Torgan Wine Ch. 40

"Is it a religious text?" His frown deepened.

"No, nothing like that. Someone wrote down old stories, and so many of our stories mention our Gods. If there's a story about the sea, Udnerath will be mentioned, or if a story takes place at the time of a festival..."

"I understand, your Grace. Keeping it out of sight is best. Perhaps I can find some of the prayers and stories of the Saints in Aran?"

Isonei put on a warm smile, "I would like that, Krouth."

He left with a purposeful look on his face and she felt her insides twist. Even knowing he would destroy the book and possibly have Hesh and both Munians brought to Draeseth's attention, a probable death sentence, deceiving him felt wrong. At least it hadn't required lying. He would have seen through that easily.

She lay back once she was left alone and contemplated trying to pray quietly, if only for protection for those trying to help her. The need for some kind of direction felt overwhelmingly strong and she nibbled thoughtfully on her lower lip. A movement caught her eye and she sat up in startlement.

"Krouth?"

"Forgive me, your Grace. You were lost in thought. Is something worrying you?" He gestured to his lip.

"I'm feeling... unsettled and I don't know why." It was nearly the truth. "When will Draeseth be back?"

"A message just arrived, your Grace. You will be dining alone. There is a matter that must be seen to, his Highness has left the palace for a day, perhaps two."

Her face must have looked disappointed because the servant offered a shallow bow. "I can inquire if any of his brothers or perhaps her Imperial Highness would keep you company."

"Is Adareth feeling well enough to have a dinner guest? Mes could keep me company unless you need her to help you." Isonei lay back down and then lifted her head, "How are the two of you getting along?"

"Better than I expected. She is much like your Grace, eager to please and sweet-natured."

"Good, I adore her."

"I will inquire if Prince Adareth would like company."

"Thank you, Krouth." After he left she covered her face and softly murmured a prayer, "Maeralya mother of all, please take my thanks for the protection of the dear jester. I ask you humbly as a foolish child with no offerings to give, please protect those I love and care for. Please protect those who would see your foolish child taken home. Sweet Tyhnoth, dour Tyhnoth I thank you for your comforting and I wish I had a gift for you. Please allow me to repay you by comforting another."

Curling her hands under her chin she drowsed until Krouth returned.

"He would welcome your company but he cannot dress for dinner, your Grace."

"I don't expect him to. Would it put him at his ease if-" Isonei stopped and nearly broke into laughter at Krouth's flat look. "I will dress for dinner. But something plain and comfortable."

"Of course, your Grace."

"Where is Mes? She could come sit with us at dinner and give you some time to yourself if you'd like."

"I sent her with his Highness. He required a servant and you require more tending than I am willing to trust her with alone."

"Where did he go?"

"You will be told on his return, your Grace."

"Something is wrong isn't it, Krouth?"

"Perhaps. He must see for himself."

"And you won't tell me anything more?"

"His Highness wishes to be certain before he concerns you."

Isonei shook her head with a frown. She would trust that Maeralya would see things to their proper ends. It would be nice to know what was happening but she would trust her Gods.

Washing and dressing in one of the plainer gowns she'd received in Leria, Isonei let Krouth lead her down the halls to Adareth's chambers. The younger Prince was sitting up in his bed with a robe wrapped around him and a forced smile.

"Duchess, this is a surprise."

"I've been wondering how you are. Have you had many prying relatives dropping by to look in on you?"

"Not many. And none who insisted that I have no business sparring with my brothers." His face hardened and he straightened his robe. "Draeseth said my lack of skill was apparent even to you."

"You don't move the way they move." Isonei frowned and fidgeted in her seat. "You move more like Andnaeuth than Draeseth. The heavy Torgan armor doesn't suit you and you need a lighter weapon."

"Andnaeuth never sparred while he was here. I did not know he was trained with a weapon." Adareth looked at her as if trying to decide if he was being insulted.

"He's very good. Very quick. He has speed and agility on his side, not the raw power Draeseth has."

"Brute strength." He inclined his head slightly. "My brothers say if I practice I should grow stronger and I will fill out."

"You should play to the strengths you have now not the ones you may someday have. Try Aran armor and Andnaeuth favors a sword used by the men of the Northern Isles. It's light and gracefully curved, he makes it dance."

Adareth relaxed slightly. "I will look into it. I had hoped Draeseth was exaggerating about the way you view me."

"I do look at you as a younger brother, someone to be protected," she tucked her chin down and offered him an apologetic smile, "but aside from Draeseth, Torgan men don't enjoy being coddled. It's a bad habit of mine. I hope you can forgive me?"

The younger man perked up and smiled slyly much like his father. "Draeseth likes to be coddled?"

"He likes to be cuddled and stroked like a kitten." Isonei watched his face split into a grin, "I'll bring him to visit when he comes back, your Highness, and rub his head so you can hear him purr."

The laughter that spilled out of him was far more enthusiastic than what the jest called for but it made her beam.

"Call me Adareth, please, I envy the way you speak to Burgath."

"Please call me Isonei, Adareth. I miss my brothers bitterly and I enjoy borrowing Draeseth's." She gave him a warm smile as he settled back into his pillows.

"I will enjoy having a sister. Though..." he hesitated, "I have to admit I had hoped you might be... less faithful."

"Draeseth is quite possibly the most magnificent man I've ever seen. Aside from Andnaeuth and Onsh-Lothlaerith no other men have managed to interest me at all since I've met him. And neither of them interested me enough to consider breaking my word."

"What attracts the interest of a beautiful Aran Lady?" Adareth gave her a wistful glance before reaching for the cord near him.

"I adore Andnaeuth for his jests and his way of charming everyone around him when the mood strikes him. But Onsh-Lothlaerith is more like Draeseth. They both have this earnestness and... dourness that hides their charm. But they are," she smiled at him sadly, "they're both incredibly charming, sweet men."

"One for his jests and two for their strength and hidden sweetness." He smiled and studied her for a moment. "None of us would have interested you except Draeseth."

"I told Burgath that, I think. You're all very handsome but," Isonei shrugged with one shoulder and he laughed again.

The door opened and several servants came bustling in with a large tray that stood across Adareth's bed and plates of food. A single plate was placed at the table in the corner of the room and wine was poured for the Prince. A brown bottle she was certain was Mezi was placed next to a cup at her place and a small amount was poured for her.

Isonei moved to the table and looked forlornly across the room at Adareth. He laughed in his throat and reached for the cord. "I can have them bring the table closer."

Half teasing she asked, "You don't want to share your tray?"

"My brother would scowl." His smile looked pensive, however, and he didn't pull the cord.

"Then he shouldn't have left without telling me where he was going." Isonei made a face and when he'd stopped laughing she smiled, "If you would prefer I not sit on your bed I would like the table moved closer. I'm enjoying your company."

"And I am enjoying yours, Isonei." He hesitated and then waved her over. "Sit with me."

She brought her plate over and put it on the far side of the tray, intending to sit next to his feet. When she returned with the bottle and her cup he'd moved it to have her sit beside him.

"I would worry you might lean on my legs." Adareth gave her a rueful shrug and she climbed next to him with a laugh.

"I thought it was your back that was hurt. Sitting by your feet would be safer."

"My back, my leg, my ribs," he grimaced. "The Hallocs were unhappy with me for not summoning them, or at least a healer."

"Why didn't you?" Isonei carefully adjusted herself to face him slightly and still be able to reach the tray.

"Pride. The only thing worse than being beaten so badly is having to ask for help afterward." His sour scowl looked much like his brother's.

"And then your brother's wife insisted he shouldn't tease you and that he should make your other brothers be nice. I didn't think about how that might make you feel." Isonei took a sip of her Mezi.

"No?" He smiled and began to dig into the hunks of meat in front of him.

"No, I thought of how it would make me feel to be in pain and teased on top of it."

"If they stopped offering insults I would think they were ashamed of me or thought me too weak."

"Draeseth hates it." She frowned. "He said he doesn't like being teased because it's usually cruel."

Adareth grinned broadly with his mouth full, struggling to swallow before he spoke. "He is often slow with retorts. I enjoy it."

"I like to tease but I try never to be cruel. I chide Andnaeuth when he starts sharpening his tongue." Isonei let her lips twist as she sipped her drink. "But I did learn from him while I was chiding him. It was more fun than I expected to trade a barbed jest with Duke Shoban."

The Prince next to her grinned wickedly. "I loathe that man. Burgath told me about you speculating on why he has a woman's name. You would be very good at trading insults if you-"

Something sharply barked in Torgan startled them both. Rogath scowled at them and Isonei gave him a perplexed frown.

"Is there a problem-"

"If Draeseth caught you in bed with another man, especially one of us, he would murder you and his own brother."

"We're having dinner not sex." She narrowed her eyes at him. "And he should know I have no interest in sex with any of his brothers. I view you as my own."

"You sit on your brother's beds?" The larger Torgan snorted.

"I bathe with my brothers at home. And yes, I'm well aware that's unacceptable here. But sitting on a bed with my poor sick brother shouldn't be a problem." Leaning toward Adareth she hissed loudly, "Look pitiful!"

The Prince next to her burst into laughter but Rogath held his sour face.

"Brother, even if I could persuade her, I'm in no shape to bed our brother's wife. She wanted to look in on me and brighten my spirits I think. Isonei has been-"

"Isonei? You should be careful how familiar you get, Adareth."

The younger Prince kept his tone firm but cheerful, "Join us, brother. Pull the table over and stay."

"Kresh wanted the Duchess to join us."

"I will not give up my guest. But you may both join us."

Rogath inclined his head and disappeared beyond the doorway.

"I hope you can charm his wife. She makes Draeseth seem warm and sociable." Adareth murmured with a frown.

"I adore Kresh, she's a very strong and admirable woman." At his puzzled glance, Isonei gave him a faint smile but let him see the sadness on her face, "To be far from home is a hard thing. Not to have your family and the familiar walks of your home, your garden... Adareth, it's enough to crush the soul. She has endured with grace and dignity."

"I... I never considered that it was a hardship. I thought she simply hated Torga. She was never as charming as you are..."

"I charm because that's how I am. I like those around me to be happy, it brings me joy. But as much as I try I'm still unhappy here. Draeseth does all he can, even when I'm sour enough to quarrel with him, and the Kroscur is lovely," she shrugged one shoulder. "But what could fill the void of home and family in your heart?"

"Nothing." Adareth swallowed and inclined his head. "I will be a brother to you, Isonei. I want you to be happy here."

She opened her mouth to reply but the quiet sound of a woman's voice sourly cursing in Torgan distracted her.

Adareth raised his voice calling into the next room and Kresh appeared followed by Rogath. The tone suggested an apology and he tried to bow without rising from the bed as he spoke.

She replied coolly and gave Isonei a curious look. "Nei, did you praise my strength and dignity?"

"Of course. I adore you and I admire both of those traits in you greatly."

Kresh's lips twitched. "I admire your openness. So few people have ever adored me."

"Draeseth should have warned her to be more... circumspect." Rogath pulled the table closer to the bed.

"No, I rarely enjoy the company of others, but she is a pleasure." Kresh took the seat offered to her with another amused look at Isonei. "What are you eating?"

"I haven't tried it yet. I've been having so much trouble keeping things down I'm almost afraid to eat." She looked at her plate closely. It seemed to be fish, pickled onions and goat cheese drizzled with honey, and what might be apple mash.

"That may be why they gave you so little... Did she call you Nei?"

"Draeseth hates it. Kresh is the only one allowed to call me that." She gave Adareth an impish smile as Kresh cackled.

"The Torgans take Aran names instead of Phaethian when the Empire is not only closer but far stronger."

"I would tease you that Aran names are prettier but Kresh is both lovely and strong." Isonei grinned at the smug way Kresh nearly preened under the praise.

"Arans are exotic and reputed to be charming and graceful. That is why we learn the language and take the names. We want some of that beauty here in Torga." Adareth leaned back a little further in his pillows. "I want to go the next time a delegation is sent. The wife our brother brought back makes me envious. If he can charm the daughter of a waxing House..."

"You would have to bring your own wife on a ship and come through Phaethia. The Lerians will not allow another Aran woman to slip through again," Rogath cautioned. "And you would need to be able to fight and win to pass through that place. Even a Prince of Torga is not guaranteed passage."

"The problem wasn't that I'm Aran, it's that I'm a daughter of Liadith," Isonei interjected. "If you have King Tamnaeuth's permission and you follow the laws and customs of Leria you shouldn't have any difficulty. Draeseth would very likely have been permitted to bring me if he had waited for the Dagas to sort it out amongst themselves." She tried a bite of the fish and chewed carefully. It had a great deal of heat to it but also notes of honey. Taking a second bite she realized the room had gone quiet and they were staring at her.

"Burgath said there was no way to avoid the unpleasantness. They were forbidden to bring you under the gate." Rogath narrowed his eyes.

"Daga Lothaerith forbade it, yes. But Daga Liadith had recognized the match and permitted me to leave his house with the intention of allowing me to cross. They would have had the dispute mediated by another Daga. It would have taken longer and Draeseth is not a patient man. The possibility that it might have been decided in Lothlaerith's favor was there as well. He wouldn't risk it even though I advised him to wait."

Rogath grunted much like his brother and nodded. "He proved Lothlaerith right. That Torgans cannot be trusted."

"Yes. He and Burgath had been welcomed and had made a very good impression on Liadith and Gildith. If Draeseth could have been patient..."

"We would have had a foothold." Adareth sat up and leaned slightly toward her, "Burgath said they were welcomed because of you. You smoothed things considerably, could you do it again?"

"Perhaps, but not from here. I would have to go back and..."

"They would not allow you to return."

"No. Not after everything that's happened."

"If you have value, your children will have value." Kresh smiled faintly and rose to take Isonei's fork and a bite of her fish.

"My daughters more than my sons, I think." Isonei took the fork back as Kresh made a delighted face and half closed her eyes. "The fish is excellent. I'm eating slowly to make sure it stays down."

"I may buy the Munian cook from his Majesty. This tastes like a dish that could be served at the Emperor's table."

"Absolutely not! If anyone hires him away from the King it will be me!" Isonei playfully poked at Kresh with her fork and the Phaethian woman snorted and picked up the knife.

"I would win in a fight, Nei."

"What would you like to wager, my dear Kresh?" Isonei gave her a bright smile and climbed down from the bed. "The boys sparred for our amusement we could spar for theirs while we wait for your dinner to arrive."

Rogath and Adareth broke into laughter as she tried to imitate the gesture they'd made with their practice weapons before the bouts.

"This will be a short bout, Nei. I learned from my brothers a little of swordplay."

"I learned from mine how to poke someone when they're trying to wriggle away!" She laughed and leapt back as Kresh jabbed the knife at her. "No fair to start before I'm ready!"

Kresh's face split into a grin, "A fight is never fair."

"I'll try to remember that!" Isonei laughed as she barely managed to evade Kresh's slashes and thrusts. As the Phaethian woman grew frustrated she saw her opening, slipping behind her and jabbing her in the shoulder with the fork.

Isonei's eyes widened as the woman began to curse in several languages.

"Try that with me, Duchess." Rogath grinned wickedly and Isonei shook her head with a laugh.

"I've tried to poke your brother often enough to know my choices are losing or winning without dignity." She made a face and gave Kresh a playful blink that made her expression soften slightly from outrage to peeved curiosity.

"Explain."

"The two of them are very alike in manner, dear Kresh. I would either lose and be poked hard enough to leave a mark or I'd win and he'd do what Draeseth would in his stead if I poked him with a fork."

Rogath began to laugh, leaning forward onto the table. "I would think twice before I put my brother's wife over my knees."

"I remember how you were at the table at Burgath's Keep. Treating me like a misbehaving child came very easily to you!" She grinned impishly as he seemed to hurriedly explain himself to his wife.

"You are full of mischief, Isonei." Adareth leaned back with a sly smile patting the space next to him again. "Did you learn to fight with your brothers?"

"No, I learned to dance with them. I wasn't allowed to roughhouse with them, but I could poke them and they would try to poke me back when father wasn't looking."

"You were very light on your feet." He smiled as she settled back into the spot next to him.

"I'm an excellent dancer. I had six brothers to practice with and I danced as often as I could at parties. I love it."

"I will send my dance instructor to you. You should learn the Torgan dances. Perhaps your husband will take pity on his poor weak brother and let you dance with me just once."

"I'll pout at him until he does." She laughed as he flushed and straightened his robe with a smile. "But I shouldn't make any promises; I tried pouting at him to get him to dance with me. It didn't work." She gave Adareth one of Draeseth's flat glowers and set both Torgans laughing again.

"I cannot understand how he could deny you anything." Adareth turned his eyes to his plate and prodded his meat for a moment. "Were your brothers skilled fighters?"