Torgan Wine Ch. 60

"There's nothing to forgive." Xadroth stepped forward and offered his hand.

With a warmer smile, Isonei took it and glanced around for her father and brother.

"They're speaking to our father." Xagorath took a seat on a spread blanket and Isonei sat with him. "They think you should have a day to rest once you arrive, perhaps two."

"A good night's sleep in my own bed should be enough. I agreed to leave my Daga's house without Hesh so that you could get home more quickly. If I spend a day or two at home in Ara and make you wait I might as well have stayed." She tried to put on a brighter smile, "Oshhenaes isn't as far from home in Ara as my home in Leria is."

Before she could say more, Ximesra said something that sounded annoyed in their tongue. Xadroth snorted. "My sister wants to shake you for trying to pretend to be well when you aren't. She used to do the same."

The two began what almost sounded like an argument and Xagorath grinned offering her a basket filled with what looked like tiny dough pockets. "They always do this. Your Daga's servants wouldn't let us cook, but they listened when I described foods that travel well. Why they make everything so small is something they wouldn't answer."

"It's just how things are done. I like the little bites of food. When I was a child they fit so perfectly on my doll's plates, it made every meal feel like a doll party to me. Returning to Leria was always as wonderful as the days my mothers would come home." Isonei took two and ate them with relish.

"You traveled as a child, but you get ill now?" Xadroth frowned slightly taking a few for himself.

"Yes. It started in Torga."

"Hesh said you were sleeping in the carriage in Leria." Ximesra looked at her dubiously.

"I'd spent the entire night drinking and dancing. I was exhausted!" Isonei smiled at the memory of the party but it faded as she remembered the carriage ride. "Draeseth was very sour that morning. Sleeping was the most pleasant way to pass the time. It wasn't until Torga that I seemed to get ill every time I got into a carriage."

"Have you tried riding on a horse?" Xadroth gave her a faint smile.

"Riding with Draeseth and my Daga was more pleasant than being in the carriage, but I don't know if I can ride for an entire day, and I need someone to ride with me." Her father's laugh startled her.

"The only way I was able to get my little love onto the horse with me when she was small was by leaving her behind once. She's always refused to ride on her own."

"She can ride with me." Xadroth inclined his head. "Ximesra has been telling us how you stepped between her and the Beast of Kroscur when you first met. She said you're delicate but brave. I'd like to know you."

"Your sister is the brave one." Turning to give Ximesra an impish smile she added, "I'd have starved to death out of fear of the food."

"They did poison you with swine." Xagorath shook his head. "Oberath was furious. I'd never heard an Aran curse like that. He'd have made Uncle Vilmargoth proud."

"Arans can curse!" Isonei fluttered her lashes at Ivorith. "Ask my brother!"

"We tried to teach you a few words Ialath learned at his grandfather's house when you were a child, that doesn't make me-"

"Are you blaming my poor sweet brother who can't defend himself?!" Isonei put on a look of mock-horror and watched Ivorith sputter.

Eliorith began to laugh, "Ialath would approve of her teasing you that way."

She let her face relax into a mischievous smile, "That's why I did it, father."

Xadroth reached past her for more of the bites with a smile, "She's better outside of the carriage. If the house is only a few hours away, riding in the fresh air might be good for her."

"If she does well, we can rest for a day at home and have a faster journey to Oshhenaes. Leaving the carriage behind will save time." Eliorith lowered himself onto the edge of the blanket and Ximesra passed him the basket of tiny pockets.

"Father-"

"I won't have you making yourself sick because I pressed you to leave, my little love. Master Vexelroth is in agreement, a day of rest for all of you would hurt nothing."

"I want to see these fields she kept telling me about in Torga." Ximesra dimpled at her.

"They're not quite in full bloom yet." Eliorith gave Isonei a warm smile. "I can take you both out with me tomorrow if you like."

"Perhaps we can all go." Xagorath pushed the basket toward Isonei again.

"I'd like to gather flowers to take to the mound if we're staying for a day." Isonei took a few more of the bites and began to nibble thoughtfully.

"We will be coming home again, my little love."

"I would want to do the same if something had happened to someone in my family." Ximesra offered a faintly pensive smile, "Would you like me to help you gather flowers?"

"I'd love that." Isonei took a breath, "I can tell you about Ialath while we gather them. He could be so charming he made me seem as coarse as Draeseth."

Ivorith snorted, "I once tried to speak to one of the Alethris sisters. She was very interested when she heard I was of House Ernelis, but her elder sister interrupted us saying, 'He isn't the one with the silver tongue.' Our conversation ended."

"Something similar happened to me once." Xadroth gave his brother a sour look and Xagorath broke into a wide grin.

"I can't help that they liked me better."

"Don't worry, Xadroth, some of us have an appreciation for the charms of solid men, not just those with silver tongues." Isonei gave him an impish grin as she touched his arm reassuringly.

The man blushed and wiped his brow.

"You don't have to wipe dirt on your face, dear Xadroth. I'll behave." She began to laugh as his blush deepened.

"He always came home from trips with father talking about the pretty Aran girls in hushed tones, Isonei. You should-" Xagorath laughed as his brother threw a few of the bites from the basket at him and muttered something she didn't quite catch in their language.

"House Messelis, my mother's House, has had some Sons of Mun in it before." Eliorith smiled and glanced to Vexelroth. "Depending which of the islands you're from we may even be distantly related."

"I know House Messelis. They come out to the islands on occasion but their kin are some islands away from us." Vexelroth shook his head with a wry smile and ate one of the bites. "Aran women pass wanderlust down to their daughters, not their sons. I suspect there may be some Aran in my family."

Ximesra winced and Isonei put on a bright smile, "Fortunately, Master Vexelroth, we also pass down charm and beauty. I think, perhaps, Sons of Mun pass down fortitude and an iron will. The combination is the most impressive thing I have ever seen." She reached out her hand to Ximesra and was rewarded with a proud, dimpled smile and a firm clasping of it.

"You're stronger than you think, Isonei."

"Our families have a bond, now." Vexelroth inclined his head. "You are welcome in our home, perhaps you'll come with us to celebrate?"

"Yes!" Ximesra pulled on Isonei's hand, "Come home with us! You'd love the islands."

"If I hadn't promised my Daga not to wade into the sea or go out onto it in boats or ships, I would love to." Isonei withdrew her hand ruefully. "I love the Sea of Glass and I'd love to see the islands of Mun."

"Why would Daga Liadith want you to promise that?" Eliorith looked appalled.

"He was telling me some of the old rules, a Daga's children don't go into the sea or out onto it because some of them were taken by an unseen hand down into the water. I told him I loved the sea, that I loved wading in it and I'd been out on the water. I thought he'd understand it wasn't as dangerous as he thought, but he insisted I give my word never to do that again."

"Never to go into the water again... That's a curse, Isonei." Xagorath's quiet words drew a murmur of agreement from all of the others.

"I can wade into tide pools as long as they aren't-"

"I'll write to him and ask him to release you from that promise. He insisted that you be permitted to go where you please, and it prevents you from doing so." Ivorith stood up with determination.

Isonei took another of the bites and let Xadroth help her up from the blanket. She doubted her Daga would relent but kept quiet.

The ride through the Aran countryside was pleasant if a bit warmer than she'd become accustomed to. Her thoughts turned to the bath that would be waiting at home. Occasionally she pointed things out to Xadroth, the paths that led to certain villages and out to particular fields, and closer to home the path that led up to the orchards.

"Hold still, Isonei. Don't move," Xadroth murmured nervously.

"Why?" Isonei frowned and looked around for what might be concerning him.

"There's a bee on your arm."

She began to laugh and lifted her arm to watch as it crawled on her sleeve, "I'm not afraid of them. You do know we keep them, don't you?"

"You're not... not afraid of being stung?" He kept his voice low and Isonei could feel how tense he was behind her.

"My grandfather liked to say, 'If you shrink from the bee you don't deserve its honey.' Be respectful, calm, and kind. They understand that." Isonei beamed as it flew away. "Our bees are very gentle. As long as you stay calm and don't swat at them you don't have to worry about being stung."

"I'll try to remember that." He relaxed slightly. "I noticed there was one embroidered on your dress yesterday."

"You were paying that much attention?" Isonei laughed and turned enough to look up at his blushing face.

"It was a very low cut dress, I couldn't help but notice."

"Are you flirting with me, Son of Mun?"

"My brother is flirting?" Ximesra encouraged her horse closer to them and Xagorath followed suit.

"Like an Aran!" Isonei kept up her teasing as the man looked at her, flushed and tongue tied, "He was just commenting on how much he noticed my low cut dress yesterday."

"If whoever taught him to flirt could have taught him not to blush he'd be doing well." Xagorath grinned.

"I adore a man who blushes!" Isonei turned her impish smile on Xagorath.

"Isonei may be too much for you, brother." Ximesra dimpled at him. "I'll help you find a less playful woman when we get home."

Xadroth shrugged slightly and gave Isonei a bemused smile, "I'm enjoying it. Even if the flirting was accidental."

"How much farther to your house, Isonei?" Ximesra eyed them with amusement, "I've been looking forward to an Aran bath, and your father promised oysters and scallops as well as your favorite clams for dinner."

The ecstatic sound Isonei made set the three Sons of Mun laughing. "He didn't tell me there'd be clams tonight! Can we go any faster?"

The sun was just setting as they came into sight of the house. The lamps had been lit as if for a party and it looked inviting with the doors open wide. Home, a bath, an Aran meal, and a night in her own bed all within sight. Isonei felt light and joyful as they rode toward the house. Whatever tomorrow might hold, tonight she was home.

*****

I've chosen to stop here, and I'm aware that some things have been left open. I'm going to come back to Isonei and continue her story under a different title after I write an arc for Lislora. I hope it's been as much fun to read as it's been for me to write.