Torgan Wine Ch. 32

°°°°°°°°°°

After the stop for lunch, what could have been a very pleasant picnic if not for Draeseth's sourness, Isonei found herself rejoined in the carriage by the unhappy Prince. He sat across from her and she resumed her position against the window half drowsing as she watched the miles pass.

She realized she must have fallen asleep when Draeseth woke her with an apologetic murmur and rejoined her on the seat, pulling her up into his lap.

"Hmm?"

"How can I remain sour with you when you look so delicate and pale drowsing in the sun?" He made a pleased sound as she curled against him closing her eyes again. "I will be patient and earn back your trust, my jewel. Amending the Arrangement as you ask will be the first of many undertakings to show you my devotion, my trustworthiness."

Keeping him content made things both easier and harder for her. He could be so sweet and charming when he was happy. Letting him kiss her hair as she feigned sleep, her insides twisted at the thought of deceiving him. He was going to try to prove his trustworthiness, something she could no longer believe in, while she was trying to reach out and find a way home.

Shortly after his profession, they arrived at the Keep of Strecur. Isonei allowed Draeseth to help her out of the carriage. The large Torgan solicitously adjusted her cloak and smoothed back a few stray silver hairs that had come free before offering her his arm. They hadn't reached the very grandly painted doorway of the house before they were greeted by both Ougath and Burgath.

"The two of you together are almost sickening, brother." Ougath looked deeply amused. "To see the burly black bastard doting on his fragile silver jewel is peculiar enough to make me want to make certain it truly is you."

Isonei gave him a stern frown and Burgath laughed giving his brother an almost playful punch to the shoulder. "Have a care, brother, the Duchess does not like to hear our brother insulted. And you should be grateful his doting was so restrained."

"My wife has a sharp tongue but I think she may be too tired to use it, I can defend myself from the sting of a gnat until she is better rested."

Ougath laughed and beckoned, "Welcome. If a short journey is so taxing for her how can she find the stamina to earn that Aran reputation?" He glanced at her looking for a reaction and she offered a delicate shrug.

Burgath snorted, "On the journey here she was earning that reputation in the carriage at every opportunity. Apparently it makes her sleepy."

Her lips twisted with amusement as she saw Draeseth flushing and beginning to scowl. "Only when a man does it right, Prince Burgath. And we weren't so indecent today; his hair is only slightly mussed." She couldn't help but grin as Draeseth's glower shifted down to her.

His dark eyes were glittering and his face was more darkly flushed than she'd seen it in some time. "I will put you over my knees, woman."

"Rumors of estrangement between the two of you seem to be greatly exaggerated." Burgath had fallen in beside her and looked at her closely, "But not of your wasting away, Duchess. Have you been feeding her at all, brother?"

"Torgan foods rarely agree with her. My Duchess eats like a bird. Even when I find a dish she will eat, she has to be prodded into filling her belly."

"The way Burgath told it she seemed eager to let you fill her mouth." Ougath glanced at her again and she began to laugh choosing to be cordial.

"Poor Burgath, we were terrible travelling companions. And he was still so gracious a host when I was ill."

"It was easy to be gracious, Duchess. Even ill you have a way of charming people, the opposite of our brother in every way." Burgath smirked.

"Which brother? My Draeseth can be very charming when he wishes to be."

Draeseth's growling grunt made her look up at him. He was still blushing but his expression was much less sour. "I can be charming in the same way you can be sour, wife. It takes effort."

"You tolerate her being familiar with you?" Ougath paused at his door giving Burgath a puzzled look.

"Her familiarity is not disrespectful, our brother's wife is our sister. Kresh is so unbearable it was easy to forget."

"I told you he was nice." Isonei tugged on Draeseth's arm being deliberately childlike.

Burgath grinned broadly as Draeseth muttered in Torgan and narrowed his eyes at him. "Your Duchess is a delight."

Ushered into Ougath's grand house Isonei looked around with a smile. It looked much more like an Aran home. Elegant, polished tables with vases of silk flowers lined the entranceway and the wall sconces had tasteful colored glass coverings.

"Your home is lovely, Prince Ougath."

"More Aran than your husband's." Ougath smirked at Draeseth. "But that may change."

"I would prefer he saved his money to use in a more... commonly beneficial manner." Isonei stroked the large Torgan's arm.

"Your Duchess has plans for your coffers?" Burgath arched an eyebrow.

"Orphans." Draeseth grimaced. "We will be adopting one." His brothers began to grin.

"Hodrim is wonderful, you'll adore him." Isonei squeezed his arm. "And the villages that need schools aren't all full of orphans."

"The Duchess of Kroscur loves children." Burgath nodded. "I should have realized that when she slept in the carriage with six of them."

"Who doesn't love children?" She offered Burgath a very slight pout.

Draeseth brought her hand to his lips. "I will love my own."

"If I remember correctly, offering a bath is polite?" Ougath looked at them with amusement. "Do you wish to bathe together?"

"Please." Draeseth answered for them both. "I have come to enjoy bathing as often as my wife desires."

"How often is that?" Ougath eyed her with glittering eyes much like his brother's.

"Daily. My wife is unhappy when she is required to go to bed without bathing."

Isonei smiled ruefully up at him, "I don't think I'd argue if you wanted to find a soap maker to come teach the skill here." Turning her attention back to the other two Princes she continued, "We've only recently found some nice soap here, more would be better."

"Is that why you began buying soap from my soap makers?" Burgath looked pleased. "It is not quite the same as Aran soap but it is finer than what you find in the rest of Torga."

"My wife is fond of the one that smells of uziadamon and bruise blossom."

"Such a peculiar name for a sweet smelling flower." Isonei couldn't help but notice the way that Burgath straightened with pride.

"It grows wild in the Dalcur and the way the color changes on the petals makes it look as if each flower has been bruised. Many find them ugly but in the Dalcur the scent is prized."

"I can see why. It's as sweet as vaina."

"I will make certain you have as much as you require, Duchess." Burgath's smile was genuine. "Consider it a gift."

She looked up at Draeseth with a hopeful smile and he made a loud displeased sound in his throat. "I will allow it. I prefer she receive her gifts from me but she adores you as she adores her brothers."

"It is a gift you should cherish, brother, father loathes the smell of bruise blossom. Mother favors it as well." Burgath took a glass of wine from the tray a servant brought.

"I'm looking forward to meeting her. She has four clever and courteous sons she must be an artful woman." Isonei took a glass as it was offered as well.

"Mother will either love you or destroy you." Ougath shook his head. "Rogath spoke highly of you to her, told her you reminded him of Kas. But she is predisposed to hate you as Draeseth's wife."

"I've been warned. I hope to get along with her despite that."

"Adareth is her favorite and you crushed the poor boy by treating him like a little brother." Ougath smirked sipping from his own glass. "He was so certain you would see him and want to leave your husband. I tried to tell him a woman who fell in love with the Beast of Kroscur at first sight would not be interested in a poet."

"My wife enjoys poetry, but it is strength that enthralls her." Draeseth smirked, blushing again.

"And still she makes you wash with soap that smells of bruise blossom?" Burgath teased, finishing his glass.

"I haven't found a soap that smells of leather and spices for him, and a strong man with a sweet smell is delightful."

Draeseth tipped his glass back and placed it on the tray as the servant hurriedly stepped forward. "I very much wish to bathe, brother." He took her half full glass and put it on the tray as well.

"I think I see why she has grown so thin. If she cannot finish her food and drink quickly she loses the chance." Burgath's amused smile faded. "Let her finish her wine."

"I can have fruit sent to the bath as well." Ougath looked at her thoughtfully, "Arans tend to linger in the water."

"Your brothers are very considerate." Isonei took her glass back with a smile as Draeseth offered it again. "But it's usually only wine you don't let me finish."

The large Torgan's dark eyes glittered. "Finish your wine. My considerate brothers can have your company at dinner. I wish more time with you alone."

"She will enjoy the Court. I remember that she enjoyed having a variety of people to speak with in Leria." Burgath offered her a faint smile as she drank her wine more quickly. "But I doubt she can entice the Ladies of the Court to massage her as the Lerian women did in Lothlaerith's baths."

"I prefer her by my side." Draeseth scowled at his brother and she squeezed his arm reassuringly.

"I didn't entice them! They thought I looked tense and when one very kind woman began rubbing my feet, the others insisted on helping. I told you that a daughter of Liadith is the equal of a Prince, I can't imagine you'd have been treated so differently by Torgan women."

Ougath's face broke into a wicked grin, "Burgath has been known to have the Ladies of the Court rub him on occasion."

"I may borrow a half dozen of them from father to be rubbed into bliss during our visit."

Isonei shook her head with a laugh as she finished her wine. "I think you might be anticipating a different kind of rubbing. It was very innocent."

"As innocent as the way you rub my head?" Draeseth took the glass and brought her hand to his lips kissing the backs of her fingers.

"Very much like that. Rubbing to relax and-" Her words were cut off as he turned, stooping and kissing her urgently.

"I want to bathe."

"I think I understand why some men are so enthusiastic about soap." Ougath gestured for a servant with a sly smile and gave a command in Torgan. "Enjoy your bath."

Holding Draeseth's arm Isonei let him lead her through the house and out again to a small stone building. Inside a fire had been laid, and near a table and bench, a large wooden tub was being filled with steaming water from a clever looking heating system that took metal pipes through the fireplace, the water being pumped by a servant.

Draeseth dismissed him after a brief conversation stripped out of his tunics and rolled his shoulders back to pump the water himself as she slowly began slipping out of her layers of dress. The rippling of his muscles under his skin was too glorious not to watch and she felt her face flush as he stopped and straightened with a wicked grin.

"Woman, the sight of me is enough to distract you from undressing."

She laughed and took off her chemise, laying it on top of the rest on the bench. "You're an incredibly beautiful man, my Draeseth."

"Will you let me rub you as I promised to? I saw the disappointment in your eyes despite your cordiality. I had a long discussion with Krouth before lunch, my sweet wife." His hands moved over her shoulders pulling her closer to his bare chest. "I have a great deal to make up for. You no longer believe me when I say I will do something, too often I have made small promises and not kept them."

"And large ones." Isonei looked up at him relaxing her face, no longer trying to keep a cheerful demeanor.

"I will amend the Arrangement. Let me try to begin keeping my smaller promises."

Nodding tentatively she could already feel that it was a bad idea, but she pressed a kiss to his bare chest, the feel of the dark hair and firm skin beneath her lips was too tempting. "I want to trust you." If she couldn't find a way home... thinking that way, giving in, would only confuse herself. She needed to stay strong and refuse. Before she could pull away he had lifted her onto the table and began to kiss her as his hands roamed squeezing and rubbing. "Draeseth..."

"I will not press you. I ask you to let me please you, let me rub you into bliss, my loving wife. I will not ask for my own pleasure." His hands tightened on her as he murmured the words punctuating them with kisses along her jaw to her neck. As she hesitated he moved one hand between her thighs and groaned something softly in Torgan feeling her wetness.

It couldn't hurt to indulge, his hand was already rubbing too deliciously and he asked only to please her. Isonei opened her legs wider and leaned to kiss and nip at his neck, "Draeseth, if you break your word..."

"If I break my word may Ganas take you from me," he breathed, letting his fingers tease around and over her most sensitive spot. "Woman, tell me."

"I want you, Draeseth. Your touch mmmnn-" Her words ended in a breathless moan as he trailed biting kisses down her neck. The breathless Torgan murmuring against her skin as he kissed the curve of her breasts felt divine and she hooked one leg around him, knotting her hands in his hair as he took a nipple into his mouth. "Yes! Gods! Please!" The touch of his teeth made her whimper and writhe, trying to pull his head back. "No, not like that, not today. It feels too..."

He began to suckle, his fingers keeping their steady motion and increasing the pressure as she moaned again in delight. Her toes curled as he changed sides. Isonei pulled him as close as she could, her hips moving to their own rhythm, feeling him push her over the edge of painful pleasure into heat and tingling bliss.

Draeseth lifted his head as she panted out her release, moving his fingers lower and slipping them inside her sex curling them as she'd showed him before he pulled them back and tasted her juices with an almost smug smile on his face. "Woman..." His brow furrowed, "You taste," he licked his lips and his fingers again, "different."

"What do you mean?" She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him wanting to taste for herself, he groaned as she deepened the kiss returning it hungrily. He was right; the taste on his lips was subtly different somehow. Breaking the kiss she frowned, "Why do I taste different?"

"Did you kiss me only to taste yourself, woman?" Draeseth captured her lips and pulled her forward wrapping her legs around his waist. "I have been promising to put you over my knees; I should keep my word to you."

Krouth cleared his throat pointedly from the doorway. "The servant was told to bring fruit and I was told to bring your fresh clothes. Perhaps that could wait until you have more privacy?"

Pressing kisses into the large Torgan's shoulder she took a deep breath, "Perhaps. We should bathe before the water gets cold."

The large Torgan gave a growling grunt and reluctantly unwrapped her from his waist. "Get in the water, wife. I will wash you and bathe when you have finished."

"Bathe with me? It's a large tub, we should both fit."

"Mul dits tsvangeltuhe vor ourst yent," he murmured kissing along her jaw. "As it pleases you, my wife." Draeseth stripped himself of his boots and the rest of his clothes and lifted her into the warm water. Once she was next to him and mostly covered in water he barked a command in Torgan.

Isonei didn't lift her head as she listened to the bustling, the sound of clothes being laid out and taken away, of a plate and cups being laid on the table. When they were alone again she sat up, straddling Draeseth's hips, "I didn't think about how we could eat in the bath if we're both in the water, but I want to encourage you to keep your word."

"You miss having me against your skin, woman." He looked up at her with a satisfied smile, stroked her sides.

"I have the same needs you do; it's probably more difficult for me to be restrained than it is for you. I know that you would be eager if I relented." She traced the scar around his left eye.

"I want you to give me your desire, but I need your trust. If you need me to wait I will do it. I will show you I am worthy of all you gave me, of all you will give me again." His lips curved wickedly as he caressed the curve of her breasts and then playfully gave her nipples a light tweak. The way she winced and covered herself took him by surprise. Draeseth sat up straighter in the water and pulled her close. "That usually pleases you."

"It does, but... they feel almost sore today." Isonei offered him a sheepish look and he made a peculiar sound in his throat before pressing a kiss to her head.

"We will bathe and then I will bring you your food so that you may enjoy the water for a bit longer my Duchess."

"It's cooling quickly." She sighed and leaned against him.

"I can warm it easily, woman. You can watch me and enjoy the sight of your husband laboring for your comfort." The teasing tone made her look up with a smile.

"You are magnificent when you show off your strength."

His face split into a wide grin.

°°°°°°°°°°

Isonei picked at the food Draeseth had put on her plate. His thoughtfulness had drawn looks of amusement from his brothers and their comments in Torgan sounded teasing. But his replies seemed unbothered and the conversation that was struck up sounded cordial. That it wasn't in Aran was irksome but she'd been growing accustomed to that.

"Is the food not to your liking, Duchess?" Ougath had taken notice of her lack of appetite.

"Torgan foods rarely are, your Highness. It isn't a failing of your cooks, I'm certain." She offered him a small smile.

"The wine sauce," Draeseth interjected. "My wife cannot abide the sauces and most of the seasonings we favor."

"Father obtained a cook trained in Mun. The fish dishes have improved greatly. Their palate is similar to that of an Aran's..." Burgath looked at her and her mostly full plate with dismay.

At the word 'obtained' she thought immediately of Xago and her stomach turned to think of another Son of Mun enslaved in Torga.

"She's looking ill again, brother." Burgath's concern brought her attention back to the table.

"She does not travel well." Draeseth barked a command and Krouth appeared from a nearby doorway. "Take her to our rooms and give her Kurebra and anything else you deem she needs."

"At once, your Highness." Glancing over her plate he frowned, "Perhaps some plain bread and honey? Meat tends to disagree with her delicate digestion."

"Whatever she requires my servants will fetch for you." Ougath looked over his loaded table with a sour expression very reminiscent of Draeseth's. "Had you told me, brother, I would have made certain there was more for the Duchess on my table."

"He forgets." Isonei offered an apologetic smile and kissed Draeseth's head as she moved behind him.

"That earns him a kiss on the head?" Ougath's eyes glittered.

"There is more than one reason I chose an Aran wife, brother." Draeseth turned in his seat to take her hand and kiss her fingers.

"Even for an Aran your Duchess has a particularly gentle nature." Burgath eyed her enviously. "If peace can be restored I may try to court one of her sisters."

"If peace can be restored I will invite all five of them to visit." Draeseth looked up at her with a wry smile. "My wife misses her family; if one or two chose to remain here she would be more content."

"I would." She sighed and kissed his forehead. "But your brothers live so far away and travelling is so wretched for me."