Torgan Wine Ch. 48

"Princess?" The Kamrus gave her a peculiar look.

"Little Duchess."

"Your husband has already warned the King that you would plead for mercy on the woman's behalf. You are known for being too forgiving and gentle. It makes the wrong done to you worse. He will not relent. His judgment will stand and punishment will be rendered."

"Good. I do not ask for punishment to be withheld, I would be heard and have it fall justly and hard where it belongs." Isonei tilted her chin up and squared her shoulders letting the fury in her belly show on her face. "I know that the one responsible cannot be put here on this platform where she belongs, your Majesty. But there is a just punishment that will give some small amount of meaning to the death of my child. If you would see justice done I would have you grant me this one thing."

There was a murmur from the crowd as the Kamrus' voice thundered out. The King rose and held up his hand as he spoke a few short words.

"He will hear you."

"If you will truly see justice done, your Majesty, free every slave in Torga." She took a breath and let the words pour out, "Had this woman not been enslaved she would not have obeyed the one who wanted me and my child dead. Had you forced the one who cost me my child to take up Torgan ways and value her servants instead of tormenting her slaves and tarnishing the honor of your House this would not have happened.

"I would see justice done in my child's name. I would have all of these people freed to prevent this from ever happening again and to make-" her voice broke but she wiped at her eyes roughly and forced the words out, "to make the legacy of the child who did not live be the lives of others returned to them. This is the justice I would have from you, the punishment I require, your Majesty." Isonei sank to her knees bowing her head and lifting her hands in supplication as the Kamrus' translation rang out.

When he finished he put his hand on her head and began to speak words of his own. Finishing them he knelt next to her and whispered, "A bold request. Even if he refuses you, it was a performance worthy of a Sellac."

There seemed to be some argument occurring in the viewing box but she didn't lift her head or lower her hands. A movement out of the corner of her eye caused her to glance over. The gathered crowd appeared to be sinking to their knees.

"Why...?" She began to breathe the question and the Kamrus answered with quiet pride.

"I said there could be no more compelling reason to end the Phaethian perversion and to redeem ourselves in Ganas' eyes, and no one could make a better plea. I will kneel with you in supplication and those who would see you given your justice should do the same." He paused, "Rogath is arguing on your behalf and Draeseth and Adareth seem to be kneeling."

The arguing came to an end and the King began to speak. His tone did not seem pleased but the Kamrus rose the moment he had finished and gently pulled her to her feet with a look of pleased surprise as the crowd began to shout and exult. "Your request has been granted. He has issued a proclamation that every slave in Torga is now a free man or woman and to be treated as such. He would have his murdered grandson be given a legacy worthy of Torgan royalty."

Isonei placed her hand over her heart and inclined her head to the King. "And this poor woman?"

The Kamrus lifted his hands and bellowed over the crowd. King Orgath's response was immediate and accompanied by a dismissive wave of his hand.

"You are to decide her fate." Kamrus Gillaugrim gave her a speculative look. "What will you choose?"

Turning to face the stunned looking woman, Isonei offered her hands. Instead, the woman prostrated herself once more and sounded as if she were pleading in Torgan.

"She begs you to allow her to serve you. She will give her life to you."

"No. I..." Isonei took a deep breath, "if she wants to serve let her serve Ganas. It seems right."

The translation loudly, and proudly spoken by the Kamrus, drew more approval from the crowd. "That was a display of piety." He murmured with some amusement.

"That was doing what seemed right. Mallath was meant to be dedicated to Ganas. I reserve my piety for my own Gods." At his sharp look, she gave him a rueful smile, "My Gods may not always be nice, but I love them as you love Ganas. I will grant you that he's earned a warm place in my heart, but will not give up my own Gods."

His face softened slightly and he inclined his head, "I will do all in my power to see you reclaimed, Duchess. There is only one true God and you should enjoy his benevolence."

With a sigh, she chose not to argue. "I'm exhausted, Kamrus. Perhaps we could continue this another time?"

"Of course, Duchess." Kamrus Gillaugrim spoke loudly and she was helped from the platform, as was the woman in the grey shift. A path opened more easily as they made their way back to the Temple.

°°°°°°°°°°

After another two days of rest, being rubbed with oils periodically and having her chest listened to with a peculiar wooden instrument, Isonei was permitted to return to her rooms in the palace. Krouth escorted her, looking proud and pleased as some of the other servants stopped to watch them pass.

On entering the main room, she noticed the rug seemed to be a different color. Her brow furrowed and before she could ask, the slim servant volunteered, "It was stained, your Grace."

She began to head toward the bedroom and he cleared his throat. "Yes, Krouth?"

"Halloc Urroth was very clear, your Grace. You need to spend more time upright and in the fresh air. If you need to rest you may have a brief nap after lunch." The determined set of his face made her smile faintly.

"Insisting would do no good?"

"None, your Grace."

"When I first arrived, Mes had offered to take me walking in the gardens." Isonei paused considering how she might delicately ask.

"Mes has chosen to stay, I can have her sent for if you wish."

"That would be lovely, Master Krouth." Opening her eyes a little wider and tilting her chin down she asked sweetly, "Am I permitted to sit on the sofa while I wait?"

Krouth narrowed his eyes with some annoyance, "It is a pleasure to see you feeling better, your Grace." He summoned a servant and gave a quiet order before coming to stand near the sofa. "Mes will undoubtedly enjoy telling you of the palace gossip as you walk."

"Have many things happened?" Isonei smiled at him as she leaned on the arm of the sofa.

"Princess Kresh was confined after the proclamation. Her fury was so great she momentarily lost her senses and attacked Princess Ror."

Isonei straightened feeling her chest tighten. "Is she-?"

"Ror is shaken but unharmed, Prince Rogath was there to defend his daughter. There is a tower prison here that has not been used in a very long time. The King has ordered it prepared for her Imperial Highness. In times long past, it housed those of royal blood who dared to take up arms against the rightful King. It is fortified within and without but should be comfortable enough for her to live out her days." He added with the hint of an unpleasant smile, "Short may they be."

Inclining her head, Isonei made a face and glanced to the floor where Kresh had tripped her. "That reminds me, I think I cursed her."

Krouth's eyebrows rose.

"My father, when he was very angry with someone, would sometimes say this thing under his breath. 'Udnerath drown me and Tyhnoth take you.' I'm almost certain it flew out of my mouth at her before I was overcome by the poison."

His lips twitched slightly before he composed himself. "If there was ever an appropriate time to curse someone, your Grace, that was almost certainly it. I might have used fouler language and wished worse on her."

The door opened and Mes peered in, her face breaking into her dimpled smile as she saw Isonei. "Your Grace! I wasn't expecting you back until later!" The Munian woman came in and closed the door before rushing to the sofa and dropping to her knees in front of it. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm much better, Mes. Thank you for asking." Isonei smiled warmly at her. "You chose to stay?"

"My name is Ximesra, your Grace, and Xagorath," she glanced at Krouth with a giddy smile, "said we should stay with you. It's such a relief to be able to use my own name again and not have to worry about my brother being sent away."

"Many of the former slaves have chosen to stay in their positions." Krouth spoke with a slight inclination of his head, "All speak glowingly of the Duchess of Kroscur. The mood in the palace has been one of celebration on hearing you were to return today. The cooks have been helping," he hesitated slightly with a frown, "Xagorath prepared a meal you should enjoy."

"If you took back your name, Krouth..."

"Krouth is not the name my mother gave me." He tilted his head slightly, "I chose it for myself. Do not mistake my hesitation for disapproval, your Grace, I simply find it difficult to call people I have known for years by new names."

"Why didn't you take back your original name?"

"It was never taken from me. My mother named me Kogrim, and it was deemed acceptable to keep when I was sold. When I was set free I wished to change it and begin a new life. Some of the others have chosen to do that as well."

The door opened again and Isonei looked up in surprise. Draeseth stood in the doorway looking almost hesitant to enter. He said something quietly in Torgan and the two servants began to move toward their room. Repeating himself, he gestured toward the door. Both looked mildly concerned as they filed past him into the hall.

Draeseth closed the door and brought a chair so that he could sit in front of her. "Isonei, I... I need to speak with you alone."

Part of her just wanted him to leave, but she took a deep breath and inclined her head. "Please."

"I am," he shifted uncomfortably, "I am sorry."

Taking pity on him, Isonei gave him a small smile. "I'm not angry with you, but part of me hopes you're apologizing for deciding to dissolve the Arrangement and marry Lislora. I don't have much left to give you, Draeseth."

"The subject was broached with my father." His face soured. "Kamrus Gillaugrim asked that you be permitted to become a postulant. My father refused. You have cost him a great deal by demanding the slaves be freed, keeping you is how he intends to offset the cost. The silver Duchess is quickly becoming a figure like Queen Olitheilla."

She sighed and ran her hands over her face. "I don't know what to do about that."

"We must maintain the appearance of contentment." He frowned at his hands, "Lislora is not pleased, but she understands."

"I am... not content, Draeseth. I understand what you're asking of me, and I can try. But I can't promise you that I'll be as charming as before."

Nodding slowly, Draeseth made a soft sound in his throat. "I understand."

"If it will make it easier for her, I can trade rooms with Lislora. I only need Mes." She caught herself with a soft laugh, "Ximesra. I'll have to practice that."

He smiled faintly. "Lislora gave me permission to sleep in your rooms if you needed me."

"If your mind is elsewhere, it would just be cruel to all three of us, Draeseth." Tilting her head she gave him a wry smile, "You had to send them away just for this?"

"No. I thought this would," he cleared his throat and shifted in the chair again, "be a different conversation."

"You keep expecting me to be harsher than I am." Isonei rose from the sofa with as much grace as she could muster, despite feeling tired. "I'm supposed to spend less time sleeping and more time walking in the fresh air. I was going to go to the gardens with M-Ximesra."

He rose as well to step forward and kiss her head. "It would be good for you. I have other things to attend to."

"Will you let Lislora know that our rooms can be changed if she wishes? I think you need company, and I need a little solitude." She couldn't keep herself from glancing to the floor near the door, "And a change of room would not offend me."

Draeseth seemed to relax. "I will." He walked with her to the door and made an annoyed sound as he opened it to find both servants waiting immediately outside. "Ximesra, walk with the Duchess in the gardens. Krouth, walk with me."

"You could ask them instead of ordering." Isonei gave him an amused look.

"I am a Prince of Torga, woman." Draeseth laughed softly in his throat and bent again to kiss her head. "I give commands. Enjoy your walk."

"As your Highness commands." She fluttered her lashes and his face relaxed into a broad smile.

"You lighten even the most difficult times." He lifted his hand to caress her cheek before turning to walk away with Krouth speaking quietly in Torgan.

Ximesra closed the door and linked arms with her, walking in the opposite direction before quietly asking, "Are you planning to stay?"

"No. But I'm falling back into the habit of trying to lighten his moods." Taking a breath she decided to take a chance, "I was told I should break the clasps of the jewelry he gave me, that it's some kind of..." Isonei tried to think of the right words.

"It's like a spell. In Phaethia, it's part of the marriage ceremony, intended to bind them together. They exchange jewelry and clasp it onto each other, binding each other." Ximesra glanced around and leaned closer, "I can help you with it."

"Thank you." It felt like a weight was lifting. "And thank you for staying, Ximesra. You and your brother didn't have to, it's more than I ever would have asked."

"That's why we chose to." The Munian woman squeezed her arm. "How long will you be wearing the mourning rags?"

"Krouth said two weeks is customary but I'm permitted to wear them longer. I won't be invited to attend functions or be permitted to attend the bouts if I'm still wearing them. He strongly recommended I remove them as soon as I'm allowed."

"I've heard rumors that Prince Andnaeuth has been invited, that may be wise."

"I don't have a great deal of desire to attend any functions or even the bouts, but I do need to be able to see Andnaeuth." Isonei tilted her head and made a face.

Opening the door and going out into the gardens, the air was cool and the rain seemed to have stopped but the sun wasn't shining.

"This way, your Grace. There's a very rarely used gazebo some of the King's women sneak out to. They're permitted to walk in only a small section of the gardens, the gazebo is just outside of it."

"Why is it rarely used?" Isonei glanced at her curiously as they walked down a few stairs to the next terrace.

"What are you discussing?" Rogath's voice startled them both.

"The gazebo on the second terrace, your Highness." Ximesra curtsied.

He smiled ruefully, "As much younger men, we used to hide and watch the less obedient of father's women laugh and talk there. He always had the most beautiful women. Mother doesn't go there, she doesn't wish to see them walking on the lower terrace."

"I was taking her Grace there to enjoy the quiet."

Rogath made a noise in his throat and frowned. "I had hoped I could impose on you to entertain Ror and Kas, Isonei. Draeseth says you can lighten any mood and they have been..." He frowned. "They need to laugh."

"I'll do what I can. Master Krouth mentioned that I wasn't the only one Kresh tried to harm."

"That shook them, overhearing the Kamrus speaking to father about the 'Phaethian perversions tainting Torga' did not help. Kresh was always very proud of being Phaethian. She often called them daughters of the Empire."

"The acts of your kin may reflect on you, but only your actions define you." Isonei shook her head. "The Kamrus is of your House, perhaps he should be reminded he has Phaethian kin and that he should be more thoughtful when he speaks."

His smug smile made him look very much like Draeseth. "I will do so gladly."

"Do it gently instead, Rogath. Show him the kindness you expect him to show your daughters."

"That is the Aran way, not the Torgan way."

"No, that's my way." She shrugged with a wry smile. "You'll have to forgive me if I think it's the better way."

"It works well for you." Rogath inclined his head with amusement. "If you will be in the gazebo..."

"Bring the girls. Please. I can tell stories or whatever they need. Krouth is quick to point out I feel better when I have someone to mother."

Nodding, he looked relieved. "Draeseth said the same. I spoke with him early this morning." donning a more mischievous expression, he added, "His second Duchess refused to let him finish when we interrupted him for breakfast. She was too embarrassed to speak when she came out of the bedroom. For a change, he was forced to carry the conversation."

Isonei struggled to keep from laughing. "She embarrasses as easily as your brother does. I know you're accustomed to jesting with me in the mornings but you might try to be a little more considerate if not out of kindness toward Lislora, then out of a desire to keep your brother content. She might decide that sex in the morning is too likely to end in embarrassment and refuse him."

"I do not believe she would, Isonei. That would send him running back to you and she has all of the jealousy you lack. He finds it appealing up to a point." Rogath stepped forward, taking her hand and kissing the backs of her fingers. "I will join you at the gazebo with the girls."

"I will look forward to it."

Ximesra looked as though she were biting her tongue as they resumed their walk.

Bumping her playfully, Isonei looked at her out of the corner of her eye. "Krouth said you had gossip to share."

"They've been treating Lady Lislora very much like a mistress instead of a wife. She's trying to be very proper to keep some of her dignity. Her Majesty took her into the retinue for a single day. When she came back she was miserable and sick. Apparently, the Queen made it a point to compare the two of you and the Lady did not fare well."

Sighing, Isonei shook her head. "If Lislora would speak to me I could help her."

"She feels guilty for comforting Draeseth while you were so ill. He couldn't bear to see you. Krouth thought you were dead when he rushed back to the room with Rimathe." Ximesra looked at her with a faint smile. "Princess Kresh was put under guard immediately. She thought she was being punished but when she saw Draeseth's fury and the way it took more than a dozen men to keep him from choking the life from her as he very loudly said he wanted to, her complaints stopped."

"He can be intimidating when he's angry." They walked in silence for a moment. "I noticed Burgath wasn't with the others at the trial..."

"He left for Leria the day you were poisoned. Master Krouth said it would be better if he could say you were alive when he left. It was uncertain at first if you would survive. The priests said it was miraculous how quickly you began to recover on the fourth day. Once they knew you would live, the King ordered the trial."

Her stomach twisted at the thought of Burgath in Leria. Hopefully, Hesh had gotten her warning to the Dagas in time. Not knowing made her feel ill.

Ximesra noticed her distraction and worry, squeezing her arm gently. "Everyone is pleased you're doing well now, your Grace. Xagorath said he's been stopped in the market by people asking about your health. People have even given him fruit and fish for you. Your plea to the King impressed a great many people."

Isonei did her best to offer a smile and look less worried. "There are a lot of kind people in Torga."

"The gazebo." Ximesra pointed to a lovely stone building with a low, domed roof.

More than half was open, supported by slim pillars and arches, the back was a stone wall giving the inside some shelter from the wind. The stairs to the lowest terrace led down from it. Stepping inside, the stones of the floor were different colors and formed the image of a large flower. Isonei took a seat on the bench against the wall.