Torgan Wine Ch. 42

A slow smile crossed his face, "I will support you. If you were married to both Draeseth and Andnaeuth it would be-"

The indistinct but displeased sound of Krouth's voice carried down the hall and they both turned to look. He was stalking toward them with Countess Giserona at his side.

"I think we're going to be chided." Isonei murmured rising from the bench with Burgath.

"I will keep you safe while my brother is away, Duchess." He looked deeply amused but his smile grew sharp as he turned it on the pair nearly on top of them. Lapsing into Torgan his voice sounded frosty and vicious. By the time he finished, Krouth was bowing apologetically and Giserona had sunk into a low curtsy. "There will be no chiding, Duchess. When a Prince of Torga wishes to show his brother's wife the tapestries and discuss Torgan history he is permitted to do so. We will visit Adareth another time; my mother requires your presence."

"Seeing them was," she swallowed a lump trying to form in her throat as she thought about them again, "heartbreaking and gratifying." Before she could thank him he offered his arm.

"I will walk you to my mother; she should know that you were not avoiding her messenger."

"You're always so thoughtful. My brothers in House Iarmaris are like that. Yornaith, the eldest, especially."

"I have dealings with House Iarmaris; they often serve as messengers into Torga."

"They're very brave. Torgans are very intimidating." She grinned impishly at the smug smile on his face. "At least until you get to know them."

"I will be sure to tell my brother the blow I give him is from you; perhaps he will put you over his knees." Burgath looked as though he were trying to affect a sour face like Draeseth's and she laughed with delight.

"You don't have a face for sourness, dear Burgath. Do my brothers come so far into Torga?"

"Not usually. As far as the Dalcur is customary, but if you wish I can have the next messengers brought here."

"I would dearly love to see them."

"I will arrange it. Your wellbeing is often inquired after. I had not realized it was familial interest."

The countess asked something quietly in Torgan and Burgath answered. The only words she could understand were the names of the Houses she was kin to from the tapestry.

"Your Grace is kin to several of the soldiers' Houses?" Krouth inquired from behind her.

"I am, my father's mother was of House Messelis, my mother was of House Neriris, my brother Ivorith's mother is of House Ravaris and her other children are of House Iarmaris. Ialath's other siblings are of House Urivaris. They are my kin by blood and custom."

"Only those related by blood-" Giserona began, but Isonei cut her off by stopping abruptly and fixing her with a furious look.

"In Ara, our Houses are connected by the siblings we are raised with. I am of House Ernelis but I am kin to far more. You will find that my brothers and sisters in other Houses still call me sister and my mothers love me as much as they love the children they gave birth to."

"Arans are very attached to their families, Countess, and their definition is somewhat broader than ours. It is dangerous to be rude to anyone in Ara; you cannot tell who they call brother. As for cousins," Burgath pulled her gently forward resuming their stroll toward the gardens, "Her brother Ivorith is cousins with Princess Daeira through their mothers. Which means Duchess Isonei is cousin to the Princess, as Ivorith's mother claims her as her own."

Cousins on the mother's side were not something terribly important to keep track of and she would never presume to claim kin with Daeira but it seemed foolish to correct him. Instead, she offered a small insight into the woman and the House, "I adore Daeira, she can be a little difficult sometimes but that's a trait of House Ravaris. They are very proud and they can be terribly sharp if they feel insulted."

"What should one look for in House Ernelis?" Burgath glanced at her with amusement.

"We're known to be passionate, and if you ask anyone not of our House they might also suggest moody, arrogant, and ambitious." She made a face and Burgath barked a laugh.

"I would have said generous and perhaps self-deprecating." He patted her hand as his father had.

"My father and brothers can be generous, but if you've ever spoken to them self-deprecating is not something you would call them."

They rounded the corner of a hedge coming to a stone fountain ringed by benches. Queen Deventha and her retinue were standing in clusters around the fountain enjoying wine and what looked like cheeses and rolled meats brought around on trays.

"Mother, I have to ask your forgiveness for occupying your guest for too long," Burgath spoke loudly with a deliberately cheerful tone. "We were looking at the Aran tapestries; Duchess Isonei found them moving even before I read the names of her kin from the caskets."

The murmur from the women was quieted when the Queen raised her glass slightly. "What did Duchess Isonei think of them?"

"They are beautiful and heartbreaking, your Majesty, but it's also gratifying to see them remembered so respectfully. Prince Burgath was incredibly kind to show them to me along with some of the other beautiful tapestries in your home. I had thought that the halls were lined with pretty pictures, but he showed me they're lined with family history and stories of the saints."

Queen Deventha inclined her head to Burgath, "You are forgiven. Did she send for you this morning?"

"Father asked me to look in on her, I had intended to bring her to you but once I began talking about the tapestries..." He shrugged slightly.

"I am told she has been feeling much better." The Queen gave her a frosty smile.

"I was. But this morning hasn't begun well; nothing seems to agree with me today."

Burgath said something that sounded regretful in Torgan and Queen Deventha raised her brows asking a question. His answer made her frown.

"The veorola did not help?"

"It did, because of it I could eat very well yesterday." Isonei inclined her head with a wince. "But it has peculiar effects."

"If you were given less and allowed to sleep through the worst of them it may be worth trying again. I have never seen anyone unable to keep down sweet melon juice; we give it to children who are ill."

"For lunch, I may try salted honey again, that was the first thing I could keep down before. I thank your Majesty for the suggestion." Isonei gave her a bright smile and placed her hand over her heart.

The Queen's smile warmed slightly, "I was glad to offer it. I was told you now eat honey on everything?"

"Everything tastes like it needs honey except for the pickled shade peppers. The pickled onions and honey were perfect."

Several of the younger women made disgusted faces but Queen Deventha nodded. "You may find pickled cabbage and apples appealing."

Isonei tilted her head, putting on a thoughtful expression, "Do you think they could pickle apples? That sounds nice."

Burgath turned to the Countess, "Have someone inform Master Krouth to have salted honey and pickled apples for the Duchess for lunch. And tell him that if she cannot keep it down she should be given more veorola and allowed to sleep until dinner."

"I would prefer not to eat at dinner rather than to risk being rude, Prince Burgath." Isonei frowned at him shaking her head.

"Father will want to see you eat something and by dinner, you may be very easily upset if you cannot keep anything down."

Still frowning she tentatively inclined her head.

"Her Imperial Highness will be there, I will make certain my brother keeps a close watch on your fork."

She covered her face and tried not to laugh. "It's a horrible thing, having brothers I'm not allowed to poke."

He laughed in his throat, "Allow your borrowed brother to make introductions for you with the Ladies here. As much as I would enjoy staying and spending the morning enjoying the fresh air pleasant company of my mother and her retinue I have other tasks that will soon demand my time." Offering the arm she had released, he began the introductions.

Two other Duchesses, the Queen's sister, and Shoban's mother were introduced first. The Queen's sister was the woman who had been rude, Isonei made a note to ask Krouth about Duchess Hegana as she gave the woman a bright smile. Shoban's mother, Duchess Shahra looked as though she were trying to smile around a mouthful of thorn citron as the introductions were made.

Burgath's cousin, Lady Sebba, offered one of her brother's smirks but it faltered as Isonei narrowed her eyes slightly and let Andnaeuth's knifelike smile cross her face briefly. The other Ladies were daughters of Dukes with the exception of Countess Giserona, who was a cousin and ward of the Duke of the Vrudalcur.

The introductions had barely finished when the King's voice boomed out into the garden, "How is the little Duchess?"

Isonei turned with a beaming smile and placed her hand over her heart, "If I could keep anything down this morning I would be wonderful, your Majesty."

King Orgath held out his hands as if offering them to her and she approached still smiling to take them, rising on her toes to kiss his cheek as he bent. "Your hands are like ice."

"I was considering putting on my gloves, but no one else is even wearing a cloak." She turned to walk with him as he approached Queen Deventha, noticing the other Ladies had sunk into low curtsies, including the Duchesses.

"Put on your gloves, little Duchess." His lips twisted with amusement, but the Queen gave her a look of pure annoyance as she pulled them from the pouch.

"The day is very mild. How can she be cold?"

"Your Majesty, in Ara this would be mild for a day in the middle of winter. I have my doubts the warm dresses my father sent with me would be suited to the summer here." She reached out, offering the Queen the chance to touch her hand before she put on her second glove.

"I will have warming tea sent for. If nothing else she can hold the cup." Queen Deventha's brow furrowed slightly as she released Isonei's hand. "Will she be able to wear the Aran dress for dinner without making herself ill?"

"Daga Lothlaerith had her winter cloak sent, she can wear it indoors. I cannot imagine such a thing being worn outside in the snow." King Orgath shook his head with bemusement.

"Snow in Ara is a very light white dust that usually doesn't last until lunch. Have you seen it snow in the Kroscur? There were these fat white flakes that didn't stop for four days. I thought the Keep was going to be buried!"

Burgath and the King began to laugh and even the Queen looked amused despite herself.

"I will not keep the Duchess outside for too long but the day is too mild to spend inside. And I had thought some Lerian entertainment might be pleasant." The way Lerian was emphasized, the comment was almost certainly meant to get some sort of reaction.

Isonei put on a bright smile choosing not to take offense at the jibe. "In Leria, we have wide benches covered in cushions and we would all be lounging as the trays were brought."

"Very true." Burgath agreed quickly. "I learned to enjoy lounging in the gardens during our short stay. I intend to have Lerian benches installed in my garden when the weather warms."

"You should! Not only to enjoy your gardens but to keep in practice. It's a very common habit and you make a much better impression if you look comfortable, dignified, and confident."

"I hope to have the opportunity to lounge with the Dagas again. Daga Lothlaerith could have been much more polite but you afforded us the honor of being the first Torgans in five hundred years to be invited into his home."

"I wish that had gone better. Onsh-Lothlaerith was not pleased that I insisted you be extended the Daga's hospitality."

"You intervened on his behalf more than once?" King Orgath's smile to Queen Deventha seemed pointed.

"Of course. I may occasionally quarrel with my brothers but I want the best for them." She gave Burgath a warm smile, "Even my borrowed brothers."

"I will speak to father about inviting your brothers from House Iarmaris to the Thoncur the next time a message is delivered. The Ladies may enjoy meeting a member of one of the famed Houses."

"They would, my brothers are wonderful." Isonei beamed placing her hand over her heart.

"Aran wives would be welcomed, Aran husbands would give me pause." The King frowned slightly.

"Some of the Ladies might like Ara, especially if any of them like to dance." She gave him an innocent look.

King Orgath narrowed his eyes looking very much like Draeseth as he tried to hide his amusement. "I will not send the most cheerful and charming Ladies of Torga to Ara, little Duchess. If they wish to marry one of your wonderful brothers they should choose one of those you have borrowed and try to be more charming than an Aran woman."

"Their charm is impressive, but their gentleness and forgiving natures are more appealing." Burgath lapsed in Torgan for a moment and the King grinned.

The Queen, on the other hand, looked sour. "If she does not take him to task firmly how can she expect his behavior to change?"

"I give him encouragement when he does something I like, and displeasure can be shown without being too harsh."

"A kiss on the head for forgetting to make certain there was food you would eat served at Ougath's table is far from harsh." Burgath smiled wryly.

"He had other things on his mind and travel is stressful. Being harsh with him would have been unkind and accomplished nothing."

"A kiss on the head is encouragement." Queen Deventha gave her a stern look.

"Not at all, your Majesty. A kiss on the head is reassurance."

"He has said he would walk through fire for her encouragement, mother. She strokes him and soothes him almost constantly."

"And he still chose to-" The smug voice stopped with a small yelp and Isonei saw Lady Sebba holding her arm looking at the ground with a flushed face.

"Love isn't like a loaf of bread, Lady Sebba, the more you give the more you have. I am neither angry nor jealous."

"You had three mothers, little Duchess. Being raised in a home with a father and his other wives would help make you a more understanding woman." The King's glance to Lady Sebba was furious but his voice was cheerful.

"My mothers love my father and they love each other as sisters. I was very fortunate my father was Arranged to two other women, when the mother who gave birth to me died I had-"

"A Torgan woman would be too proud to share a husband." Lady Sebba lifted her chin slightly.

Isonei put on an incredulous expression and inquired sweetly, "Does Duke Shoban have another sister?"

"No, little Duchess he does not." King had begun to grin wickedly.

"Then who is she to speak to me of pride? She's having an incestuous relationship with a man sworn to be exclusive to another. If it were an Arrangement and all parties agreed that might be another matter. But even so, bedding someone of your own House is..." Isonei shuddered and made a disgusted face, "dirty. Princess Kresh used words that Krouth said have no Aran translation."

"You gave permission for Draeseth to bed Lady Lislora?" The King looked surprised.

"I hadn't intended to, he and I are meant to be exclusive for this year, but I'm fond of her and she makes him very happy."

"Some would prefer to have a man's heart to themselves, little Duchess." His face grew wistful. "But now that I see my son chose a woman devoted to his happiness, I can understand clearly why he was willing to go to any length to bring you here. And why Arans prize their women so greatly." He took her hand and patted it with a mischievous smile. "Would you like Lady Sebba sent back to her rooms?"

"No, but thank you for the offer, your Majesty. She should enjoy the Court while she can. The moment Princess Kresh becomes Queen Kresh I think she will find it very unwelcoming. My father would probably be warmer to Draeseth if the way Kresh spoke of her was any intimation."

"She said unflattering things of you as well." The Queen spoke coolly.

"I deserved them for losing my temper and throwing a fork at her, but in fairness, I was suffering from the peculiar effects of the veorola and she provoked me."

"That is true, Nei." Kresh's voice came from behind her. "I will forgive you if you apologize."

Several of the women smirked.

Partly turning to look at her with a wry smile, Isonei held out her hand to Kresh. "I am sorry for throwing the fork at you, Kresh." Apologizing for her words was not going to happen, but a truce would be prudent. "If you forgive me I can finish my thank you note for the lovely meal and give it to you."

"When I am Queen I will make you stay at Court with me." The Phaethian woman mirrored her smile and took her hand. "Rogath is fond of his brothers; he would not mind Draeseth lingering."

"He loves the Kroscur. It's beautiful there and he likes to stay home. You would be welcome to visit." She tried not to laugh as Kresh gave her a sour look.

"She knows. He has to be prodded into coming for the bouts." King Orgath looked pleased reaching for Queen Deventha's hands and kissing them before turning to Burgath. "We have tasks."

Queen Deventha said something that sounded cordial to both of them and they left smiling. She then looked at Kresh and Isonei still holding hands. "Is this common in Ara?"

"And in Leria. Holding hands is common for both men and women."

"It is done very affectionately in Phaethia."

"It is not done here." The Queen's gaze was cool and Isonei gently disentangled her hand.

"I had wondered why Draeseth never lets me hold his hand. He always wraps my arm around his."

"Why are you wearing gloves, Nei?" Kresh took her hand back with a frown. "Today is a pleasantly mild day."

"Not for the Duchess." The Queen took a seat on the bench in such a way only one of them could sit with her. "Sit with me."

Kresh glowered, perching on the edge of the closest bench as Isonei sat next to the Queen.

"Explain to us the way Aran Arrangements work, Duchess Isonei. I have to confess to some curiosity, the men share their wives as well?"

The other Ladies began to cluster closer around them and Duchess Hegana barked a command in Torgan to have some burly guards reposition one of the benches for her.

Isonei gave her a bright smile, "They do. It isn't fair for one of them to be able to take lovers if the other can't. The mother who gave birth to me was also Arranged to Sirith of House Beivaris. She died giving birth to his second daughter. The two mothers who raised me with my father are Arranged to-"

"Why would he allow her to give another man two daughters?" Duchess Hegana sniffed eying Isonei unpleasantly.

"Wynnan of House Neriris had already given Sirith one when my father met her." Isonei laughed as the women looked at her aghast. "My father attended a party with Ivorith's mother, Lady Kyssula of House Ravaris. Neither she nor Sirith wanted to dance that night so my father spent the evening dancing with my mother.

"Father said he knew he wanted an Arrangement immediately. Wynnan was charming; she made him laugh and feel like every care and worry melted away. Kyssula and Lady Avletha of House Brynelis, Ialath's mother, agreed. Sirith took a little longer. He had hoped to be exclusive with Wynnan eventually but he couldn't bear the thought of making her miserable so he agreed."

Giserona was the only one who looked baffled and not horrified. "How..." She stopped herself and blushed.

"Please, ask! I want to help you all understand so it doesn't seem so strange to you." Isonei gave her a reassuring smile.

"How do they decide where to live? Do they all share one Keep?"

"The men remain in their homes, the women travel with the children. It makes the bonds between Houses stronger. All of her children are welcomed the same as those of the man's House. It also makes it very easy to know who fathered a child. They spend agreed on parts of the year together."