Kros Voyeh Ch. 07

For a long moment, she was afraid the Aran wouldn't accept the apology. If their places were exchanged, Lislora wasn't certain if she would.

Finally, Isonei spoke softly, "I forgive you. You tried to help care for me. It was clear you were uncomfortable being around someone so ill but you kept coming back."

The words felt like a relief and she lifted her eyes to look at the woman, "I was and am truly sorry."

To her surprise, Isonei stepped forward and embraced her. "You are still my friend." After a moment she added, "I may have to apologize for trying to give you a deceptive man who is nearly incapable of keeping his word. He's beautiful but he's the most infuriating man I've ever met."

Sighing, Lislora wrapped her arms around Isonei briefly before gently pushing her back and standing up as well. "He has to be prodded into keeping his word." The thought that this might be a good time to confess she'd known about the lies her cousin had told crossed her mind, but she couldn't bring herself to risk the forgiveness she'd been granted.

"He scolds when I try!" Isonei shook her head with a wry smile. "But if I hadn't tried to give him to you, there might have been less pain for you."

"For us both." Lislora laid a hand on her shoulder and glanced to the door wondering how well the Sellac or Brother Odgar had explained things. "Are you aware that he may try to force the Sellac to give you back? He is the Duke of Kroscur as well as a Prince; there are laws that would allow him to refuse..."

"If he does I'll try to convince him otherwise. I won't allow unpleasantness, not here, not around the children."

"You could do a great deal for them as the Duchess of Kroscur. I gave them the house but I lack the wealth to give them more."

Moving to the basin, Lislora was glad to see that the water was clear and clean. She was pleased to find the water cool as she began to wash her face.

"I can try to get clean water for you..." The Aran sounded horrified.

Lislora looked at the woman, finding herself bitterly amused. "You wash more than anyone I have ever known, Isonei. You never allow yourself to get dirty before you wash again. This water is fine."

"Arans like to be clean." She looked mildly insulted and it was somehow humorous. "Why do Torgans find that so amusing?"

"Torgans are clean, Arans are vain. His Highness said you cannot bear to smell like anything other than vaina pods."

Isonei's face suddenly contorted into a childlike grimace of annoyance, the tip of her tongue sticking out from between her lips.

The laugh that burst out of Lislora startled her and she clapped her hands over her mouth before explaining to the Aran, "You looked for a moment like you could be one of the children here not one of the Sisters."

"The children here are wonderful. I hadn't expected there to be so many, perhaps one or two living with the Sisters. Orphans are rare in Ara."

"Truly?" She found herself baffled by that thought. The women were certainly not more robust, but perhaps the men fought less.

"Yes, for a child to have no family is heartbreaking. Their other mothers, aunts or uncles, even in other Houses, anyone related to them in any way would take them and give them a home. This... I would take them all as mine if I could." Isonei wrung her hands, looking earnest once more.

Seeing her here and listening to her speak about the children it was clear why the convent seemed like a good place for the woman. Her soft heart would be a comfort to the little ones.

"You can do a great deal for them, Isonei." Lislora offered her a genuine smile. "I can see why Halloc Aurim believes you would be a good Sellac."