Torgan Wine Ch. 56

"I was able to find strength. I trust our Gods. I love them and I will never give them up. I've lost a brother and a child, but I believe they intended me to go. You may be unhappy with me, father, but I'm glad I went. Even though it was mostly miserable, I learned so much. I know now, I'm never alone, and I won't crumble utterly under the weight of unhappiness."

"My little love... I'm proud of you. That doesn't mean I agree that you should have been sent."

"If I shouldn't take a Daga to task, perhaps you shouldn't be sour with the Gods." She poked his chest gently through the blankets.

His soft laughter made her feel warm. "I will bear that in mind. We will give thanks to the Gods when we return home to Ara and I will apologize to the priestess of Maeralya."

"I'm sure she'll appreciate that, father. I'm a delight, but you have a sharp tongue." Isonei lifted her head to give him a look of mock consternation and he grinned at her, laughing again.

"I love you, my Isonei. I'm so glad you're safe again."

She wriggled to give him a kiss on the cheek and then curled close again, letting her eyes close. After dozing for what felt like a very short while she woke and lay quietly, listening to her father's even breathing. Running through the things she wanted to do in her mind, bathing her father, making certain he ate well, and perhaps going to the baths to wash, herself, she blinked in startlement as Ximesra crept in and smiled, beckoning to her. Isonei carefully climbed out of bed and joined the woman in the other room.

"Your Daga returned from the baths with your brothers and said you were awake. I don't know how he knew... He wanted me to tell you the Daga's private bath is available to you. Onsh, Hesh and your Daga are staying with Daga Lothlaerith for the night and if your father is well enough in the morning we'll start for home."

"Good. Home would be wonderful." She paused remembering about the bath, "Ximesra? I want to wash my father after dinner tonight, could you ask the maids here to gather everything I'll need? I would ask them myself but I don't want to forget anything and I don't know how many pitchers I need."

"I can do that. If you'd like I can sit with him while you go bathe. Purla took me while you were resting."

"Thank you. I do appreciate it, Ximesra. The baths are lovely, aren't they?"

"They are, the people are peculiar though. I got such strange looks and Purla had to chide a few of them for staring. One of them thought I was you, I think." Ximesra winced slightly, "It seemed as if she were angry with you."

"When I danced with the young Daga some people didn't seem pleased. And I know that Draeseth did something to the men who were sent to escort me to see him the night he stole me from Leria. She could be someone who doesn't want me to be with Daga Lothlaerith or a family member of one of those men."

Isonei closed her eyes and took a breath, rubbing her neck, "If Oyeth Lothlaeri isn't more welcoming than Torga it may be my fault."

"Is it safe for you to go alone?" Ximesra frowned and glanced out of the window.

"It should be. I'm a daughter of Liadith even if I'm Aran. But that may be why I was given permission to use Daga Lothlaerith's private bath. He doesn't want me quarreling with anyone."

"Isonei?" Her father's voice from the bedroom prompted her to dart back in.

"I'm here, father. I woke before you did." She gave him a bright smile and came close to touch his face.

"I was afraid for a moment that it had been a dream." He pulled his arm from beneath the blankets to take hold of her hand and kiss it. On noticing Ximesra, he gave the Munian woman a warm smile, "Beauty gathers to itself, my Isonei has always had the loveliest friends. It's a pleasure to see you again."

Dimpling at him, Ximesra put a hand on her hip, "This is why Arans have a reputation for flirting. You're just being charming but a Son of Mun who said that would be trying to seduce me."

Eliorith laughed and shook his head, "I'm not well enough to show you what flirting is to an Aran, my dear."

"I've seen it!" Ximesra gave Isonei an impish look, "That's how I know you were just being charming."

"I was thinking of going to bathe, father. Would you like me to wash you first?" Isonei ran her fingers lightly over his hair that looked more grey than silver and in dire need of washing even in the dim room.

"Please." He sighed and then tried to sit up. "My hair can't be washed until I'm well enough to visit the baths."

"It can. I can show you how, father." Isonei glanced to Ximesra and the woman inclined her head.

"I'll help Purla get everything you'll need."

The four basins were fetched, two were filled with hot water, and two large pitchers of steaming water waited on the table more quickly than Isonei expected. She helped her father out of bed and she and Ximesra helped him out of his nightclothes. Isonei carefully washed his hair in one basin as Ximesra began washing the rest of him from the other.

Purla stripped the bed and put on clean linens, laying out fresh nightclothes while they worked.

Isonei's father looked blissful as he was rinsed and dried, "It does feel better to be washed. You have your mother's gentle touch, Isonei."

"Which mother? They're all very gentle." Isonei teased with a smile, helping him into his fresh nightclothes.

"Wynnan was the gentlest, the brush of a flower petal felt coarse in comparison to her hands." He took hold of her hand and kissed the backs of her fingers with a sad smile, "The ability to let someone feel how much you care through your touch is rarer than you might expect." A yawn wrenched itself out of him and he shook his head. "I think I may lie down again until dinner, my little love. You should go bathe. I should have sent you when you first arrived but I wanted you to be close."

Smiling warmly, she helped him back to bed, "I wouldn't have gone. I needed to spend some time with you, father."

"I'll sit with him, Isonei." Ximesra took a seat in the chair by the window. "Would you mind if I opened the drapes, Lord Eliorith?"

"Please, a little light and air would be good for me." He inclined his head.

"I'll be back soon." Isonei pressed a kiss to his forehead.

"I think Purla has a bag of clothes for you to take. Will you be able to get your dress fastened?" Ximesra frowned slightly.

"There are attendants in the Daga's private bath. I shouldn't have any difficulty." Isonei gave her a smile as she left the room. Purla had left a bag with a fresh dress and underthings sitting on a chair by the door. Isonei made a mental note to thank her and see to it Yornaith paid her well.

The late afternoon air was cooling as she walked out of the inn toward the baths. The market seemed less lively as she passed on her way around to the Daga's entrance. Reaching the door she had barely raised her hand to open it when a sharp voice snapped, "That entrance is only for Daga Lothlaerith."

"Is there another entrance to his private bath? I was told I-"

"You are not permitted in his bath. That he allowed you once does not mean you can dirty it a second time." The soldier in the sash of Lothlaerith's blue-green put himself between her and the door forcing her to step back.

Choosing to keep a cool and confident tone, and ignore the comment about her dirtying the baths, Isonei narrowed her eyes at the man, just slightly, in warning, "I was told I was permitted. Perhaps you should ask-"

"Commander Valothe said to watch for you. He was to be told if you tried to enter the Daga's bath. You are not welcome." The soldier put his hand on his weapon.

Isonei studied his furious face and with a sinking feeling knew that the man would draw his weapon if she lingered. "Very well. I will not bathe in Oyeth Lothlaeri. You may send word to Commander Valothe that I would like to speak to Daga Lothlaerith and formally ask him to release me from my promise to return." Her face felt like a frozen mask as she strove to show no emotion, and her voice sounded eerily cold.

The soldier's hand moved from his weapon and he straightened looking to the side as if for reinforcements. She didn't wait for him to find them, moving with a deliberate pace back to the inn.

Once inside, she asked one of the other servants for Purla and was directed to the kitchens. Even glancing in from the doorway she could see that the servants were too busy to fetch her a basin to wash in. It would have to wait. She chose to go back to her father's room without disturbing anyone further.