Torgan Wine Ch. 56

Ivorith approached on his horse and Xagorath gave her a boost up to join him before he heaved himself back into his own saddle, rejoining his sister.

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Riding into the city on horseback was much different than the carriage. Isonei's view was much better this time. Oyeth Lothlaeri didn't seem built to keep people out, the wall almost looked decorative with the way the city itself rose above it in tiers. The uppermost part of the Daga's house could be seen in the distance clinging to the cliff face near the magnificent stone arches of the gate.

They followed the carriage in through the carved wooden gate but at a fork in the paved street, the carriage went right and they rode to the left. The sun shone down brightly, warming the air and it almost felt warm enough for a summer gown. As they rode into the marketplace, it seemed many of the people around them had thought the same. Most of the Lerian women were in shoulder-baring summer gowns and the men were walking without cloaks, the sashes tied around their waists displayed proudly.

This time the sight of so many Lerians in one place didn't make her nervous. She'd become accustomed to being the only Aran in sight. They rode toward the baths with only a few curious looks, stopping at a what looked like a fine house with a plaque next to the open, double door. In both Aran and Lerian, it proclaimed, 'The Inn of the Silver Sons, former quartering place of the Aran Guard under the Dagas' command.'

"I knew that the Aran King had sent soldiers, I hadn't realized they had a house here." Isonei let Yornaith help her down.

"The house fell into disrepair and the Daga was persuaded to allow House Iarmaris to turn it into an inn, as long as the history was respected and soldiers could be quartered here again if need be." He glanced at an older Lerian man lingering nearby and orders were called out for men to take the horses. "This is the man who deals with the day to day running of the inn for us, Master Pelerithe. I asked him to take special care in looking after Lord Eliorith."

Isonei placed her hand over her heart choosing to speak to him in his own tongue, "Thank you for looking after my father, Master Pelerithe."

"You're the daughter of Liadith?" The man hesitated before returning the gesture.

"I am. I am Isonei of House Ernelis, daughter of Liadith."

"Why are you here instead of seeing the Daga?"

"I need to see my father. I was told he's ill and we hadn't parted well. My Daga has gone to see Daga Lothlaerith, with Onsh-Velarith and Hesh-Caeridith."

He inclined his head and gestured for her to follow him inside, "Lord Eliorith is in the master suite we usually reserve for those of House Iarmaris. He was able to eat a little for lunch, the healers said whatever he could eat would be good for him. My match served him the special soup she fixed for our children when they were ill, finely diced vegetables in fish broth. My granddaughter is sitting with him now, I took care to be certain he was never alone."

"I couldn't have asked for more from you, Master Pelerithe." Isonei gave him a grateful look as they made their way up the stairs.

"Master Yornaith has made it clear that Lord Eliorith is to be treated as well as Lord Yuleth would be. You have some relation?" He glanced at her curiously.

"He's my eldest brother. I was very fortunate to have my brothers, Ivorith and Ialath, who had loving and welcoming mothers after mine died. Yornaith's mother considers me her own. I have a large family in Ara."

"Is that why your..." Pelerithe hesitated and seemed to think better of his question. "Here, this is the suite." He knocked and opened the door for her.

Isonei stopped part of the way through it to give him a faint smile, "You wanted to ask why my Daga waited so long to claim me? He knows what family means to an Aran, and how attached we are. The elder Daga didn't want to take me from my father, or from my family. He chose to wait. I've never known my Daga to be wrong, but I... I've made foolish choices. I stayed away from my Daga for too long, and I chose to spend a year with a Torgan Prince on a whim." She stopped, shaking her head and feeling suddenly nervous to go in to see her father.

"Even the blackest storm waters the fields. You've done some good for others in this, Lady. My grandson is half Torgan, he was allowed to come and live with us for carrying your message to the Daga." Pelerithe straightened and gave her a warm smile, "You brought a piece of my family back to me."

"I've done some good for others, but I've hurt my family too." She took a deep breath and looked into the rooms, "I have to mend what I can."

Her heart was beating in her throat as she ventured into the rooms and caught sight of a woman who looked a few years younger than she did. The woman's pale yellow hair was braided in the Lerian style and crowned her head with fat ringlets hanging down beside her grey face.

Pelerithe spoke quietly as Isonei hesitated in the doorway, "Purla, is Lord Eliorith awake? His daughter-"

"Isonei?" Her father's voice put her in motion.

"Atha?" Isonei stepped into the room and darted to the bed as soon as she saw him trying to sit up, climbing on to embrace him. "Atha! I'm so sorry! I-I," she took a juddering breath as he kissed the top of her head and held her close.

"All is forgiven. You're safe and back with us." His voice cracked and he took a quavering breath of his own, "Thank the Gods. Arissa told me she'd gotten a message from you asking me to give offerings to all of the Gods and not to forget Teth and Udnerath. I did. I even gave an offering to the nameless dark." He rubbed her back and took a deep breath. "She said you wanted to kiss a priest of Tyhnoth?"

"Yes, I had a dream and he was so kind. I asked for his protection and comfort and he gave me both."

"Ialath... Ialath said he would ask that you be protected."

"Atha, I-" A lump sealed her throat and her eyes burned, trying to speak was impossible.

"It wasn't your fault, my little love. It was the Torgan's. Ialath didn't blame you, he regretted what he did and what he said. And I'm sorry," gingerly he tilted her damp face up to look at him and she noticed the gauntness of his face, "I was unbearable and I should have been glad for you when Daga Liadith brought you into his family. I could only see that you were leaving.

"I spoke with him at length. He wants to add to your family not take from it, and he will never keep you from returning to Ara." Her father stroked her face as she took a breath and tried to smile. "Did he tell you he apologized to me? I never thought I'd see a Daga apologize. We both wanted to protect you and keep you where you belonged, but you don't belong in only one place. I gave him my word that I won't keep you from returning to Liadith."

"Thank you, Atha." Isonei sighed and relaxed, resting her head on his thin chest.

"You haven't called me Atha for years, my little love." Eliorith rubbed the back of her neck.

"I missed you terribly. I think most of Torga has heard about our wine and our fields. There is a school in the Kroscur named after our House, and a very kind winemaker, Lord Vigrim, who hoped his daughters would speak as well of his wine so far from home."

Her father laughed and squeezed her, "Perhaps you'll stay close to home for a short while?"

"I plan to, but I do want to come back to Liadith in the month of Obris so that I can be there when Arissa's child is born."

"We'll both attend the birth. I had begun to look forward to being a grandfather, even if the child would be half Torgan."

Isonei closed her eyes and took a moment to compose herself. "I had looked forward to the baby. The circumstances weren't ideal, but I wanted the child, Atha." After a short pause to breathe away the tightness in her throat she continued, "And you do have a grandchild, I adopted a Torgan boy, he calls me Alma. My dear Hodrim is still in Torga and I can't bring him out to live with us. He'd be as miserable here as I was there."

"Who will care for him?" Eliorith gently disentangled himself to sit up and she did the same.

"He has a second mother, Duchess Lislora. She'll make certain he has anything he needs. Lislora loves him as I do. He's studying to be a priest with Kamrus Rimathe. You would love him, father, he's a very stern and serious boy but so sweet and kind. I gave him the ring you gave me when I came of age..." She wiped at her eyes with her sleeve.

"We'll send him word that you're safe, and I'll invite him to visit us in Ara. He doesn't have to stay but should be allowed to visit his Alma." Her father took her hands with a proud smile. "You're wearing Aunt Illion's ring?"

"I am. I know it isn't intended for everyday wear but... I no longer have the box. Ximesra had to steal the ring to bring it with us."

"I owe her a debt."

"As do I. I wouldn't have lived long enough to be brought home without her and her brother Xagorath. They should share in the reward with Hesh-Caeridith."

"I'll see that they do." He touched her face, still smiling. "Even if that was all she could save it's the most valuable piece. The women of House Ernelis have passed it to each other for as long as I can remember."

"It was all the jewelry I had left. I gave my necklace and bracelet to Draeseth and Lislora as a wedding gift," Isonei paused, leaning to give him a kiss on the cheek before she continued, "after Draeseth released me. Even after I was no longer his Duchess he tried to protect me from his father's displeasure and from Kamrus Olauth. I wasn't entirely wrong about him, but I still shouldn't have been so impulsive. It was foolish of me."

He took hold of her chin, "It was, but your mother was always the same way. I loved her for it and I love you no matter how foolish or impulsive you might be at times." Glancing behind him he offered a rueful smile, "Help your father adjust his pillows? I want to sit up, I've been lying down for days."

"Of course." Immediately she clambered from the bed and began collecting his pillows and positioning them. When he leaned back on them and seemed content she climbed back onto the bed and lay with her head in his lap.

He stroked her hair and looked to the doorway, "Have you spoken with your cousin, Oberath? House Neriris has been far kinder to me than I have deserved. I need to take you to see Lord Wreynath after you've rested at home."

"I have. I adore him. And I think I'm supposed to call Lord Wreynath 'grandfather'?"

"He is your grandfather. I was wrong to keep you from your mother's House, but I was trying to shield you and your brothers from the King's displeasure. No one who associates with House Neriris has enjoyed his good graces since before you were born. When your mother's sister fell out of favor I tried to distance myself from them and when your mother died I cut ties so that I could salvage what I could of our standing. I didn't think that it might hurt him or your uncles, and I was so angry at Sirith I didn't want you near your sisters."

Rubbing her head, he sighed, "If you're foolish, you may get that from me as well, my little love. Your mother would leap into things but they always seemed to turn out well, your father... I sometimes make the wrong choice for good reasons."

"I don't think those were good reasons, Lord Eliorith." Oberath's voice came from beyond the doorway and Isonei heard Ivorith hiss something at him.

"Wanting to protect those you love is always a good reason, cousin!" Isonei called back without stirring from her position. "You could invite them in, father. I think my brothers will be glad to see you feeling better."

"You're calling me father again." He sounded slightly disappointed and she looked up at him with an impish smile.

"You did it first! When I was small you always called yourself Atha, I stopped calling you Atha when you started referring to yourself as father." She rolled onto her back to look up at him, "In Torga, during the first few days I was there, I had a terrible fever and I was calling out for my Atha. I was so delirious I mistook Master Krouth for you.

"He looked after me as if I were family. You'd like him if you met him."

"The thought of you being so ill and calling out for me..." His silvery blue eyes dampened, "You're never going farther than Leria ever again."

"That seems very fair, Atha." She put on the most innocently contrite expression she could manage and he began to laugh.

Wiping at his eyes he smiled down at her, "My little love." Eliorith glanced up at the doorway and beckoned, "Please, come in."

"We didn't mean to disturb you..." Ximesra dimpled as Isonei sat up and put her arm around her father, leaning against his side and pillow pile. "I wanted to make sure Isonei remembers to eat."

"You haven't eaten?" Eliorith turned to frown at her, "Go eat, my little love. You're far too thin."

Ximesra laughed and then covered her mouth as he looked at her with a slight frown. "I'm sorry, I've been listening to her call every child we've come across 'my little love'. It struck me as amusing to hear you call her that."

"He stopped calling my brother and I that when we were old enough to want our own horses." Ivorith gave her an annoyed look.

"I've never wanted my own horse!" She widened her eyes and gave him a bright smile.

"If she were a little more plump I would say you stole a daughter from House Neriris, Lord Eliorith." Oberath approached the bed with a smile. "Every one of the girls in my House has perfected that wide-eyed look."

"Her mother did that. It's always taken every ounce of my willpower not to melt completely when she makes certain faces." He turned his head and kissed her cheek. "Will you make introductions, my little love?"

"Of course! Ximesra, Xagorath, this is my father, Lord Eliorith of House Ernelis. Ximesra and Xagorath are Sons of Mun and they kept me alive long enough to be brought back. They both reminded me of home when I needed it and gave me hope. Not to mention keeping me in good enough spirits to eat the delicious, clean food Xagorath prepared. I need to show you the gift he made for me to brighten my spirits and give me something I could look at and think of home."

"It survived the journey better than I expected." Xagorath smiled wryly and inclined his head. "It was never intended to be moved around so much."

"You stole back a family heirloom for my daughter, Ximesra. We owe you a great deal."

"No," Ximesra dimpled at him and shook her head, "not for that. She promised me she would find a way to give me my freedom and she did, along with every slave in Torga. Haven't you heard about that here? I think almost everyone in Nemauros wanted to have her declared a Saint."

"No..." Eliorith looked at Isonei with a slow smile spreading across his face. "I want to hear about that."

"Go eat, Isonei, I can tell your father about it. I was there in the crowd." Ximesra smiled warmly as Isonei's father kissed her cheek again.

"Go have something to eat, my little love."

"I'll go with you, Isonei," Yornaith came closer and offered her his hand. "I've heard this story before."

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Isonei's father beamed proudly as she came back in and patted the place next to himself on the bed. "'His legacy is the lives of others returned to them', that is the most beautiful thing I can think of to honor my grandson. I've never been so proud of you, my little love."

"Thank you, Atha, and thank you, Ximesra." Isonei lay her head in her father's lap again and got comfortable, feeling sleepy with her stomach full of soup, bread, and tiny cheese tarts.

"You can't be planning to go to sleep already, cousin!" Oberath dropped onto the bed and poked her in the side.

"I'm tired!" Her whine was only half in jest.

"I should rest as well, as joyful as I am..." Eliorith tilted his head slightly.

"We can go to the baths," Ivorith smiled faintly as he pulled Oberath to his feet.

"You should wait for Daga Liadith. I told him how unhappy I was that you were made to wash-"

"Isonei!" Her brother snapped and gave her a sharp look, "I told you-"

"I'm not the only one who faults Daga Lothlaerith's hospitality!" Isonei lifted her head and gave him a stern frown. "Daga Liadith will take you to bathe with him."

"Isonei," her father's voice was firm and stern, "the Dagas in the north are not as warm as you're accustomed to and Daga Lothlaerith has been more cordial than I expected him to be. If you require him to be as hospitable as an Aran or a southern Daga you will be the one seen as unreasonable and ingracious."

"Yes, father." She dropped her head and put on a meekly apologetic expression. "I'll offer an apology if I've offended him."

"You'll offer one whether you have or not."

"Yes, father."

"What would possess you to fault a Daga for his hospitality? I taught you better manners than that. The Dagas are offering you a privilege just by granting you an audience."

Isonei stayed silent.

Eliorith took a breath, "I can be unpleasant when I'm tired. Forgive me."

The apology was directed at others in the room, she was well aware.

"Isonei is the same way. The only time she was sharp with people in Torga was when she was tired or hungry. They would send her to bed or try to feed her when she grew sour." Ximesra sounded almost amused. "The two of you are so alike... Prince Draeseth said she was picking up his bad habits but she was just showing things she inherited from you."

Tilting her head to look up at the Munian woman, Isonei bit her lip to keep from laughing.

"Look at them! Their eyes!" Ximesra dimpled as she grinned.

"She has her mother's virtues and my faults." Isonei's father rubbed her arm. "Will you still stay with me after I've chided you, my little love?"

"Of course, father. I don't intend to go far from you yet, even if you chide me."

"We'll let you rest, father." Ivorith herded everyone else out of the bedroom.

Without being asked, Isonei helped her father rearrange his pillows. "When was the last time you washed, father?"

"Purla has been bringing me a basin when I feel strong enough, but I haven't washed properly in days. Going to the baths while ill isn't permitted."

"I'll ask Ximesra later if she can help me get everything I need to wash you. The Torgans don't enjoy bathing, I had to learn to wash from a basin." She gave him a rueful smile, "It won't be quite as nice as a good hot bath but you'll feel cleaner."

"I should have done more to keep you from being sent. If I'd encouraged you to give in to Prince Andnaeuth's advances they wouldn't have allowed him to take you."

"Father..." Isonei adjusted his blankets and then laid next to him curling close on top of them. "It would have been wrong. I needed to go. I was meant to return to my Daga, and I did some good things in Torga. Xagorath and Ximesra needed to be set free, and I helped others. I wish I could have spared you pain, and I wish I could have-could have protected Ialath." She took a moment to breathe and collect herself.

"The priestess of Maeralya told me to trust that our mother would put things right. She said you were guided and I should have faith. I didn't find it comforting."

"I prayed to her, father, and to Tyhnoth. I may have prayed more than they would have liked, and then Kamrus Gillaugrim gave me a gift that brought me comfort. He gave me an Aran translation of their Book of Truths. One passage... 'When you are afraid and blind in the dark, hold tightest to what you have believed in the light. Truth stands fast and will not abandon you.'