Torgan Wine Ch. 52

Kamrus Gillaugrim raised his hands placatingly after what felt like a long tense moment had passed. "The book and the Duchess are safe. She should be taken to Gogmenos to be freed from any demonic influences. The book can be more safely dealt with there. Even if it must be locked in the deepest vaults and not destroyed."

"You could have it returned, Kamrus Gillaugrim. It would be out of Torga and you would no longer have to concern yourselves with it." Isonei rose slowly to stand close to Draeseth.

"We do not return things to demons," Kamrus Olauth snapped as he was helped to his feet.

"The Dagas are not demons."

Draeseth made an unconvinced sound and turned slightly to look at her. "I will escort you back to my rooms. I would have you safe at all times."

"We are not yet finished." King Orgath composed himself and moved to take a seat at the desk in the room. "The Kamruses insist that if you wish two wives they must both have proper Arrangements. The first was annulled in Ara because your silver Duchess was pressed into it. She will make another now or you will not be taking her anywhere."

Placing a soothing hand on his arm, Isonei lifted her chin. "I was unaware that it had been dissolved by the courts. As much as I care for Draeseth, I will not make another with him. He will be happier married to Lislora. That I stay with him has nothing to do with the Arrangement. Draeseth promised my King that he would see to my safety and my needs. I am his responsibility until I am returned to Ara."

"A King may overrule a Prince." King Orgath gave her a look of frigid disappointment. "You are now the responsibility of Kamrus Olauth."

"She is the responsibility of the priesthood." Kamrus Gillaugrim smoothly corrected him. "She will be allowed to travel with Kamrus Olauth accompanied by priests and guards to ensure her health and safekeeping."

"Her jewelry should pay for that nicely." King Orgath smirked at her and she raised her eyebrows.

"I have already given away my jewelry. Dear Burgath warned me that if I did not agree to make a second Arrangement you might have the first dissolved. According to their Arrangement, the dissolution would be a cause of celebration, as weddings are. I wished to give them a gift that showed my affection as best I could."

"I will see to it she is sent with money enough for a sufficient guard." Draeseth inclined his head to Kamrus Gillaugrim.

"Have them gathered by morning." The King's glower as he dismissed them rivaled the worst of Draeseth's.

The men all bowed deeply before leaving but Isonei bobbed only a brief, shallow curtsy. Draeseth kept her close by his side as they walked back to the larger rooms. Once inside the door, he began speaking to Krouth in a solemn tone. Isonei took a seat on the sofa.

Krouth cast a horrified look at the book in her hands and said something firmly before he hurried out.

"He will bring something to wrap the book in. No one will try to take it from you again. The demonic protection does not harm you perhaps because it was gifted to you."

"It isn't..." Sighing, she rubbed her temples. "Thank you for protecting me."

"I do love you." He gave her a tired, grim smile. "Kamrus Gillaugrim has come to respect you, he will see to it you are not harmed and that your food is clean."

"I think Ximesra and Xagorath will still be willing to come with me. If you need to spend too much on the guards, you might ask Ximesra if she would accept my opal ring as payment."

Draeseth came to sit next to her, resting his elbows on his thighs. "I will offer them some of your things in payment. The rest will be sent to the Kroscur. I do not think Lislora and I will linger long. Father is furious."

"I'm sorry to have caused you trouble, Draeseth. I want only the best for you and Lislora, a life of joy and contentment."

He made a peculiar sound in his throat. "I wish that for you, I wish I could have given it to you."

"If things had been different... Lislora is good for you though. She brings out the best in you and she can give you what you need. I never could."

Ximesra bustled in carrying a chest with the help of another maid. "Master Krouth said all of your things are to be packed and brought here. We're leaving in the morning?"

"Yes, we'll be traveling with Kamrus Olauth to Gogmenos." Isonei tried to give her a smile but it felt like a wince, "He's in a foul mood. He tried to throw my book in the fire and got burned for his trouble."

The maid looked at her curiously and Draeseth snorted, "His robe burned instead of the book. The demonic protection on it is stronger than he expected." Rising from his seat, the Torgan Prince tentatively reached out to rest his hand on Isonei's head. "The Kamrus tried to order Isonei's death when she removed the book from the fire. If you choose to travel with her you should be aware that he may attempt to have her harmed again."

"I will do my best to keep her safe, your Highness." Ximesra bobbed a low curtsy before leaving with the maid again.

"I do not know what a Munian maid can do, but I trust her, and her brother, to keep your food clean at the least." Draeseth looked after her with a frown before turning back. "Are you hungry?"

"No. She smuggled clean food out of the kitchen for me with the help of some of the other servants. You may consider offering them positions with you in the Kroscur if your father finds out. They're loyal and kind. Servants like that would keep you honest and improve your reputation."

Draeseth made an amused sound in his throat. "I will consider it. The food at Court is always better, knowing it is made by good-hearted people would only improve the flavor."

Lislora came out of the bedroom with a concerned look and asked a question in Torgan. Draeseth approached her and rubbed her arms as he spoke. After they had conversed for a few moments, the Torgan woman wrapped her arms around Draeseth's waist and buried her face in his shoulder.

Isonei looked away. An embrace would be comforting but too much to ask. Krouth returned a moment later with more servants and chests and sending them into the study.

"This is the last of it. I had taken the liberty of bringing some already," he hesitated, "Lady Isonei."

"Thank you, Master Krouth."

He laid a plain white cloth on the table, "So that you do not have to touch it."

"It's not dangerous. The only reason I would cover it is for your peace of mind." She smiled faintly as she rose to lay the book on the table.

The slim servant covered it and stepped back as the cloth began to singe and turn brown. Isonei quickly uncovered it and picked up the book inspecting it for damage before giving Krouth a questioning look.

"It was a blessed cloth, your-Lady Isonei."

Sighing, she rubbed her temples again. "Perhaps one of my chemises could be made into a bag?"

"I will fetch a seamstress." Krouth eyed the book with distrust. "Please, put the book down, my Lady." He said something in Torgan to Draeseth and received a grunt and a stern sounding answer.

"Lay the book on the table, Isonei, no one will touch it. Lislora can fetch the lavendela oil for your headache."

Hesitantly, she put the book down and took a seat near it. Lislora brought the oil and began gently rubbing just a bit into Isonei's temples before massaging her head. Her eyes were closed as she relaxed and she didn't open them as she heard the door open and quiet voices entering. A hiss and loud exclamation of pain brought her head up.

Halloc Hroth held his hand as he stared at the book. "I was told it could be touched."

"Please don't." Isonei reached out to draw the book closer with a frown. "Thank you for rubbing my head, Lislora. But I don't think my headache will go away until the book is left in peace."

The priest looked at her hand on the book and spoke to the woman who had entered the room with him in Torgan. She followed Krouth into the study. "Cloth from some of your clothing will be used to make a bag. It would be best if your bare hands were not on it. If a priest cannot touch it, you will be required to carry it to Gogmenos. The Brothers of the shrine will be able to lift your headache and free you from the demonic influence attached to the book."

"I'm feeling too tired to argue, Halloc Hroth."

He smiled faintly. "Rest, Lady. You have a long journey ahead of you in the morning."

°°°°°°°°°°

On the sofa, Isonei fidgeted in the dark. Dinner had been brought by Xagorath himself. He had been banished from the King's kitchens after making his intention to leave known and prepared her food in the kitchen of the house he was renting a room in. Draeseth had been unhappy to see him, but he was impressed with the man's loyalty.

Krouth had spoken privately with the Son of Mun and then with Draeseth once the man had left. Ximesra had seemed nervous as she made the last of the preparations for the morning, and Krouth had spoken quietly to her after Draeseth and Lislora had gone to bed.

Isonei had been left alone to doze and wait for morning. Feeling tired and more than a little nervous, she was also excited. The thought of possibly going home kept her awake more than the fear of traveling with Kamrus Olauth. She idly toyed with the strap of the bag the book had been stitched into. It had been made from the pale grey fabric of one of her gowns and sewn shut so that she couldn't take the book out and read to occupy her mind.

A sound stirred her from the doze she'd finally fallen into and she looked up to see Krouth and Ximesra accepting a tray at the door. The maid noticed her and dimpled, "This is our breakfast, Lady Isonei, go back to sleep."

"I'll try. I've barely slept at all."

"Xagorath will be bringing your breakfast soon. I told him to arrive as early as he could." Krouth gave her a concerned look.

She yawned and curled on the sofa again closing her eyes. The servants spoke quietly as they took their food into their room. The way they seemed to get along now was lovely, she hadn't thought to ask about their friendship and if it was a hardship for them to part ways. With a sigh, she opened her eyes and studied the pretty patterns between the beams above her wondering how she'd never noticed them.

"Daughter of Liadith..." The familiar voice made her turn her head and realize she was in another dream.

"Daga Caeridith!" Isonei sat up in surprise.

"Has something happened?" He frowned and came to sit next to her. "There was the smell of smoke in the crypts."

"They tried to take the book of Aran myths from me and burn it."

Before she could say more he gave an unpleasant laugh. "And received a nasty surprise?"

"So nasty that, as soon as I pulled the book from the fire, Kamrus Olauth commanded my death."

He looked far less pleased. "You seem unharmed."

"Draeseth protected me, but I've been put in the custody of the priesthood. After the prayers this morning I'm being taken to Gogmenos. Ximesra and Xagorath are coming with me, they'll do what they can to keep me safe. Kamrus Gillaugrim insisted that I be given clean food and that I not be harmed, there should be guards to prevent it..."

His jaw was clenched and his dark green eyes looked as if they held pale green lightning. "You're no longer safe because of the gift I sent."

"I'm not safe but I don't blame your gift. It was a comfort and I'm grateful and honored to have been given it for even a short while." She placed her hand over her heart, "They've had the book sewn into a bag for me to carry. It burned the last priest that tried to touch it. I don't think they'll try again."

Daga Caeridith smiled grimly. "My son will bring you home. Your safety is more important than the book. If the choice is between the book and your life, sacrifice the book, daughter of Liadith."

"How could I bear to? It's priceless. The daughter who went to Ara was a daughter of Caeridith?"

The Daga's face softened, "Yes. Her youngest brother was beside himself with grief when she left but she was content, and the Aran King loved her dearly. It was one of many gifts she sent for Hesh." Taking her hand, he squeezed it, "Your life is worth more than the book. You should not argue with Dagas."

"Yes, Daga Caeridith."

She woke with a start as someone adjusted her blanket.

"I did not mean to wake you, my Lady." Krouth sat back on his heels. "I have not known you to sleep so lightly."

"I haven't slept well tonight. It's not your fault, Krouth." Isonei rubbed her eyes and sat up as she noticed Xagorath in a chair. "I slept through the door opening?"

"You did. But I was very quiet." Xagorath smiled and nodded toward the table. "I made sweet batter cakes with ground nuts, they travel well if breakfast is cut short."

"Thank you." She looked to Krouth, "Should I eat first or dress?"

"I would eat, Lady Isonei. You may be asked to leave before you finish eating, but not before you finish dressing." The slim servant glanced at the door with a disapproving look. "When they finish their prayers they will come to collect you and your things. Kamrus Olauth wishes to leave before the city is fully awake." He rose and fetched her robe from the back of a chair.

Pulling it on, Isonei moved to the table to nibble on a sweet batter cake. Two sat on a plate on the table and a basket sat near it. She rose on her toes trying to peer into the partly open top and Xagorath laughed.

"You look like my sister when you do that. She has to peek into baskets." He came to the table and opened it pulling it to the edge. "I have bread and cheese, more batter cakes, dried fish, some herbs and salts..."

"I've missed dried fish."

His face split in a grin, "This isn't as good as fish from home but I tried to spice it well."

"I have some spices you may find useful." Krouth offered with a thoughtful frown and a gesture to the room he'd been sharing with Ximesra.

"I would be grateful, Master Krouth." He took the basket and left her nibbling the sweet batter cake.

She had nearly finished both of them when the door opened and Ximesra came in with servants and trays of breakfast. The Munian woman dimpled at her. "Prince Draeseth and Duchess Lislora asked to have breakfast ready when they rose. They wish to see you off."

"I would have waited to eat if I'd known." Isonei smiled and shook her head, moving her plate and herself out of the servants' way as she finished. She left the plate on a side table and went into the washing room.

Once she'd finished and gone to the study to dress, she realized the bag with the book of myths was still under the sofa. Dressing hurriedly, she looked up in surprise as Ximesra came in with the blankets from the bed in her arms mouthing, 'close the door'.

The maid pulled the bag out of the bundle of blankets and spoke in a barely audible whisper, "The priests arrived. I knew you wouldn't want them to take it."

"Thank you." Isonei finished dressing and put the bag across her shoulders beneath the ragged black over-cloak. Her hair was braided and put up beneath the matching black cloth and she stepped out of the room after taking a deep steadying breath.

Ximesra gasped at the sight of the priests enjoying Draeseth's breakfast. Xagorath stood near the door holding his basket and Krouth was nowhere to be seen. The Son of Mun nodded toward the bedroom door.

"It was thoughtful of you to serve breakfast before we leave." Kamrus Olauth's thin smile looked vicious.

Isonei chose to respond in a tone of frosted honey, "I'm no longer the Duchess. It would have been Lislora's place. She ordered breakfast for Draeseth and herself to be sent. She wished it to be ready when they rose."

One of the priests began to cough, choking on the bite he'd just taken.

"You have not eaten?" Brother Sarroth looked at her with a curious frown.

"I have. Xagorath brought two sweet batter cakes for me."

"Cake?" The Kamrus looked disgusted.

"It's a common breakfast in the west of Ara." Xagorath inclined his head before lapsing into Torgan.

"Ah. I was told Arans eat peculiar things."

Draeseth stepped out of the bedroom with a scowl. It deepened as he saw the disturbed breakfast on the table.

Kamrus Olauth began coolly speaking in their language and the Prince cut him off with a sharp gesture.

"You do not make mistakes, Kamrus Olauth. You wished to give insult because you believe I cannot or will not defend my first Duchess or my second. I will be coming with you as far as the city gate to be certain the guards I have arranged for are as I requested. My first Duchess will be safe and well treated. If I have doubts, she will not leave with you." He glanced at the bedroom door as Lislora came out to take his arm. "My second Duchess will receive your apologies and you will send someone to the kitchens for anything she lacks."

The Kamrus looked as though he'd swallowed a thorn citron whole but he bowed low and all four of the priests with him, including Halloc Aurim, followed suit.

The Torgan Prince walked with Lislora around the table allowing her to inspect it. When she spoke quietly he made a pleased sound in his throat and looked at the Kamrus expectantly. Two of the priests bowed again and hurried from the room.

Still clinging to Draeseth's arm, Lislora smiled at Isonei, "Master Krouth said you had already eaten?"

"I have, thank you. I apologize for not waiting to eat with you. I hadn't realized breakfast would be served so early today." She gave the Torgan woman a warm smile.

"Lingering over breakfast was not my intention." The Kamrus spoke frostily.

"If my Duchesses wish to speak, it will be allowed." Draeseth glowered at him.

"You have only one Duchess." Kamrus Olauth corrected him pointedly.

"She may no longer be the Duchess of Kroscur, but she will always be his first Duchess." Lislora's cold stare made the man take a small step back. "And she is a friend."

"I should have paid more attention in the winter garden." Isonei put on a bright smile as she moved to take a seat, "I hadn't realized Kros Voyeh had thorns!"

Lislora gave her a look of amused annoyance as Draeseth barked a laugh and answered her jest, "It is lovely and appears defenseless but it has its own bite. Most blossoms can be eaten, even the Soldier's Wife, but not Kros Voyeh, Isonei."

"It's easy to see why you adore it." She inclined her head letting a little impishness creep into her smile.

He made a pleased sound and turned to say something to the Kamrus that sounded almost threatening.

"Her manner keeps her in your good graces. You would have me be moved by-"

"Her manner is her manner." Burgath snapped as he entered the room. "You should not waste charm on the Kamrus, Isonei."

"I wasn't, dear Burgath. I was trying to lighten the mood to make all of this less bitter." She gave him a wry smile as she rose offering him the chair. "I had hoped to get to say goodbye."

"Sit, please. I doubt even your charm can make this less bitter, my sweet borrowed sister." He returned her smile and came to perch on the arm of her comfortable chair facing his brother. "I would like to ride to the gate with her."

"I will be doing the same." Draeseth inclined his head.

"Perhaps the servants who will be attending the Lady might take her things to the carriage?" The Kamrus smoothed his robe.

"There is no need for them to rush." Burgath shrugged dismissively, "Our other brothers wish to say their farewells as do the Princesses. You will not leave until they have done so."

Ignoring the furious look the Kamrus was giving, Isonei touched Burgath's arm. "What were the girls told? They've had so much upheaval..."