Torgan Wine Ch. 46

Isonei removed her own small clothes and was pleased to see the bleeding had barely left anything at all on the padding. Draeseth took them from her and moved to the door opening it just a crack to speak to someone in Torgan and pass them through. He rejoined her and they began to wash their faces in the large basin of hot water.

"Rimathe was sent to fetch warm water." Draeseth scowled at the steaming basin.

"He's learning. The important thing is that Krouth trusts him to look after Lislora."

The guilty look on his face suggested she was mistaken and he didn't wish to be the one who told her so.

"Draeseth? Is something wrong?" She wrung out a cloth and began washing his chest.

The large Torgan stopped her. "Rimathe is not intended to be Lislora's servant. He and Krouth will stay in our rooms because you require more care. Mes will move into Lislora's rooms and serve her. It will be a good test. You are very friendly with her, but she needs to know how to behave as a servant as well as a companion."

Letting him see her hurt and displeasure clearly on her face, she objected, "If you're punishing me because I let her sit with me and shared some of my food..." A lump formed in her throat and her eyes welled without her needing to feign it.

"No. My Isonei, this is not punishment."

"Hodrim is being sent to stay with Lislora and so is Mes. How is that not punishment?" She let him press his face to hers.

"I will have her bring Hodrim to you daily. You will not be robbed of your comforts, my gentle wife."

Taking a deep breath, she knew that was the best she could hope for and nodded. Before she could actually say anything a sharp rap came at the door and it opened abruptly.

Lislora peered in with disapproval as if she expected them to be having sex. The sight of the cloth in Isonei's hand made her look relieved.

"Krouth thought I should not disturb you but..."

"We do tend to linger when washing. That's my fault." Beckoning her in, Isonei put the cloth back into the hot water and resumed her washing of Draeseth's chest. The large Torgan seemed uncomfortable and she gave him a questioning look.

"Perhaps I should wash myself." He sounded uncertain and she offered him the cloth with a reassuring smile, refraining from teasing him.

"I can wash you." Lislora stepped forward immediately.

"I will wash myself." The glance he gave her made the Torgan woman wilt slightly.

"You're both learning and both of you have jealous natures, Draeseth. Be patient and speak to her, don't just give her a look and expect her to understand what you need."

"You do." He murmured and kissed her head.

"I don't ever want to hear you lament my having had other lovers again, Draeseth. You're expecting her to have my experience. You can have a woman who has learned what to do and doesn't need you to teach her everything you want and need, or a woman who only knows your touch. You can't have both in the same body. I will never be her and she will never be me."

Draeseth offered a growling grunt but his eyes glittered. "There is some pleasure in knowing one of my wives is jealous. That the other has nearly endless patience is pleasing in another way."

"Your jealousy exhausts me. I would have advised her to find a way to lessen hers." Isonei made a face at him and he grinned.

"I have two women to spread my jealousy over, perhaps it will exhaust you less."

"Three men couldn't equal you in jealousy if they all tried their best." She flicked some of the water from the basin at him.

His grin widened. "I will turn you over my knees, woman."

"You need to wash, you have praying to do." Isonei tilted her chin up and fluttered her lashes and he barked a laugh, tossing the cloth at her.

"Wash me, woman. You do it best."

Lislora stood silently as Isonei washed him and herself. She would have preferred it if the Torgan woman had left but allowing her to stay would let her see some of the things Draeseth enjoyed and how he needed to be treated. Washing him and pressing little kisses to his dark, grey-green skin playfully as she did, pretending the unhappy woman wasn't there, seemed the best choice.

The Torgan Prince was slightly less demonstrative than usual but Isonei acted as though she didn't notice and at the end of their wash in the basin, he was content and relaxed. Lislora remained as they left to dress.

The black outer tunic Draeseth chose had small, pale blue flowers embroidered on it and the dress she was given was the same color with matching flowers in black along the hem and bodice. Lislora's dress was plain and in a darker shade of blue-grey that reminded Isonei of Andnaeuth's skin. Both women wore their hair in crowning braids, half covered by the black cloth, however, and stiff Torgan boots.

Hodrim, Isonei was delighted to see, looked like a little lord in his fine clothes. A fine, dark blue tunic with a silver belt and brown boots that reached his knees. She went to him immediately, beaming and smoothing his dark hair, "My handsome little love."

"We should go now or we will miss the prayers." Draeseth gave her a bemused look before saying something in Torgan. Mes tentatively seemed to disagree and Rimathe joined the discussion sounding irritated.

"They think breakfast should wait until after the prayers, your Grace," Mes whispered with a frown. "You're supposed to eat when you wake. Waiting could make you ill."

"If we're in our rooms would it be too distracting if I had something to nibble on?"

"We are going to the Temple, wife." Draeseth interrupted them. "I will allow Mes to fetch something for you to eat as we walk, but inside the Temple, you cannot eat."

"If there are any honey blossom buns left, perhaps the cook would cut one and put Aran manirel in the middle... I could eat that quickly I think." Isonei gave the worried looking Munian woman a small smile.

Draeseth barked a command and Mes hurried away.

Isonei gave him a nervous frown. "Are you sure taking me to the Temple is a good idea? I'm-"

"You will be welcomed. Kamrus Gillaugrim gave his word. I wish to pray with both of my Duchesses by my side."

Hodrim asked a question and Rimathe answered him. The boy nodded and then embraced Isonei offering what sounded like comforting words.

"Hodrim will make certain you are not treated poorly. You have been kinder to him than anyone has ever been and he will remind anyone who speaks harshly to you that the Temple is meant to welcome and reclaim everyone." Krouth spoke with quiet pride. "If he applies himself, I have no doubt the boy will be a Halloc someday."

"He reminds me of Halloc Aurim, he can be stern but he's very kind." Isonei kissed the child's head and gave Krouth a warm smile as he brought her cloak. Reluctantly, she released Hodrim and moved to Draeseth's side as he offered his arm. The boy stayed close to her side as they walked through the quiet, dim halls.

Mes rushed up to them as they walked. "The cook hasn't arrived yet, but there were some buns left and I had one of the kitchen servants show me where he keeps the manirel. I tasted it to be sure it's the right one, your Grace." She offered Isonei the bun in a cloth.

"Thank you, Mes." Releasing Draeseth's arm to take it, Isonei nibbled as they walked. The pickled peppers had been better but the heat of the manirel was nice with the sweetness of the bun. She tried to eat faster as they left the palace, wishing she'd put her gloves on before they'd gone through the door. Finishing it and cleaning her fingers on the cloth she reached for the pouch with her gloves and pulled them on with a grateful glance to Krouth as she took the Prince's arm again. "Are you warm enough, Hodrim? You can come under my cloak if you need to."

The boy tilted his head and looked to Krouth who translated. Hodrim's reply made Draeseth bark a laugh.

"He says he would be too warm, my fragile Duchess. The boy is Torgan, not Aran."

At the end of the path Draeseth led them down, was a large arched door. Krouth and Rimathe placed their lanterns on hooks conveniently positioned next to it to open it, revealing a passage lined with windows and framed by large beams. Candles flickered behind glass globes, lighting the way.

"The King's private entrance to the Temple," Draeseth spoke quietly. "My mother used it often."

It was too narrow for the four of them to walk as they had been. Isonei released Draeseth's arm, falling back to walk with Hodrim. The boy offered his arm gallantly and she beamed as she took it. The large Torgan Prince gave her a displeased look but remained silent. At the other end of the passage, at the foot of some wooden stairs, the door had already been opened and the faint smell of smoke wafted through.

The shifting light of the immense candelabras and the silence of the people moving past, studiously not looking at them, made Isonei feel unsettled. Hodrim murmured something to her and patted her arm with a solemn look.

"You have no need to be afraid here. He promises." Rimathe stepped forward and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder as he whispered the translation in Lerian.

Draeseth noticed the whispering and scowled ferociously as he turned to face them. He spoke in a low dangerous tone and Rimathe removed his hand from her shoulder and offered what sounded like an explanation. The Torgan Prince did not soften his scowl speaking firmly and the green-eyed servant stepped away from her and bowed.

"No one is to touch you, my jewel, neither servants nor priests." His angry gaze required an answer and she nodded meekly. "Come." Draeseth offered his free arm and she gave Hodrim's a subtle squeeze before she released it, moving forward to hold the Prince's.

She tried to glance around as he led the way toward the front but there was no light coming in through the large windows yet and much of the artwork was in shadow. There was a large enclosed box off to the side and for a moment she thought they were going toward it. Draeseth stopped short of its stairs, however, and gestured for her and Lislora to take the kneelers on either side of his.

Hodrim gave her a reassuring smile as he took the place on her other side. They waited patiently until the Kamrus and his two Hallocs made their way up the center aisle. Glancing to the boy, Isonei did her best to imitate his posture.

The Hallocs did most of the speaking as far as Isonei could tell with her head bowed and eyes mostly closed. She would open them a crack each time she heard rustling, or the soothing sounding words stopped, to glance at Hodrim to see what he was doing. When he finally relaxed and lifted his head she did the same. The boy gave her a shy smile and whispered something that almost sounded teasing.

Mes coughed, covering a laugh before she translated, "You were very well behaved, your Grace. You didn't even fidget."

"I did my best to imitate Master Hodrim." Isonei gave him a doting smile and prepared to stand as the others behind them were clearly doing.

Halloc Urroth approached and lifted his hand as if telling her to stay. "The Kamrus wishes to speak with you, please." He spoke quietly with Draeseth for a moment.

The approach of Halloc Aurim was met with something like relief. He couldn't speak Aran but she knew he wouldn't be unkind. He came to stand in front of her and reached out his hand as if to touch her head. Draeseth's sour tones in Torgan made her flinch away from the priest's hand as she remembered she wasn't supposed to be touched.

The Halloc spoke frostily, clearly displeased and Krouth offered an equally cool response. Isonei glanced to Draeseth feeling her anxiety rising and her insides twisting as the Halloc began to speak at length in a quietly angry tone. The Torgan Prince rose in a fluid movement and bowed stiffly.

"The Halloc may give you a benediction. If their intentions are pure, I will not chide you for allowing a priest to lay a hand on you in an appropriate way." His words seemed forced and he looked at the Halloc as he spoke, not down at her.

Hodrim murmured something reassuring to her and stroked her arm.

"No one is angry with you, your Grace. You did as you were told." Mes whispered with her head down.

Isonei's stomach still felt twisted in knots, and she was beginning to regret having eaten. Halloc Aurim reached out his hand again and rested it on her head. He spoke in a more gentle tone before he tilted her face upward and covered it with both hands, bringing them out toward her ears. The affectionate gesture made her feel a little more at ease and she gave him a small, grateful smile.

"My father expects us at breakfast. We cannot linger this morning, even for the Kamrus." Draeseth spoke with chilly politeness and reached to help her to her feet before turning to assist Lislora, who seemed to have stepped on her dress.

"Surely, his Majesty does not rise so early." The Kamrus sounded coolly amused as he approached. "My cousin was always a late riser as a boy."

"I think that may have changed over the years." Isonei gave him an equally cool smile and kept her tone deliberately cordial. "Torgans seem to enjoy rising early, his Majesty is no exception. But it would have been somewhat rude to leave without greeting you." She inclined her head and heard Draeseth make an odd sound in his throat.

"You are familiar with his morning habits?" The Kamrus raised an eyebrow.

"He joins his sons for breakfast, it has been in our rooms on several occasions." Tilting her head she feigned ignorance of his meaning. "His Majesty is always very cheerful and charming. Unless he's one of the peculiar people who wake that way, I would assume he wakes earlier than we usually do."

A faint smile crossed the Kamrus' face. "Perhaps he has changed over the years. He was rarely cheerful in the mornings when we were younger. I hope you will begin waking in time for prayers more often."

"It is my intention," Draeseth spoke firmly before she could give an answer.

"Before you leave, did you enjoy the prayers Duchess Isonei?" The Kamrus' face was unreadable.

"I don't speak Torgan and I can't understand them, but the prayers have always sounded pleasant and soothing to me. This morning was no exception." Studying his face she decided to inquire, "Why do you ask?"

"They were implorations to Ganas to save us from false gods and demons who would sway us from our righteous path." His tone was almost aggressively cheerful and she put on her brightest smile.

"Torga belongs to Ganas, I don't think my Gods would dispute that. They prefer not to be bothered with constant prayer, and Torgans seem to enjoy having their God offer them direction." Inclining her head slightly, she allowed a little mischief into her smile. "And in Ara, we're told the way to get rid of a demon is to kiss it on the mouth. It makes them run away. If nothing else, your uninvited foray into our chambers should have set your mind at ease about whether or not I'm a demon."

"That is not how we rid ourselves of demons in Torga. You yourself are likely not a demon, Duchess, but there may be some influence that yet clings to you. When you are reclaimed, I believe it will free you from any that lingers." He turned his eyes to Draeseth, "I will not keep you, your Highness, but perhaps you will bring Duchess Isonei back again and allow one of our tutors to begin teaching her Torgan? It would allow her to receive more benefit from the prayers."

"I will consider it." Draeseth inclined his head and then offered his arm to Isonei.

The walk back to the passage was silent, and he clamped her arm close to his body as they approached it. Lislora fell back to walk with Hodrim this time. When they emerged on the palace grounds again and the door had been closed, he turned to her with a look of amused annoyance.

"You were sparring with him."

"Only a little. That was the most pleasant conversation I've yet had with the man. I prefer being needled through a veneer of pleasantness to open hostility. I know how to respond to that."

He made a pleased sound in his throat. "You were afraid he would be as harsh as he was in the Strecur?"

"I was. I won't worry as much the next time we go to the Temple."

Draeseth bent to kiss her head with a smile. "Come. We will go to meet my brothers. We gather in the dining room first."

"If you've already agreed to meet in Adareth's rooms..."

He laughed in his throat, "Give the boy a chance to wake before we intrude on him." His amusement faded as Lislora hesitated to take the arm he offered her. They spoke in Torgan as they walked and Isonei debated asking them to speak Aran. When he snapped at the Torgan woman it made up her mind.

"Please speak Aran. I can't-"

"I will not refrain from showing you affection. It displeases her."

"Jealousy is amusing at first, but it quickly grows tiring. Before you speak sharply to her for it, think of the times you've been harsh with me for the same reason she's unhappy with you. Perhaps a jealous woman can show you the value of trust and patience where I could not." Isonei glanced up at his sour expression. "Some lessons are more pleasant than others."

The growling grunt he gave was followed by several long moments of silence before he spoke more gently to Lislora, still in Torgan.

Krouth opened the door for them as they reached the palace and Draeseth led them to the dining room. He took his arm from Lislora and solicitously unfastened Isonei's cloak, giving it to the slim servant. Isonei removed her gloves hurriedly and gave them over as well; he took them with a slight inclination of his head.

"I will put these where they belong and have Lady Lislora's things moved to her new rooms, your Highness. Is there anything else you require?"

"Something to drink while we wait for my brothers." He made a dismissive gesture but Isonei lifted her hand with a small smile.

"Krouth? You might also put some of Draeseth's clothes in Lislora's rooms, and I gave her the necklace she wore to dinner, that should be in her rooms as well."

"Of course, your Grace." He smiled faintly.

Draeseth made a quiet sound and added, "You may keep some of Hodrim's things in Isonei's closet. If I sleep in Lislora's chambers, I have promised to allow him to keep my silver Duchess company. Mes will bring him to her daily."

"As your Highness pleases." Krouth gave the Munian woman a look and she vanished into a doorway. "Mes will fetch your drinks before she returns to the rooms to assist me. Rimathe will stay to attend you."

Lislora muttered something in Torgan and Isonei gave a questioning look to Draeseth.

"She does not believe Mes can choose drinks that would please all of us."

"She's been learning from Master Krouth. I would expect her to bring a variety of things and anything she knows you like would be among the choices. I've never met anyone as skilled as Master Krouth in anticipating the needs of others."

"Are you flattering a servant, Nei?" Kresh's annoyed voice carried into the room before she entered. "You should spend the effort on those who can offer you something in return."

"Your definition of flattery is very Torgan, Kresh. Gratitude and appreciation shouldn't be limited-"

Kresh scoffed and waved her hand. "You are infuriating, Nei, but it is too early to quarrel. Will you be joining me for breakfast?"

Krouth slipped out and Isonei glanced to Draeseth. The Torgan Prince made a noncommittal noise before answering. "We will be having breakfast in one of my brothers' chambers. I intend to keep my Duchesses with me and our charge."

The Phaethian woman came to sit across from Isonei with a knowing smile. "Rogath said you would be having breakfast with Adareth. I am welcome to join you if I choose. I thought you might prefer to have breakfast with me privately."