Torgan Wine Ch. 40

"Yornaith and Yorvath were far better than Ivorith and Ialath. But House Iarmaris is known for their skilled dancers, it isn't a surprise-"

"Why do you talk of fighting and dancing as if they are the same?" Rogath snorted.

The food for himself and Kresh was brought in hurriedly, interrupting their conversation. Isonei waited until their table was set and the servants had retreated to answer, taking the opportunity to have some more of her fish.

"Are they really so different? They both look graceful and it seems the rhythm of things is very important. You have to know where the other person is going and not be there when they move into the next position, yes?" She smiled at his speculative frown. "Can you tell from the way a man moves how well you can expect him to fight? You can tell with the better dancers. There's a grace and deliberation in every movement. I saw it in Draeseth when I met him, the way he walks..."

Rogath gave a growling grunt and nodded. "Fighting requires more than not being there when your opponent brings down his weapon, but your point is taken."

"You could be trained easily, Nei. If all Arans are so nimble, uses could be found for them easily. They could fetch a high price."

"Kresh, one of the worst fates an Aran can imagine is to be taken far from home and family..."

"They would make poor slaves. There are stories from wars long past, wife. The Aran soldiers we had captured on the Lerian border starved themselves to death rather than eat unclean food. They made an impression on the Queen. She thought them beautiful, fine-mannered, and wanted to keep them as servants but even when she swore the food was clean they would not eat it." Rogath took a bite of his food with a frown. "Peace was made but the Arans refused to resume trade until the bodies had been returned to them. They burned them immediately."

"We burn our dead so they can rest." Isonei poked at her fish no longer feeling hungry. "They were brought here? To the Thoncur?"

"Aing. Have Krouth take you to see the tapestries."

"What tapestries?" Kresh frowned and prodded her food eyeing Isonei's fish.

"The Queen had tapestries made telling the story. The capture, the confinement and deaths, and the return of the bodies. Each new Queen has ordered them remade, the resolve of the Aran soldiers has become a legend in the Thoncur. Some of the storytellers have even spun romantic tales around them."

"The traditional tapestries I was told I would have to have made. I would like to see them. I thought they were some," the Phaethian waved her hand dismissively, "Torgan battle scenes."

"One is. The capture." He noticed the way Kresh was staring at Isonei's plate and grunted, "Eat your food, Isonei."

"I don't think I can eat anymore, Rogath, not without getting ill."

"I did not give you permission to call me by name." He gave her a stern frown.

Fluttering her lashes she took a sip of her Mezi, "I didn't give you permission either."

Kresh's face split in a grin. "Nei would make a poor servant."

"She would, but she is good company as an equal." Adareth smiled and tried to stifle a yawn. Isonei couldn't help but mirror him and he laughed. "You have been confined to bed as well. I forget that."

"I have. I hate every minute of it." She made a face and Adareth grinned.

"Come visit me as often as you like."

Rogath said something quietly in Torgan and it sounded like a warning.

Rising from her seat, Kresh came to perch next to Isonei on the bed and eat her fish. "You should eat more, Nei. If you waste away we will be robbed of your company."

"Our mother is not so fond of you that she would have a tapestry made if you starve yourself to death. Eat your apple mash." Rogath seconded his wife.

"I don't want the apple mash. I can try to have some of the onions though. They were delicious earlier. The fish is wonderful too, I just..."

"Mother said she was so sick with me she refused to have another. She said there were days she could not even drink tea."

"It's wretched." Isonei sighed and gave her disappearing fish a forlorn look before attempting a tiny onion with a bit of honey and goat cheese.

After finishing her fish, Kresh did the same and made a peculiar sound before shuddering. "If you can eat that you should be able to eat anything."

"Pickled onions and peppers have been the easiest to keep down. The goat cheese and honey were very nice, and the heat and sweetness of the fish were lovely, I probably should have tried to eat it when it was warmer."

"You talk and play when you should be eating, like Kas." Adareth smiled and glanced at his brother. "You should let her spend time with her aunt, if she learns to be as charming, father might give her a duchy of her own."

"I want to meet her, and Ror, I adore children."

"You enjoy having someone to play with." Rogath snorted. "Perhaps they could have some Aran lessons with you."

"Ror speaks a little." Kresh smiled proudly. "She speaks six languages but Torgan and Phaethian she speaks best at the moment."

"Six?!" Isonei beamed. "What a clever child!"

"I insist that she be educated as well as I was. Kas has difficulty paying attention. She only wants to speak Torgan." She gave Rogath a sharp look.

"I was never very good with languages as a child, either. Perhaps she'll be charming enough that everyone will speak Torgan for her wherever she goes." Isonei fluttered her lashes as Rogath and Adareth broke into laughter again. Kresh simply scowled at her.

"A daughter of the Empire should be fluent in its tongues."

"She is a daughter of Torga." Rogath took a bite looking smug.

Adareth covered his mouth and turned his head as he yawned and Isonei leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek. "I may have imposed too much on my gracious host this evening. Thank you for hosting dinner and letting me escape my rooms, Adareth."

"It was my pleasure, Isonei. Anytime your rooms become too confining, I would enjoy your company."

"I will be visiting her for breakfast to lighten her boredom. I have no doubt your brothers will do the same for you." Kresh stood and extended her hand imperiously for Isonei.

"Will you be bringing the children?" Isonei took it and rose with a bright smile.

"They may join us for lunch." The Phaethian woman wrapped Isonei's arm around her own the same way Draeseth was accustomed to. "If you can stay awake and if you can eat a reasonable amount of breakfast."

"I'll do my best." Isonei tried not to laugh as she allowed herself to be led out of the room.