Torgan Wine Ch. 46

"I have plans this morning; another time, perhaps."

"I outrank you in Torga, Nei. I could insist." Kresh looked smug as Mes brought a tray of drinks for the table.

Keeping her voice sweet, Isonei disagreed, "Unless I'm mistaken, you don't outrank a Prince of Torga and my husband wishes to have breakfast with his family. That includes both of his Duchesses."

Kresh's mirthless smile reminded her of a snake. "I have heard you do not hesitate to overrule him."

Isonei gave her a bright smile. "There are rare occasions when I insist on having my way, but I think he knows by now, his happiness is always a consideration."

Draeseth made a loud amused sound in his throat. "You are in a sparring mood this morning, my jewel. It would be safer if someone were to guard your fork in her Imperial Highness' presence."

The Phaethian woman glared at him incredulously as Isonei took his hand and kissed his fingers.

"My mischievousness is rubbing off on you, my flower wine. You should be careful, she was quick with her knife the last time we sparred." Isonei grinned at his smug smile.

"Not as quick as you were with your fork, I was told, woman."

"True. But I think she would find it more difficult a second time." Kresh sounded sour and snapped an order to Mes in Phaethian. The Munian woman was no longer there, however, and Kresh looked around with a deepening scowl.

Rimathe stood silently near the doorway and looked to Draeseth as the woman repeated her command.

"He does not speak Phaethian. You must use Torgan or Lerian." Draeseth translated the command and the man disappeared into the doorway Mes had used to fetch the drinks.

"All palace servants should speak it." Kresh scowled at him. "That is a requirement for service here."

"He serves my Duchesses temporarily." Draeseth met her glare without flinching and when she looked away he perused the drinks choosing one for Lislora and himself before frowning. "There is nothing on the tray that has not made you ill at least once, my Isonei. I cannot choose for you." He pushed the tray toward her.

Isonei frowned slightly as she looked over the choices. "Do you think it would be possible for the cook to give me the juice from the pickled apples?"

Kresh's lip curled in disgust. "Are you trying to make everyone else ill?"

The green-eyed servant returned carrying a single drink for Kresh and Draeseth gave him a command in Torgan that made him blink before he placed the cup near the Phaethian and went back where he had just come from.

Lislora spoke almost sullenly in Torgan and Kresh picked up her cup to sip it before answering in Aran, "You shouldn't speak that way of a woman who has gone out of her way to welcome you. I would have poisoned you for that letter alone. Nor would I welcome your child as my own."

There was a moment's silence as Isonei leaned to look at Lislora's flushed face, prompting the woman to speak. "I only said you were being spoiled. Anything you want you barely have to ask for, and anything you dislike vanishes from sight. There will be no eggs for breakfast..."

Sitting back Isonei rubbed her temples. "If you try being gracious, grateful, and kind, you may find people treat you similarly."

The sound of his Majesty entering with a cheerful question in Torgan forced her eyes open. The viciously cheerful response he received from Kresh made him look at Lislora with an icy frown.

"I'm not certain what Kresh said, but I know it was intended to give me a headache." Isonei narrowed her eyes at the smug looking Phaethian. "You didn't win when we sparred so you're using Lislora's mistake to try again."

"What mistake, little Duchess?" King Orgath rounded the table and stopped behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders.

"Thinking that Kresh would be friendly or sympathetic because of the fork sparring incident and our light verbal sparring. Lislora feels slighted because I seem to get everything I desire and she is required to be more understanding and do without things, like her favorite foods on the breakfast table. We're meant to be equal, and she doesn't feel that we are. It would make anyone sour."

"It is not intended as a slight." The King lifted his hands and moved farther down the table to take the seat at the head next to Hodrim. "You are in no danger of starving yourself to the point of illness or harm to your child, Lady Lislora. Torgan women are more robust. Delicate things require delicate handling."

Lislora inclined her head and then quietly protested, "If we are equal, why is she called Duchess and I am-am..."

"You will become Duchess Lislora when the Arrangement is signed." King Orgath's lips twitched with amusement. "But you are correct. Duchess Isonei holds a higher rank outside of Torga and you will never be truly equal in the eyes of most."

"We should take some time and discuss the Arrangement between the two of us, Lislora. It would make things easier on Draeseth if we're in agreement on some things. And it may ease your mind as well."

Kresh interrupted before Lislora could answer. "You requested that wretched drink, Nei. I wish to see if you can truly stomach it."

Isonei blinked, realizing there was a cup in front of her with a slice of pickled apple perched on the rim. She glanced to Rimathe and inclined her head with a wry smile. "I hadn't noticed that it had arrived-"

"Do not thank the servants!" Kresh snapped. "Does she do this only to infuriate me or does she truly thank them for every small thing?"

"She thanks them often. Arans will incline their heads or speak thanks aloud even to servants. In Ara, we were advised to write notes thanking our hosts even for any small gifts." Burgath answered for her as he came in.

She took the opportunity to eat the apple slice and take a sip of the briny liquid in the cup, nodding her head as she drank a little more. It was surprisingly nice.

"Showing gratitude means a great deal to them." Draeseth seconded.

"Did you ever hear the story of the Gracious Quarrel?" Isonei widened her eyes, putting on an innocent smile. "Two Arans absolutely loathed each other and as they were both close to the King it annoyed him. As clever as Aran Kings often are, he arranged an occasion where they were required to give each other a gift. Each tried to outdo the other as a matter of pride and the notes they wrote waxed poetic about the generosity of the gift giver. It wasn't enough to give the best gift, they needed to write the best, most gracious note as well. They did this for years trading gifts and notes even after it was no longer required." She sipped her drink with a smile.

"Who won?" King Orgath looked at her curiously.

"The King, of course. They didn't like each other and didn't want to keep the gifts so they gave them to him in a display of generosity, each hoping to curry more favor than the other."

The Torgan Princes began to laugh and King Orgath gave her a broad smile. "Little Duchess, you should spread such stories here at Court. I would be deeply amused to see my nobles take up that method of quarreling."

Princes Ougath and Rogath came in as he was speaking, with two elegantly dressed little girls. Both had red hair, one a fiery red-gold like her mother, and the smaller with a deeper shade like Rogath and King Orgath. Their matching green dresses brought out the hint of green in their mostly grey skin.

Rogath said something to the King in Torgan with a grin and he glanced to Hodrim, "Little Duchess, would you like to make introductions?"

"I would love to!" Isonei rose eagerly and rounded the table beckoning for the boy to follow.

The girls moved behind the Princes shyly, drawing a sour mutter from their mother. Rogath murmured something soothing to them, "They may need to be introduced to you first, Isonei."

"I can see that." Smiling, she knelt on the floor and waited until Rogath had gently prodded them back in front of himself and his brother. "I'm Isonei of House Ernelis, daughter of Liadith, and Duchess of Kroscur, your Uncle Draeseth's wife. You can call me Isonei or Nei as your mother does if you'd like." She let Rogath translate, when he finished she gave him an impish smile and then looked back to the girls, "Who might you be? I know Prince Rogath has two beautiful daughters named Ror and Kas but in your matching dresses I don't know how to tell you apart!"

Kas started to smile and stepped forward saying something that ended in 'Ror'. Rogath made an amused noise before translating, "This is Ror."

The elder girl looked up at him incredulously and began to argue in Torgan as he feigned ignorance, gesturing to their dresses. She stepped forward with a scowl, "I am Ror, she was Kas."

"You are Ror? She is Kas?" Isonei blinked in mock surprise. "My aren't you a mischievous one! Letting your sister pretend to be you!"

Ror's eyes widened and she began saying something indignant in Torgan as her father translated. Kas broke into giggles.

Hodrim tapped on her shoulder and said something sternly.

"He chides you for teasing Ror. It is not nice." Rogath was grinning.

"This is my dear Hodrim. He loves me enough to remind me when I should behave myself and I love him so much my heart might burst." Isonei beamed at the boy and he grinned shyly as Rogath translated her words.

The girls inclined their heads slightly in response to the introduction before Kas stepped closer, boldly reaching out to touch Isonei's hair and asking a question in Torgan.

"She wants to know why you have such strange hair." Ougath reached out and patted the girl on the head.

"I have hair like my mother's. My hair isn't strange in Ara, but your lovely red hair would be. Arans all have hair similar to mine, some are paler and some are a little darker, but nothing like you find here in Torga. I still marvel at the blackness of your Uncle Draeseth's hair sometimes."

Draeseth made a loud amused sound and Burgath said something that sounded teasing in Torgan as her words were relayed.

Ror frowned and said something to Rogath. "She asks why you would marvel, his hair is very ordinary."

"In Torga, yes. But in Ara, his hair is exotic and strange, and mine is ordinary."

"That is not true, my silver jewel." Draeseth spoke up proudly, "Not every woman at the Festival seemed to glow in the moonlight as you did."

"If we are ever permitted to return I will go myself." King Orgath's slightly bitter tone made Isonei turn to look at him. "The descriptions of the Festival make me wish to see it. Beautiful Aran women clothed in gowns like starlight..."

Ror tugged expectantly on her father's sleeve with a frown. Rogath hesitated and then said something that seemed shorter than their conversation had been. Kas gasped and looked at Isonei with excitement, asking a question.

"She wants to know if you brought your starlight dress." Rogath smiled faintly.

"No, it's far too cold in Torga for me to wear it. But perhaps your grandfather can have fabric sent for, so that you and your sister can have starlight dresses of your own?"

Rogath's faint smile turned into a grin as he relayed her words and Kas turned a wide-eyed, pleading look on the King.

"My bursar would like to have a word with you, little Duchess." King Orgath gave her a look of annoyed amusement very much like Draeseth's. "We should go wake Adareth and begin our day. Bring the children, Rogath. The little Duchess can keep them entertained."