Torgan Wine Ch. 52

"All they know is that you are going to visit the shrine. They have not been told you are no longer with their uncle."

"It would be too confusing for them." She nodded her agreement.

"They will need to be told-"

Draeseth snarled something at the Kamrus in Torgan cutting him off. Burgath seemed to second him.

Isonei decided to change the subject, "Is there anything in Gogmenos that might interest the girls? I may not be able to send anything back for them but..." She began to laugh as Burgath offered her a small purse. "Thank you! What could I find there that might interest them?"

"Candies or dolls, perhaps. Ror was very taken with the puzzle box you gave Hodrim."

"He showed it to her?"

"Father insisted. The note was very sweet. The ring is inside the box and he has not yet learned to open it, he said it was a red stone set in silver?"

"It's rubuttite, the red is a little pinkish."

"A stone like that would be set in gold, here." Burgath smiled.

"Gold is rarely worn in Ara." Draeseth volunteered as the priests and several servants returned with more food.

"The toymaker here made the puzzle box. Are they uncommon in Torga? In Ara, they're popular gifts for clever children."

"What are?" Adareth came in the open door followed by his other two brothers and the Princesses.

"We were discussing gifts for Ror and Kas." Burgath stood from his perch on the arm of the chair as Isonei rose to greet them.

"It's so sweet of all of you to wake up so early and see me off." Isonei smiled warmly at them and crouched down as the girls pushed past their youngest uncle to embrace her. She couldn't understand what they were saying but it sounded unhappy.

"No one wants you to leave." Adareth looked down at her and for a moment she could see the dampness in his dark eyes.

Rogath stepped forward and gripped his brother's shoulder as he said something quietly to the girls.

"Is there anything I can send them from Gogmenos? Something they can look forward to?"

The eldest Prince smiled faintly as he relayed the question and Kas immediately began to say something and tug on her over-cloak at the shoulder.

"Kas would like a ring or a dress of starlight." Rogath looked at the girl with a stern amusement that reminded Isonei of her own father.

"If we go to Ara, on our way I will send you fabric for a dress of starlight." She beamed at the girl.

Both Draeseth and Rogath made similar sounds of amusement.

Ror said something that sounded more earnest and Isonei stroked the girl's grey cheek and red-gold hair as she waited for someone to translate it.

Ougath cleared his throat after a moment's silence descended. "Ror would have you return. That is gift enough."

Pulling the girl close, Isonei closed her eyes trying to will the lump from her throat. Finally, she took a deep breath and stood up, trying to give Rogath a bright smile. "You have such-" she paused to swallow the lump, "such precious daughters."

"They should eat before the food gets cold." He inclined his head. "Or before they beg to keep you again."

Isonei laughed and wiped at her eyes taking another deep breath, "Or before I try to pack them in my chests. I want to keep them."

He relayed that with a smile and Ror smiled too, shaking her head. Kas, however, leaned to look past Isonei as if searching for the chests. The Princes began to laugh and the mood lightened as they began to speak in Torgan to one another, filling plates and finding seats.

Krouth brought chairs from other rooms so that everyone, including the priests, would have a place to sit. Rogath insisted, with a gesture of his head, that she was to sit with the Princesses on the sofa. The room quieted as everyone began to eat.