Torgan Wine Ch. 44

Isonei sat up as Burgath placed her carefully on the bed, "I love those!"

"Your brother, Yornaith, said so. I received another message from Ara and issued an invitation for the next time. He promised to bring lavendela blossoms for the buns and a package from your father, but the King thought it would be cruel to make you wait." He glanced to the maid, "Fetch the Duchess something to eat and drink while she is still awake."

Yawning, a thought occurred to Isonei, "Aren't you supposed to be sparring with your brothers?"

"I have decided to wait and spar with anyone left when Draeseth finishes. Father sent him to the sparring grounds outside the walls and has been watching him wade through his opponents like a farmer through a field of grain. When he spoke lustfully of his Duchess rewarding him, I was sent to make it very clear you are not permitted to take him to bed." Burgath's eyes glittered but he spoke sternly. "My father wants you to be aware that the health of his first grandson is more important than your pleasure."

"I'm aware. There is a lot I can do besides that." She glanced to the door and he rose to close it.

"Something else?"

Dropping her voice slightly despite the closed door, she volunteered tentatively, "Before I fell asleep I was trying to persuade Lislora to help me reward him. We had a good discussion after everyone left and she seemed contrite for her sour behavior. I think teaching her what he likes, and teaching him how to enjoy an inexperienced woman would be good for both of them. She's still uncertain but I think she's considering it."

"You..." He flushed and then shook his head, "You would teach her the things you do for my brother?"

"If she's willing to learn, he'll fight as hard for her as he did for me." Isonei let her seriousness fade, "And if he's trying so hard to earn his reward I should make it a good one if I can."

Burgath's face split into a grin as she fluttered her lashes. "If he fights to have her included it will also free you have an Arrangement with Andnaeuth. My mother has been giddy at the thought of the heir to the Aran throne being raised with Ror and Kas. I think she is already setting jewelry aside in the certainty that one of them will become the Queen of Ara."

"He may accept if she invites him for the bouts." Isonei grinned impishly as she turned to arrange her pillows, allowing herself to lean back more comfortably. She gestured to the edge of the bed again and he took a seat, still lightly flushed.

"Draeseth may kill him if she invites him for the bouts. My brother is fighting more enthusiastically than I have ever seen."

The door opened abruptly and Lislora entered looking at the two of them with an intensely disapproving frown. Mes followed behind her with a tray of buns and two cups for tea.

"Sit and join us, Lislora. Dear Burgath was just telling me how impressive our Draeseth is being in the sparring today." Isonei gave her a bright smile and the Torgan woman inclined her head glancing at Burgath with a half-hearted smile.

"He is always impressive, Isonei. I have decided I would like to take a long walk. Master Krouth will be back soon, perhaps you should return to the table. He will be sour if he sees you allowing Prince Burgath to sit on your bed while you talk."

"There is no need to drag the Duchess from her bed, Lady Lislora." Burgath rose with a speculative smile. "Allow me to walk with you. Dear Isonei speaks highly of you and I wish to get to know my brother's second Duchess. He is making us all envious." As he lifted her hand and kissed the back of her fingers, Isonei watched the Torgan woman's face flush. "His eye for beauty rivals our father's."

Lislora pulled her hand away gently and took a step back with a cool expression despite her flushed cheeks. "Thank you, Prince Burgath."

He offered his arm and she took it after a moment's hesitation, holding it as gingerly as if it were a snake.

Mes hurriedly set the tray down and rushed to open the door for them as they left, when she returned she gave Isonei a questioning look and closed the door. "You're up to something."

"I have to learn to hide it better." Isonei made a face and gestured for Mes to sit with her and share food on the tray.

The Munian woman dimpled at her and climbed onto the bed. "Is there anything I can help with?"

"I'm going to need you to trust me. I see a way to get myself home, but I promise you, I won't leave you here. You're going home to Mun with your brother. I give you my word."

"Arans have a reputation for keeping their word..." She looked dubious nonetheless. "How are you planning to go home?"

"The Queen is going to invite Andnaeuth. You won't find anyone more clever; I know he'll be able to get me home."

"But... Prince Draeseth..." Mes frowned in confusion. "I thought you cared for him?"

"I do. I'm going to put things right for him and make certain he's happy. He loves Lislora too, and she's as jealous as he is. She'll be miserable if she has to share him for long. Once the two of them are content in bed, he shouldn't cling to me so tightly." Isonei took a bite of one of the buns enjoying the familiar taste.

The Munian woman noticed. "The Lerian and a few others have been smuggling things around the gate. My brother thought they had brought you Phaethian lavendela at first. It's a little different than the Aran variety. Aran lavendela is more expensive and better quality." She took a bun for herself and nibbled on it. "The men of the Northern Isles always want the Aran kind, but they take the Phaethian if they can steal a shipment. They raid along the coast. There used to be more to take before it all became Phaethia."

"I don't know anything about the Northern Isles, except my father doesn't like them. He said there's nothing of worth beyond Torga. There're only howling barbarians that make Torgans look civilized. "

Laughing, Mes nodded and poured tea into the two cups. "Your father is something of a merchant? The black-sailed ships of the Northern Isles are usually cursed by anyone who sees them. Before they went to war with Phaethia and began trying to form alliances they would plunder any ship they came across. We were going to start trading with them, lending them support."

"The Sons of Mun are trading with them, and helping them sink Phaethian ships." Isonei nodded. "Prince Andnaeuth was given a blade and a set of peculiar scaled armor from an ambassador."

"They don't part with blades or armor lightly."

"Andnaeuth said they weren't happy with his father's response. They were given supplies to take home but that wasn't what they'd come for."

"If they gave him a blade and armor, they wanted him to declare war on the Empire and fight with them."

"King Tamnaeuth isn't ready to do that. We prefer peace."

"Everyone does." Mes gave her a stern frown. "But there's no peace with the Empire. You fight them or you join them."

"Ara will never join them. I'm sure of that." She put the bun down and frowned at it, there was something missing.

"I didn't mean to upset you!" Mes suddenly looked worried. "Krouth says you stop eating when you get upset. He told the King that conversations should be kept light at meals because your stomach knots when you get upset or unhappy, and you'll starve yourself without realizing it."

"It's true, but that's not why I put it down. It tastes... There's something missing."

The Munian woman looked at the tray and then laughed again rising from the bed and leaving the room. She returned with the jar of peppers and onions and a knife. "Would it be these?"

Gleefully, Isonei cut open her bun as well as another and stuffed them with peppers as Mes watched in horrified fascination. "Krouth has only been letting me have one or two at the most." She closed her eyes in delight at the first bite. The two buns were gone in a matter of moments. And Isonei licked her fingers before sipping her tea. "Do you want some peppers?"

"They're almost all gone." Mes laughed, shaking her head.

"That's why you should have some!" Isonei offered the jar. "I don't mind sharing with you. It's nice to have someone else who enjoys peppers here."

"Peppers and honey blossom buns do not go well together, your Grace." Mes' bright dimpled smile made her silvery blue eyes sparkle.

"They go perfectly! I would eat more if I wasn't so stuffed." She looked speculatively at the maid for a moment as Mes finished her bun. "Do you read Aran?"

"I do, your Grace." The Munian woman tilted her head.

"Could I ask you to read to me while I rest? I want to read my book of Aran myths and I don't want to fall asleep on it."

"Of course, your Grace. I would like that. Aran stories are always interesting."