smiled back, "It's the most beautiful part of Torga. My father used to take me to visit the Keep when I was a child, we'd visit my great uncle and Duchess Athelosa. I'll have all the wonderful foods they used to serve made for you. Rolls with bits of swine baked in for breakfast, seared beef-"

Rogath started to laugh, "There's a reason they grow large and strong in the Kroscur. Your aunt is going to feed you until you're as tall and fierce as she is!"

"I don't want to go." Ror stood back from them looking nervous and Lislora beckoned to her with a reassuring smile.

"It would be a pleasure to have you visit me and it isn't so far. Would you like to take the long way that your Aunt Isonei took to get here from the Kroscur? We could go through the forest in the Strecur and visit your Uncle Ougath's home on our way. I know your grandfather enjoyed going that way, your Uncle Draeseth said he took his sons hunting there."

The eldest Princess still looked hesitant.

"My fiery topazarite, I promise you, I'm not sending you away." Rogath knelt and both girls came to embrace him. "I trust your aunt to look after you and I've been to the Kroscur, the people are known for loyalty. It's safe there and beautiful."

"I may invite Kamrus Rimathe. I had wanted to show Hodrim more of the Keep, he barely saw any of it at all when he visited." Lislora smiled warmly at them.

"Will he bring his puzzle box?" Ror looked thoughtful, "Mine isn't ready yet."

"I would expect him to, it was a gift from Lady Isonei."

"He calls her 'Alma', your Grace, the Aran word for mother," Krouth interjected.

"He promised the ring to the priesthood when he opens the box in thanks for her safety and Aunt Lislora's health." King Rogath sounded as if he were cautioning the girl.

"I wouldn't open it," Ror nodded, "so that I could keep it."

"That would be dishonest." Krouth smiled faintly. "He's thankful and wishes to show it."

"If it were a ring that my mother had given me..." The elder Princess tilted her chin up with a scowl reminiscent of her father's.

"I'll send him to Ara to see her at the first opportunity." Rogath smiled warmly at her. "Perhaps she'll give him another."

"I want to go!" Kas huffed then clambered onto the bed to sit next to Lislora. "I want to see the Kroscur and I want to go visit Ara and see the palace Aunt Isonei lives in."

"I would have to send you through Leria, my red torgandine, and the Dagas were so fond of your Aunt Isonei they tried to keep her. I'd have to fight them all to bring you home. Let me finish one war before I start another." He gave her a doting look and Kas gave him a smile every bit as mischievous as one of Isonei's.

Lislora couldn't keep from laughing. "Kamrus Gillaugrim mentioned that King Orgath's mother, your grandmother, your Majesty, was a charming, mischievous woman much like Isonei. Princess Kas must take after his side." She noticed the way Ror's shoulders slumped even though the girl tried to keep her head up, "Princess Ror takes after your mother's side. She's as clever and proud as her Majesty."

The elder girl gave her a grateful smile and then started to laugh as Kas hopped down in a huff.

"I'm clever! And so is Aunt Isonei!"

"Shhh!" Lislora furrowed her brow and bent slightly as if she were imparting a secret, "Isonei doesn't like it when you tell people that. She told your uncle that it's less fun when people have been warned."

Rogath laughed loudly and covered his face before sighing and nodding, "Burgath said that. The woman may be more cunning than mother but she prefers to be thought a little foolish so that she can slip things past you with greater ease."

"Is she really very clever? She was sweet." Ror looked baffled.

"She tricked Uncle Burgath so skillfully that he's still fond of her, and she got back into your grandfather's good graces without doing what he wanted her to do." He grinned down at the girl, "Being sweet is part of how she gets what she wants."

"She cultivates goodwill," Lislora settled back into her pillows, "from servants to royalty, and she does it so well that the kitchen staff smuggled food out for her when King Orgath tried to punish her by commanding hare to leave on every plate."

The King smiled, "She's a rare woman and so are you, Lislora."

For a moment she thought he was trying to flatter her, but she dismissed it as her imagination. "You're too kind, your Majesty. When will my husband be returning? There are things that need to be done at home in the Kroscur. I know Lord Krouth is very capable but I would prefer we both be there to see things go smoothly."

"There are always difficulties that occur this time of year." Krouth sounded as if he agreed. "Being so far from everything isn't ideal. I had hoped to take her Grace back to the Kroscur as soon as she's able to travel. His Highness was adamant that I not leave her side."

King Rogath turned to frown at him. "Letters can be carried, but if things truly need to be more closely overseen..."

"It will be days yet before I would consider it, your Majesty. Her Grace has not yet returned to the palace." Krouth bowed.

Rogath looked less annoyed as he turned back to face her, "Yes, it's too soon to discuss. I will have messengers made available to you to make things easier. She shouldn't be forced to travel yet. Let my brother finish his tasks and return first."