Torgan Wine Ch. 45

"I appreciate that, Rogath, but it's not necessary. Lislora has been sour because she loves him and she's as jealous as he is. She needs time to adjust. In the Kroscur, she was a dear friend and I'm certain she will be again." Isonei gave him a wry smile and gestured to the sofa that had just been cleared.

"I cannot stay. Father will be pleased to hear you were able to resist temptation. He worries about his first grandson's health." Rogath's lips twisted in annoyance.

"I'm certain Mallath won't be his last grandson." Moving closer she laid a hand on his arm. "In Ara, they say the best pleased women have more sons. I know Kresh can be difficult and you seemed attentive, but perhaps Draeseth can offer you some advice on a few things? I know he needed some with Lislora because of her lack of experience."

His eyes glittered and his lips twitched. "I will consider asking." Lifting her hand he kissed the backs of her fingers before leaving.

Isonei settled onto the sofa and saw Hodrim looking a little nervous, lingering in the doorway to the study. She beckoned him over with a smile. "Did you have a pleasant day?"

He nodded, "Aing."

"Good. Did you find a toy or a puzzle box?" Isonei beamed at him.

"Oist. Ahh, books?"

"You found books? May I see them?"

"Aing." Hodrim beckoned her toward the study. On the rumpled bed, he'd laid two slim books. Isonei picked one up looking it curiously. It was bound in brown leather and looked as though it had been read often. The ink of the indecipherable Torgan lines filling it was slightly faded.

The boy chattered something at her but the only thing she understood was Kamrus. A soft cough from the doorway made her turn.

"Master Krouth said that you don't speak Torgan. Unfortunately, I don't speak Aran, though I understand a few words. Do you speak Lerian?"

"I do! We haven't been introduced yet, I was occupied speaking to Prince Rogath. I'm Isonei of House Ernelis, daughter of Liadith, and Duchess of Kroscur."

The skin around his green eyes crinkled as he smiled, "I'm aware, your Grace. I'm Rimathe. My mother was half Lerian and I was raised in the Dalcur."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Rimathe. Do you have a Daga?"

"No, your Grace. Outside of Leria, we serve the King and Ganas."

Isonei inclined her head trying to suppress a smile. "Could you tell me what Hodrim said a moment ago? The only thing I understood was Kamrus."

"The books were a loan from one of the Kamruses. He impressed them at the Temple."

"He's an impressive boy. I wanted him to find a toy or a puzzle box, though. Books are lovely but a child should have at least one toy."

"Master Krouth said he was intended to find one. They had most of their time taken up with questions at the Temple. The Kamruses wished to know about the boy you were so interested in adopting and about you, your Grace."

She felt her heart twisting and reached out to stroke Hodrim's hair. "I'll speak to Krouth when he returns. I want to make sure Kamrus Gillaugrim wasn't cruel to either of them."

"He was cool but not cruel, your Grace. I kept Hodrim with me at all times." Krouth offered as he stepped into view behind Rimathe.

"Thank you, Krouth. Were you able to finish your errands with Hodrim?"

"No, your Grace. I will have to take him out another day. I know that you cannot be left with only Mes for an entire day. She adores you but she has a great deal yet to learn."

"I assumed you had already eaten but if you spent most of your day at the Temple, have you and Hodrim had lunch?"

"No, your Grace. I will take him to the servant's-"

"Eat with me. I've asked Mes to and she's going to have food sent up for Draeseth and Lislora. More can be sent for. I would enjoy it." Turning to Rimathe she asked with a smile, "Have you eaten yet, Master Rimathe?"

"Not yet, your Grace."

"I insist you all join me for lunch."

Krouth said something quietly in Torgan with a mildly put-upon look on his face and Hodrim smiled shyly.

"Allow me to go fetch something so that we are not eating the food intended for his Highness, your Grace?" The slim Torgan gave her an expectant look and she inclined her head.

"If you feel you need to, Master Krouth." She tilted her head, "As much as he teases me about being greedy with my food, I suppose he is worse than I am about sharing."

"Your Grace wishes to share with those who are appreciative, his Highness wishes to share only with those of noble breeding." Krouth smiled faintly. "His Majesty mentioned finding some of your father's wine to the cook, should I inquire if-"

"Please! A bottle is too much for me to drink alone, and Draeseth isn't fond of it."

"It would be suitable for a small celebration. Hodrim impressed three of the four Kamruses he met today. He will be permitted to study at the Temple."

"That's wonderful! I know he wanted to do that. I'll need to make sure Hodrim knows that if anyone is unkind to him because of me, especially Kamrus Gillaugrim, he should tell me. I won't allow anyone to be cruel to him as a way of striking at me. But now is probably not the right time. I want him to be glad and enjoy the moment." Isonei took a breath and gave the boy a doting smile. "He should be very proud of himself."

"Why is the bed mussed?" Krouth looked past her with a frown, noticing it.

"Lislora said I could lie down but it's too cold in this room for me to rest. I may be sleeping in the main room on the sofa tonight."

"Hodrim sleeps in the bed at night as well. You may find it adequately warm, your Grace. Lady Lislora complained that he sleeps too close and keeps her too warm. She will be receiving her own quarters close by, which is why she requires a servant." Krouth said something in Torgan and Hodrim picked up his books, moving them to the desk which had been pushed against the wall. He and Rimathe set about putting the bed back in order while Krouth beckoned for her to follow him out into the main room.

"I will be back in a moment, your Grace. I wished you to be aware that Hodrim will have his own bed in Lady Lislora's quarters and he will have use of her study."

"I would prefer he stay here in these rooms with me, but the study is too cold to make him sleep in alone. His bedroom will have a fireplace?"

"A small one, your Grace."

"Make certain he has enough fuel for his fire. I don't want him to be cold."

"Of course, your Grace." Krouth smiled faintly and inclined his head.

She took her book from the table and settled onto the sofa to wait. Mes had been a page further and one of the admonitions caught her eye, 'When you are afraid and blind in the dark, hold tightest to what you have believed in the light. Truth stands fast and will not abandon you.'

The words made her feel warm and reassured, as if her Gods wanted her to know she was doing as she should. Draeseth would have his loving Duchess who suited him and he would let her go home with Andnaeuth. What she needed now was a way to get Mes home. Finding a way to get some of her jewelry to Hesh would give her money and more options. Hesh might even be able to smuggle the Munian woman out if it came to that. Things felt... right.

Rimathe and Hodrim came out of the study and she beamed at them. Closing the book, she held it out to Hodrim, "Would you be so kind as to put this with yours?" The boy looked confused and she switched to Lerian, "Would you ask him-"

"If he will put it with his books? Of course, your Grace." Rimathe spoke to the Torgan boy in their language and he took the book, opening it and looking at it curiously as he carried it back to the study. Standing politely to the side, the green-eyed man inquired, "Is that The Book of Truths? Do you enjoy reading it?"

"It is. Some parts are very reassuring and I enjoy seeing how alike our religions are in some respects, but it doesn't read like something written for enjoyment."

"That is true." He nodded and then smiled faintly, "What reassures you?"

Isonei recited the part she'd just read and he blinked in surprise.

"That verse is one of Kamrus Gillaugrim's favorites. There is a painting in the Temple that bears it. Perhaps you would like to see it?"

"I'm almost certain I'm not allowed there. Halloc Urroth insists the Kamrus doesn't hate me, but at the very least he firmly dislikes me. I loathe cruel people, and I return disrespect when it's given to me. He and I did not get along well." She pulled her feet under her and smoothed her skirts. "He is the one who gave me the book, but I think it may have been more of a peace offering to Draeseth than to me."

"Has returning disrespect created problems here at Court." Rimathe frowned.

"Some. There was a bit of unpleasantness with the Queen, and I've been having some trouble with Kresh, but the King has seen to it that I've been treated well for the most part. He's been very kind and fatherly."

"You seemed very familiar with Prince Rogath." The man studied her carefully.

"In the absence of my own, I've borrowed Draeseth's brothers. They've been wonderful and welcoming. Rogath has some concerns about Lady Lislora becoming Draeseth's second Duchess and he wished me to know I have an ally if I decided it was a poor idea or if I decided that Lislora was a poor choice. He's a dear man."

Rimathe looked pleasantly surprised. "That was very brotherly."

She turned her attention back to Hodrim who had returned and was fidgeting near Rimathe. Patting the place next to her with a smile, Isonei remembered her manners, "You don't have to stand either Rimathe. I'm so used to Master Krouth standing and talking to me I forgot to offer you a seat."

"Servants don't usually sit, your Grace." His green eyes sparkled.

"True, but you have nothing to do at the moment except endure my company. Please sit." She gave him a mischievous smile. "I think of Krouth as family, and Mes is a dear friend. I hope that if you stay with us you'll become one or the other as well."

He took a seat at the table with a wry smile. "Thank you, your Grace. I doubt I will be traveling with you to the Kroscur. Master Krouth said there is an abundance of maids there that would serve Lady Lislora's needs better. But at the moment he wanted someone he felt he could trust."

"I was a little curious why he'd chosen a male servant for her. She does need someone trustworthy. An Aran Arrangement isn't ideal for Torga but it's the best choice for our situation and she needs protection from those who might want to pry into her personal affairs or intrude on her."

Hodrim tentatively asked a question in Torgan. Rimathe nodded and answered him before addressing her again. "He wishes to know if you can teach him Lerian."

"I learned from listening and attempting to speak it, I was never properly taught. I don't know how to teach it. But..." Isonei looked at the boy speculatively as Krouth returned bearing a tray, "If he wants to try to teach me Torgan I can mirror his methods, I think. I could try to help with his Aran and teach him Lerian as well."

"A trained tutor would be more helpful to you both, your Grace. There are ways to make learning a language easier if the pupil's mind is quick."

"Your Lerian was better than mine when we visited my Daga, Master Krouth. I'll trust your judgment on the matter." She sat up and ran her hand down Hodrim's back gesturing toward the tray of sliced meat the slim servant had brought and platters of bread and cheese that were being brought by others.

Rimathe rose to assist in their arrangement on the table. He reached to pick up the glass wreath with one hand and Isonei made a strangled squeak, launching herself from the sofa. Krouth stopped him before any damage was done.

"Please don't move that. It's very delicate."

"Is it made of glass?" He glanced at her as he moved things around it.

"It is. It was a gift and it means a great deal to me. It was made to brighten my spirits and give me a piece of home." She found herself blinking back tears and took a breath before trying to explain, "My father has fields of lavendela among other things, and we keep bees. If his Majesty was able to find some, you'll get to taste some of House Ernelis' honey wine. We're very proud of it."

"Mes will be bringing up the fish in a few moments, as well as the jar of pickled apples and onions. The wine is being fetched from the cellars. It seems several bottles have been smuggled out of Leria recently. There is a tremendous demand for your father's wine at the moment and very little to be bought." Krouth gave her a stern look, "You should not tell his Majesty you shared it with servants."

"I'll tell him I shared it with friends and loved ones, which is the truth, Master Krouth." Isonei gave him an impish grin as shook his head. "Good wine is meant to be shared and my family's wine pairs best with good conversation and light hearts."