Torgan Wine Ch. 05

They were putting her hair up in the older Lerian fashion she favored, half up and half down when Draeseth interrupted. "No. In the Torgan style." The frown he directed at the maids made them step back.

"You could try suggesting it without scowling like a storm cloud, my beautiful Draeseth. They don't know you're more of a kitten than a beast." Isonei tried to contain her laughter as he blushed and bent to whisper in her ear, his black eyes glittering as he held her gaze in the mirror.

"I will give you more next time since it was, clearly, not enough."

"How can I resist teasing you when you keep looking at me like that, my flower wine?" She lifted her hand to touch his face and heard his soft groan as he brushed her hair back to kiss behind her ear.

"Perhaps your Highness would care to wait with Prince Burgath?" Krouth carefully suggested.

"I would not trade a view of my silver Aran jewel for my brother's face, not for any persuasion a man might give me," Draeseth spoke with a proud smile as he straightened and rested a hand on her head. "Will you wear your hair in the Torgan style for me, my jewel?"

"For you, my flower wine." She couldn't stop smiling, he looked so pleased by her words.

One of the braver maids stepped forward to shoo him back and undo the work they had started. Isonei giggled with them as they whispered in Lerian, asking if he was really a kitten as the one maid who spoke Aran translated their conversation. From his annoyed expression she thought he might at least understand them.

In Lerian she teased, "He is very like honey." The maids giggled and he blushed trying and failing to look at her sternly.

The Torgan style the maids chose involved four braids crisscrossing her head and a piece of semi-sheer black cloth carefully pinned in place covering it from the crown of her head to the nape of her neck. She took in the severity of it in comparison to the carefully twisted and artfully arranged Aran styles. The maids looked a little nervous as she examined it.

"Why is it covered?" Isonei asked curiously shifting her eyes to Draeseth.

"It's traditional for wives to cover part of their hair. You look..." If the maids weren't there she was certain he'd be bending her over the vanity, it took him a moment to compose himself, "I didn't think it was possible for you to look more exquisite than you did the night I met you."

Smiling as she rose, she turned to run her hands over the embroidery at his shoulders. "I prefer you in Aran doublets but you look most beautiful with that joyful-"

Draeseth cut her off with an ardent kiss. "I am joyful every moment you are with me, woman." He murmured pressing his face against hers.

"And so beautiful I cannot look upon you enough."

Sweeping her up he barked at Krouth, who was already frowning and opening his mouth to chide them, "Leave us. We will be late to breakfast."

"You will not." Burgath snapped rubbing his face in the doorway. "I made certain you had extra time to dress, and we have a bit of time still, but not enough for what you want to do with your Aran jewel." A bit more gently he continued, "She looks the part of a demure Lady and a virtuous wife, but you spoil the effect by kissing her so shamelessly and sweeping her up like a beast stealing away a village girl."

"Does that happen often in Torga?" Isonei asked brightly sending the maid who spoke Aran into a fit of giggles.

Burgath looked less amused. "Compose yourselves."

Draeeseth made a sound between a snarl and a sigh as he set her carefully on her feet.

"The sounds you make, my flower wine." Standing and smiling at him would not be the best use of time, and, she had to admit, would probably lead to other things. It would be nice to visit the old Daga and pay her respects if there was enough time, with the added benefit of serving to keep them out of trouble. "Is there enough time before breakfast for me to pay my respects to the old Daga?"

Blinking in surprise, Burgath looked to the maids, "I don't know, they may know better."

"Daga Liadith said you were to be permitted if you wished." Krouth smoothly answered. "It will be arranged. Perhaps it would be best if you all gathered in the courtyard while you wait for the Daga?"

Being shooed from her rooms by a servant was new and amusing for Isonei. "That's a lovely idea, Krouth. Thank you for suggesting it."

The man's eyes widened at her sweet tone and he looked as though he wished to back from the room.

"You do that to see his reaction," Draeseth muttered wrapping her arm around his.

"He acts like I'm going to attack him, I find it deeply amusing, my Draeseth." The look of indignation dawning on Krouth's face made her smile mischievously.

"He probably thinks you're trying to seduce him, Lady Isonei." Burgath was trying not to smirk.

"I wouldn't. Even if I weren't exclusive with Draeseth, he said Krouth has been loyal and that isn't something to toy with." She glanced at Krouth apologetically as they stepped out of the room and saw the slim Torgan incline his head slightly.

"Krouth is quite devout, Lady Isonei. Your," he paused looking for a word, "Aran charms are the sort of thing spoken of as temptations from Mezaldir himself."

"Torgans are baffling, to me." Looking up at Draeseth's annoyed face, she squeezed his arm. "But that is part of the charm."

"Will you find me less charming as you come to know me?" He looked down with a half smile.

"I doubt that, my flower wine. The more I know you the more I adore you." She brought his hand to her mouth to kiss his fingers.

"Areshen," Burgath muttered.

"Lady Isonei?" A young man in servant's garb approached and bowed. "I was told that if you wish to pay your respects before breakfast you are welcome to do so. Daga Liadith will not take your tardiness to breakfast as an insult. His father very much wished to have you visit."

"Thank you. I think I still know the way but an escort would be kind."

The young man beamed. "Of course, Lady Isonei." Turning to bow to the Princes, in turn, he assured them, "Someone will come to fetch you for breakfast shortly your Highnesses."

"Isonei." Draeseth placed a cautioning hand on hers. "I wish you to remain by my side."

"Visiting the family crypt is a very private thing for Lerians, my flower wine. Strangers are not given that privilege. To pay my respects I need to go by myself, and I very much want to. The elder Daga was a wonderfully dear man." She hadn't expected his jealousy to prevent her from visiting a crypt, and it concerned her almost as much as the thought of not being able to pay her respects.

"Let her go for a few moments, brother. No one will steal her as she visits a crypt." Burgath's reassurance didn't seem to soothe him but Draeseth released her hand.

"I will join you for breakfast as soon as I've finished, my Draeseth." He gave her a frown but inclined his head. Walking away from him when he was unhappy was difficult, she wanted to turn around and embrace him. But she knew if she did he wouldn't let her go to the crypt at all.

The crypt itself was beneath the family wing of the Daga's spacious home. Where the homes of wealthy Arans rose above the ground for the view, the homes of wealthy Lerians sprawled, with courtyards and gardens inside the walls. And below, the family crypt was well kept and no less spacious.

Statues of their kin lined the corridors, and the sargs in their chambers were carved ornately from stone. In front of each was a kneeler that a family member could come and respectfully converse upon. There was almost always a veiled priest waiting to comfort the visitors, but this morning she didn't see one.

Isonei was led to the chamber that held the elder Daga, his statue looked as though he'd been frozen in stone in the middle of a conversation. It would have pleased him. As she stepped inside her escort departed, giving her privacy.

Sinking onto the kneeler, she bowed her head. "I am very sorry I never came back while you were living, my Daga. I did think of you." It wasn't a lie but it wasn't as true as she suddenly felt it should have been. The quiet made her tearful. He would not have liked the quiet.

"Hush, sweet girl. The Daga is pleased to see you, he would not have you weep."

The priest's voice made her jump. With a deep breath, she wiped her eyes, trying to put together a sentence, "I was think that it is too quiet, and he would not have liked it."

A hand laid on the crown of her head. "True, he loved to talk with anyone who would listen, and to listen when there were tales to be told. But I think he would be teasing you for letting your Lerian grow clumsy."

Nodding under his hand, she had to smile, "Yes. And he would not stop until I laughed so hard I had to speak Aran. He was always good-tempered and uhhmmm people were happy with him."

The priest laughed quietly, "He made people happy. Some of them, yes. You have not yet spoken with the new Daga. He wishes to tell you that you should value honesty over gentleness. Neither of you behaved well, but he is so pleased to have you back in his home you are forgiven."

"I am sorry for the way I behaved. I did not uhhmm suffer the-the heartbreaking well."

"You were young. Few can say they suffer heartbreak well even as they age, sweet girl. Perhaps you can forgive the new Daga?"

"Yes. I can forgive. I will be honest to him."

"Always such a sweet girl. Come back before you leave and tell the new Daga to visit his father."

"I will do that." She sighed as the priest lifted his hand.

"You may kiss the name if you wish."

Smiling as she rose from the kneeler and stepped over it, a Daga's personal, private name was a well-kept secret to all but his family. To be allowed to lean over the sarg and kiss the carved name was an honor rarely extended to any but his own children. Isonei did it gladly.

The servant was waiting outside the entrance to the family crypts and bowed as she came back out. He escorted her to the dining room where it seemed she was only just late. The Daga was seating himself as she entered.

"Lady Isonei. It seems my father was pleased to see you," the Daga offered coolly. "You wear a grave flower."

"He was, he asked that I come again before I go and to tell you to visit your father." She inclined her head respectfully.

"What is on your head, my jewel?" Draeseth was rising with a scowl.

"The Daga says I have a grave flower. They can't be seen in mirrors and they fade in the sunlight, there's no need to look so unhappy about it my Draeseth." Isonei raised a placating hand as he approached. "They're a sign of affection from beyond the grave."

He stared, horrified, at her hair.

"You were always my father's favorite." The Daga muttered with bitterness creasing his grey face, "Why would that ever change?"

"He loved you dearly, you were just too sullen and hard headed sometimes to accept it."

"Is that why you left and stopped speaking to me? I thought I'd just bored you." His tone changed from sullen to vicious and the muddy green of his eyes grew brighter and clearer.

"Truly? Why would you concern yourself with a means to an end? The key to her father's coffers and a pleasant diversion until you find a better, more worthy, match." The words spilled out like ice water.

The Daga bowed his head and his long, pale yellow hair fell forward across his face. "I didn't know you'd overheard that bit of cruel stupidity."

"You were the first to ever break my heart and I didn't take it well. For that I'm sorry. Perhaps you'll be able to forgive me for the cruelty of not answering you. I wanted you to hurt like you hurt me." She stroked Draeseth's hand as he tried to take her arm, "Please sit, my flower wine, this should have been a private conversation years ago."

Turning her attention back to the intently listening Daga, she continued, "Your father said neither of us behaved well and asked me to forgive you. It was easy to do. It was a long time ago and we were both far too young to be thinking of arrangements."

"He knew I'd be too stubborn to ask you for forgiveness myself. That you would ask me for it after what I said... you were always sweeter than you were sensible." He winced and rose from his seat, gathering the brilliant scarlet of his mantle absently and keeping it off of the table. "I have been far worse behaved than you, Lady Isonei. I forgive you, and I am grateful for your forgiveness. Allow me to welcome you as a favored daughter." With a slight bow, he gestured to his side, "Join me."

"If I were a daughter of your father's house I would have been a terrible one, I didn't visit when I should have." Isonei smiled wryly giving him the chance to change his mind.

"Your Daga requires your presence." He took his seat again as the servants began to scramble laying a place next to him and fetching a chair.

She tried not to laugh as she approached. "I remember your father saying that to you more than once."

"It was always effective." His lips twisted and he switched to Lerian, "The Torgan seems upset."

"Yes. He worries someone will uhhmm steal me."

"I've missed the way you speak Lerian, your word choices were sometimes very entertaining." He sat back in his chair looking at Draeseth with amusement. "He's jealous because he thinks you'll run away with another?"

"No, he's afraid someone will steal me." She gave the Daga a pointed look as he turned his head toward her. "Prince Andnaeuth managed to snatch me away for four months, Prince Draeseth should know he has no reason to be jealous."

"I see. You're willingly exclusive to him?" The Daga looked at her with surprise.

"Until the next festival of Maeralya, yes. We're considering what we might want afterward until then as well." Offering that might help ease Draeseth's mind. When she lifted her eyes she saw his pleased smile and felt relieved.

"How?" Daga Liadith drew her attention back. "How could a Torgan win something you prize so dearly? Even when I knew you, you refused to commit to being exclusive."

"You say Torgan like it's an insult, the same way your friend said Aran." Isonei tilted her chin up and frowned.

He tapped his fingers on the table and smiled faintly. "I didn't mean it as one. I simply can't think of anyone more unsuited to a sweet-natured creature like yourself than the Beast of Kroscur."

"He's the first person to make me want to try. Prince Draeseth is charming and sweet." She frowned as the Daga snorted and shook his head putting food on her plate.

"What did he do to make you think that? That's what I want to know."

"He made me feel safe, he offered kindness when he had no reason to. And he was so earnest and eager." Isonei stopped as the Daga held up his hand.

"Who made you feel unsafe? If your father hasn't dealt with the issue your Daga will." The scowl on his face could rival the worst of Draeseth's.

"Feyrith hasn't dared show his face since my Draeseth frowned at him and rolled his shoulders back." She allowed herself a proud smile.

"House Syviis? I was certain he was lying about having you nearly ready to become exclusive to try to impress Daga Gildith. He was trying to force you?"

"Yes. I declined him. He insisted and would not leave me in peace."

He sucked his lips against his teeth and then turned back toward the Torgans. "It seems I owe a debt to Prince Draeseth. Protecting a member of my family, even if she is not blood, is admirable and to be rewarded. Daga Gildith will be made aware and I will not have anything further to do with House Syviis." He glanced back to Isonei. "Your father did nothing? Did he know?"

"He approved of Feyrith and tried to encourage me to reconsider. Feyrith has been begging his forgiveness since the festival when my choice became such a," she took a breath, "topic of conversation."

"My father always thought you should have been kept here. Your father was insufferable."

"I love my father." Isonei felt her face flush with anger. The man could be insufferable and he had been wrong to push her toward Feyrith but it wasn't the Daga's place to say such a thing.

"You are sweeter than you are sensible. At the very least Torgans are known for pragmatism. If this one keeps you safe and happy, I approve." He took a large bite of the fruit-filled sweet roll he'd lifted off of his plate. The look on his face was one she remembered. He'd provoked her to the point of being furious and maneuvered himself to a point she couldn't see a way to take him to task for it. One of his favorite games.

"You are infuriating, my Daga." The urge to throw a plate of food at him was almost overwhelming.

He started to laugh and covered his face. "Father always said not to provoke you, one day you'd throw something heavy at me." Sliding his hand down with a pensive half smile, "I don't think I've laughed since he died."

"He could make anyone laugh. He was the only person who never chided me, not for anything."

"He enjoyed having someone to laugh with. My sense of humor wasn't like his, I got angry when he teased me. You, sweet girl, always laughed. You listened to him talk without being annoyed at the length of his stories." The Daga took a breath and then another bite as if he were contemplating something before he spoke again. "You'll stay another night. Father would insist."

An invitation from the Daga was not to be declined, but he almost seemed hesitant. It made her curious. "Why did your father have to ask you to come visit him?"

"If you don't want to stay you may decline." He turned his attention to his plate.

"Have you been avoiding him?"

The Daga stiffened and sucked his lips against his teeth. "Eat. Your Daga will discuss this with you in private."

"As my Daga prefers." Lowering her voice to a whisper and switching back into Lerian, "I will scold when you have not been keeping my Daga company."

"You were always his favorite, and I am your Daga." His smile was sharp. "Clear your plate daughter of Liadith."

Isonei knew better than to sigh audibly at the table even when she was being treated like a child. She turned her attention to the plate he'd filled for her, it looked like more than she would be able to eat without feeling ill. The very sweet Lerian breakfasts had been a delight when she was a child, but at the moment she would have loved... biting into one of the rolls she found it filled with manirel. It was a bit odd in the slightly sweet Lerian roll but still very welcome.

Glancing down to Draeseth she wondered if he'd encountered any of the spicy rolls, the scowl on his face as he sat at the table without eating had her teeth worrying the inside of her lip again before she realized it. Despite the fact she was no longer hungry, she looked back down at her plate and began to eat. The Daga said to clear her plate and she'd need the energy to try to soothe Draeseth.