Torgan Wine Ch. 16

"You're going to completely disregard father's wishes, and Prince Andnaeuth's wishes, because a Torgan has wriggled his brutish way into your heart? You'll put him before them?" Ialath looked away from her as if she were disgusting and she felt a lump forming in her throat.

"Ialath, please... it isn't-"

"Or do you simply intend not to come home?" He snapped, turning his face back to her. "My mother raised you. Ivorith's mother. Our father. NOT Liadith! Leaving with a Torgan is shameful enough, but to take a place in another House?" Her brother stood up and paced in front of her. "How ungrateful do you have to be?"

Guilt and anger knotted her stomach, "I am not ungrateful. I love my family, our family, but Liadith is-" The blow stunned her and knocked her from the sofa. Isonei stared up at Ialath in shock as he stood in front of her.

"You were born to House Ernelis. Liadith can be a friend, but you cannot join his family as a daughter." He sighed and bent extending his hand, his harsh tone becoming soothing and almost sickening sweet, "I'm sorry. This is all just so upsetting. We love you Isonei. Come with me to speak to Ivorith." The expectant look on his face, coupled with the taste of blood in her mouth, turned her shock and guilt to fury.

"NO. I am a daughter of Liadith. My home is here. Leave. NOW."

He glared, hissing down at her as he withdrew his hand, "You're the daughter of Lord Eliorith of House Ernelis. Abandon your family for these people and they will abandon you just the same. When they do, don't bother coming back to us. We don't want you."

As he stormed from the room, Amay rushed from the bedroom to Isonei's side, "Lady Isonei! We heard you talking outside the door and went to the bedroom to give you privacy, I'm so sorry!" She helped Isonei back onto the sofa sitting next to her, "I sent Cair through the window to fetch the Daga when he struck you."

Her light touch on Isonei's sore face and the thought of the Daga's joy being marred by this wretchedness drew out the tears that had burned her eyes at her brother's parting words. Amay pulled her close letting her weep against the woman's shoulder.

The door slammed open, what felt like only moments later, making both of them jump. Daga Gildith loomed like a specter of rage in the doorway, "A servant rushed into my room to say that Lady Isonei had been struck. By whom?" The ice in his voice and the intense green of his eyes rendered Isonei silent.

"H-her brother, Ialath, Daga Gildith." Amay answered timidly.

"Were you here?" He fixed the maid with his piercing stare and she nodded wordlessly. "Sit there and tell me all of it." The Daga pointed at the chair as he moved to sit next to Isonei pulling her into his embrace.

With her face buried in his zaffre mantle as she listened to Amay relate the conversation; Isonei thought her insides were going to twist themselves into a knot that would never come undone. As Ialath's parting words were repeated again, tears spilled out and her breath caught but she was able to keep herself from sobbing.

"Child. Sweet child." Daga Gildith rubbed the back of her neck and after a moment gently lifted her head to look into her eyes. "Liadith will never abandon you. Even when you someday take a match, you will not be abandoned."

Taking a juddering breath she nodded.

"We will go speak with your Daga, he should-"

"No! I don't want this day ruined for him, for either of them." Isonei looked at him pleadingly.

"Postponing speaking with him won't undo what's been done, child." He sighed, touching her face lightly where she'd been struck. "Telling him of your brother's actions does not make them your fault."

"Why would she think that?" Arissa's concerned voice made Isonei try to hide her face in Daga Gildith's mantle again.

"She does not wish to have this day ruined for you or for her Daga; I think she forgets that a Daga knows what goes on in his house." Her face was gingerly pried out of his mantle.

"He was out of bed before the maid came running, Isonei. He sent me to make certain you weren't bloodied. I think he knew I needed a moment to find my clothes, he sent a servant to fetch my father." Arissa smiled at them both and came in to touch her face. "I'll get her changed, father. Both Prince Draeseth and my Daga are outside dealing with the matter."

Daga Gildith looked at her curiously as he stood, helping Isonei up. "Prince Draeseth? Why was he invited to assist?"

"He wasn't. As soon as the words, 'Isonei was struck' left my Daga's mouth, he bolted for the door. He was still half in his formal clothes." Arissa and Amay led her back to the bedroom.

"Half in?" Isonei felt momentarily baffled.

"He didn't bother to dress. Shirtless and shoeless." Arissa carefully took the jewelry and pins from Isonei's hair as she spoke. "That man is terrifying when he's angry."

Amay nodded emphatically in agreement. There was a strange surreal feeling as she was helped out of her formal clothes and jewelry and into the Torgan style Lerian gown. Her hair was put up in the crowning braid she was fond of and the semi-sheer black cloth was pinned into place, but it wasn't her hair she was looking at in the mirror. Ialath's knuckles had left a mark on her face that was already starting to darken.

Sending Amay to fetch some of the healing salve and bring it out, Arissa took her hand to walk her out to where the carriages waited. Both Dagas and Prince Burgath were speaking outside of the large royal carriage. Isonei looked around for Draeseth.

"Isonei, I find I must thank you for helping me dispel certain notions I had of Torgans." Daga Gildith seemed coolly cheerful. "I'm fonder of your friends than I had expected I would be. Your Prince Draeseth in particular has impressed me."

"Come here, sweet girl. Your Daga wishes look at the mark..." He trailed off as she bit her inner lip and looked at him apologetically. "If they haven't already crawled away, I may send Draeseth back out to complete the task to your satisfaction, my friend."

Isonei stepped forward wordlessly to stand between the Dagas.

"I told you, once you saw the child's face you would feel differently. Had you been there as she wept you would feel as I do, that their punishment was too light." Daga Gildith kissed her tilted head as Daga Liadith gently examined her face.

"Was any of the healing salve put on this?"

"I wanted you to see it first, my Daga." Arissa answered promptly, "Amay is bringing some of the salve to put on it and to send with her."

"Thank you, my love."

"Where is my Draeseth?" Isonei asked with some concern as Krouth handed something to a servant and disappeared behind the barn.

"Rinsing himself in the cold water from the well we use for the horses. I promise you I told him he could go in and bathe properly."

"My brother prefers cold water after a bout."

"A bout?" She looked at Burgath and then to Daga Liadith. "What happened?"

"Ialath attempted to escape before punishment could be dealt. No remorse was shown and when Ivorith attempted to intervene in his brother's punishment, he shared it." He put his finger under her chin and closed her mouth as she opened it to protest. "You are more sweet than sensible, daughter of Liadith. To harm you in this house demands punishment."

"Your Daga was very merciful, they were allowed to live." Daga Gildith sounded as if he thought it were a mistake.

"Thank you my Daga..." Isonei looked to the gate wondering if they were too badly hurt, if they would be able to make it home to their father safely. "They are uhhmm they are always my brothers." She let Daga Liadith pull her into an embrace, leaning against him with her eyes closed and drawing a juddering breath.

"Had she been permitted to witness the punishment she would have been pleading for mercy." Burgath sounded speculative. "Even though she was struck and insulted."

"She is loyal and loving. Even now she worries for them. This kind of softness requires a match who is firm and unyielding." Daga Liadith leaned his cheek against her hair.

"I am equal to the task." Draeseth spoke quietly, rejoining them.

Opening her eyes, she took in the hard set of his jaw and the anger still simmering in his dark eyes. He extended his hand as if asking her to come to him and she saw the wrappings on his knuckles. The Daga released her and she stepped toward Draeseth with concern, "Your hands!"

The Torgan ground his teeth loudly as he saw the mark on her face and she put her hands on his chest to soothe him. "Please don't do that, it is such a horrible sound my flower wine." He lifted one hand to touch her cheek and she shivered trying not to shy away, "Your hand is like ice."

"The water was cold, but I will warm." His gaze shifted to Daga Liadith, "You should have let me kill them."

"If they fail to heed your warning you have my permission."

"He has my command." Daga Gildith spoke with the same icy cheerfulness as he had when she first approached. "If they come near her, if they even breathe in her direction, do not forget that you promised their heads on pikes."

"You have my word." Draeseth lapsed into Torgan and the only words she understood were Ganas and Mezaldir.

"You have my respect. Continue to treat her well and you will keep it." The older Daga lifted his hand to his heart and smiled faintly as the Torgan awkwardly returned the gesture. "You should remember your promise as well, daughter of Liadith."

"I will. I will visit on my way home to Liadith." She couldn't help but wanly return his smile as she lifted her hand to her heart.

"I won't delay her long, a week or two at most." Daga Gildith dryly teased before walking back toward the house with Arissa.

"Keep her safe and treat her well, my friend." Daga Liadith offered the same warm gesture and Draeseth returned it with slightly less awkwardness the second time. "We will be waiting to welcome you home daughter of Liadith."