Torgan Wine Ch. 33

He pulled her face from his mantle and tilted it up so that she could look into his fiery green eyes as she spoke.

"I don't know if it was guilt for feeling that way that made me need to spare him pain so desperately, or if it was my affection for him. Causing pain to those I care for wounds me. He is doing his best to be sweet and loving; it will break my heart to break his."

Lothlaerith lifted his eyes as if looking at someone else and his lips curved grimly. "You gave him the knife and he gave you a gift as well?"

"The Kroscur carcanet, but-"

"Break it." His eyes were lit from within and he took hold of her chin as they flickered and shimmered. "Break the clasp. He is part Phaethian, the giving of a carcanet is not innocent. It is a collar to bind you, break the clasp."

Curling her fingers in his blood colored mantle she felt herself beginning to smile. "You are Daga Lothlaerith now?"

"I am, daughter of Liadith." His grim smile became more genuine.

"I will do as you say Daga Lothlaerith, as I should have done when I visited you."

He breathed a laugh and cupped her face. "I will bring you home if I can. I will claim your child as my own. For a moment I lost hope, but I have it again."

"I am still uncertain and still confused, Daga Lothlaerith, but my Daga told me to hope and to try. I will obey my Daga," Isonei lifted her fingers to touch his lips, "and you."

"Daughter of Liadith..." He bent his head to kiss her and she woke to the feeling of a gentle kiss being pressed to her lips.

Draeseth leaned over the bed kissing her sweetly. "My loving wife, I would have let you sleep but the healer said you should not be permitted to miss meals."

"Mm. Did you have a more pleasant talk once I was out of sight?" Isonei stroked his cheeks closing her eyes again as he knelt on the bed and pressed his face to hers. The way her heart ached on waking from the dream made her feel conflicted. Perhaps Zenaethe had managed to take a piece of her heart even though she hadn't meant to give it.

"No. We raised our voices in the courtyard until Ougath politely asked the Kamrus to depart." He began to cover her face with kisses. "It was not your fault, wife. There is no need to look so miserable."

Opening her eyes again she took a deep breath and tried to put on a more pleasant expression.

His eyes glittered as Krouth opened the curtains. "Your face shows your feelings as clearly as glass woman. Even when you try to conceal them they show."

She tried not to laugh at the way he settled on top of her and kissed his way to her ear. "I can't help it. I wish things could have gone better, my Draeseth." Isonei touched his face as he gazed down at her and pulled herself fully back to the conversation they were meant to be having. "I have to admit I'm now much more nervous about meeting your father."

"Kamrus Gillaugrim believed you sought to keep me from his influence and keep yourself from his judgment. My father believes I am keeping a priceless jewel from his Court. My brothers adore you, my Duchess, my father will as well."

"Your brothers have been thoughtful and charming. I'm grateful to them for receiving me so warmly."

Draeseth's lips curved, "I will take some of that gratitude, woman. I warned them I would leave them uglier than I am if they made you feel unwelcome."

"Did you? Only Rogath is almost as beautiful as you are. As a threat it has no teeth!" She laughed as his scarred lips parted in a broad grin.

"I will give you teeth, woman." He began nipping at her neck and earlobe as she laughed and tried to wriggle out from beneath him.

Krouth shook out her under skirt and shirt loudly as he stood at the foot of the bed bringing Draeseth's playfulness to a halt. "Your clothes are here, your Grace. You may rise at your leisure." His tone was cool but not quite as displeased as before. It still stung.

"Thank you, Krouth." Her reply was subdued even to her own ears.

"Are you miserable because you fear my disappointment or Krouth's?" Draeseth's eyes hardened.

"Both. His disappointment stings like my father's and I hate the thought of you becoming estranged from those you love and respect because of me."

His face softened again and he murmured something sweetly in Torgan before giving her another gentle kiss. He rose from the bed and helped her out from under the covers solicitously, "Dress. I will be waiting for you." Without looking at the slim servant still standing near the foot of the bed he made a sharp gesture toward the door.

Isonei dressed alone and glanced in the mirror at her mussed hair before stepping out of the bedroom. "I think I need someone to help me with-"

Draeseth was holding Krouth by the place his shoulder met his neck as he spoke to him, and the servant was pale with his eyes wide. When he was released, Krouth bowed deeply, backing away.

"What did you say to him?" Isonei moved toward Krouth with her hands extended and the slim Torgan backed to the door with speed.

"Forgive me, your Grace. I will-I will have a maid sent." He vanished through the door and she turned to Draeseth.

"Do not chide me, wife. I have tolerated him endearing himself to you because he helped me try to make you happy and bring you to Ganas, but I will not allow him to make you miserable." The Torgan Prince took hold of her shoulders and ran his hands down her arms. "I have been relying on him too much to help me make you happy. I will learn how to do it on my own, my sweet wife. You are gentle and forgiving," he pulled her close rubbing her back, "easy to please."

She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek to his chest. "Draeseth, are you going to be jealous of everyone I love?"

He laughed in his throat, "Only if you look to them before you look to me, wife. Did it not hurt you to have me look to Lislora for advice and not you? Each time you look to Krouth for reassurance or for guidance, it burns me."

"It hurts that you both think me completely useless."

"I will strive to rely on you as I did her, if you will rely on me as you do Krouth."

"I don't know if that's possible, Draeseth." Isonei lifted her head to give him a wry smile, "He does everything from waking me and choosing my clothes to making me tea and breaking my apples in half."

"I can wake you when I rise, and I can choose your clothes." Draeseth stooped to press his face to hers, "I can order tea made for you and I can easily break your apples in half."

"You barely have time to teach me a few words of Torgan, asking you to-"

"You will stay by my side to make my duties lighter. It will give me more time to teach you, and more time to spend with you." He pulled back to let her see his determined frown.

"Mul dits tsvangel...uhhmm," she paused trying to remember which ending was the correct one.

"Mul dits tsvangeltuhe vor ourst zoitstest." Draeseth's frown softened to a doting smile. "When you speak Torgan it charms me, wife. Almost as much as your willingness to do as I ask."