Torgan Wine Ch. 18

"It will be a long time until he holds anything again daughter of Liadith. And after hearing of his actions... The Torgan protects you? He should be allowed to-"

"No!" Isonei cut him off in surprise. "Daga Caeridith you will lose a son. Send him to my Daga when he heals. Liadith is just and uhhmm appropriate, I would not have Hesh-Caeridith die."

Daga Caeridith drew a breath and studied her face. "As you wish. You are very gracious to spare him."

The Torgan by the fire muttered under his breath and earned a sharp look from the Daga.

"What did he say? I do not speak Torgan."

"That you are too gracious."

"My Daga says I am more sweet than sensible. He sometimes chides."

The Daga in front of her nodded with a slow smile crossing his face. "I will be sure to praise you for it. You should stay the night. Even if you leave immediately you won't make the next inn until well after nightfall and it will likely be full."

She took a deep breath and shook her head ruefully, lapsing into Aran. "That is a kind offer Daga Caeridith, if Prince Draeseth were not so angry I would agree gladly. In his current mood there might be bloodshed in your house."

"You seemed to soften his fury." He looked as though that displeased him in some way.

"He has not seen the bruises yet, and he has not been told that I have asked you to send Hesh-Caeridith to my Daga instead of allowing him the vengeance he desires. He will be angry with your sons, and with me."

"And you think I should allow the daughter of Liadith to leave my house with a Torgan who may take out his anger on her? No, child. My sons have acted shamefully, I will not." His eyes brightened to a dangerous shade of green.

"Daga Caeridith, he would never harm me. He might raise his voice but I have no fear of his anger." She offered him a reassuring smile. "Liadith would not have allowed me to leave with a man he thought would harm me, no matter what promises I had made. Prince Draeseth proved himself to my Daga. I ask you to allow him his pride and let us continue, even if it isn't the wisest course."

"You will need to lighten your load. More than a single carriage and cart will be required if you wish to carry all you have to wherever you intend to go."

"Your carts cannot pass Lothlaerith's Gate, but getting us to it would be a well appreciated kindness."

"You cannot cross into Torga." He leaned back in the chair as he contemplated her seriousness. "A daughter does not leave Leria."

"This one does. Liadith is not pleased but he is allowing it. I have promised to return, and Draeseth has promised to bring me home as often as I desire."

"Home to Leria?" He asked carefully.

"Home to Liadith." Isonei answered with a smile.

"I will send a messenger to Liadith asking him if he is certain. If he has changed his mind or wishes to implore you to change yours, I would have you told before you cross the threshold. I know that Lothlaerith will keep you for a day at least, you will receive word there." Daga Caeridith frowned rubbing his chin.

"Thank you Daga Caeridith." In Aran she added, "Your kindness and concern are well received."

The topic turned to Daga Liadith's match to Lady Arissa and the details of the ceremony and festivities. Daga Caeridith had laughed when she spoke of Daga Gildith's dancing and the Vresin. Fortunately, the salve and trunks arrived before she got to the part of the story about her brother.

The Daga left, instructing the maid to assist her and apply the salve in the bedroom, allowing Krouth and Draeseth to change from their wet clothes in the main rooms. In the bedroom, the maid helped her into her warm Torgan layers and the wine colored gown she'd worn with Arissa in the garden. Her hair was put up in crossed Torgan braids and the semi-sheer black cloth was pinned into place.

Some of the Torgans had dried themselves and put on fresh clothes by the time she left the bedroom with the maid. They were sitting in a cluster having a low, grim conversation in Torgan and Draeseth gave her a black look as she approached. The maid clasped her hand and tried to pull her gently to the door.

"I'm not afraid of his anger, he would never harm me." She tried to soothe the woman but the maid looked at her with incomprehension.

"She need not fear. I will never harm her." Draeseth translated for her. "But I am displeased, wife."

"I know," she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I knew you would be when I told him to send Hesh-Caeridith to my Daga. I don't think he should die for what he did. It seems too harsh."

Draeseth scowled furiously, "The fabric of your dress is cut where he held the blade to your belly and I am told you are bruised. For that alone he would deserve death. Dragging you from the carriage, holding you in the rain until you were soaked and shaking from cold and fear. I would kill him twice if I could."

"I know."

He raised his voice, "You deny me my right to defend you? To punish someone who harmed you? Who insulted you?" When he stood abruptly the maid squeaked and tried to drag her to the door.

Isonei wrenched her hand free. "You would not be permitted to kill one of your brothers, or Andnaeuth, you may not kill a Daga's son. That is what I will not allow. You know I would have begged both you and my Daga for mercy even with what Ialath did. My Daga had me kept away for a reason. Do you expect me to behave differently when a boy's life is-"

Draeseth advanced getting louder. "Woman, that BOY held a knife to your belly and spoke of killing you. Gleefully! He offered you no mercy. NONE!"

"I am not him. I am not that way. And no matter how much you shout at me I will never be that way." Isonei kept her voice quiet and even. The sound of his teeth grating as his hands curled into fists made her step forward, hands raised. "Draeseth..."

"Daga Liadith warned you brother, she is soft and it requires a man who is firm and unyielding to care for her. Are you still equal to the task?" Burgath spoke carefully from the doorway.

The large Torgan in front of her scowled and lifted a fist to touch her cheek with it. She put her hands over it and pressed her cheek to it looking up at him with concern until he answered, letting his fist open to cup her face. "I am." Still scowling he pressed his face to hers. "You test me, wife."

"I know. I can be difficult." Isonei caressed his face with her hands wishing he were calm enough that she could enjoy the roughness of his cheeks.

He responded with a loud growling grunt and a rough, demanding kiss that she welcomed, stroking his face and hair as she invited him deeper into her mouth. She let him be the one to break the kiss and pressed several small gentle ones to his lips afterward.

"Your kiss does sweeten my mood somewhat." He murmured pressing his face to hers again.

"Then I will do my best to kiss you out of your sour mood when we leave."

The sound of Krouth clearing his throat pointedly made Draeseth straighten and look to the door.

"Are you certain you will not stay until the cart is freed?" The Daga wore a displeased look. "Lodging will be difficult to come by."

"I am certain." Draeseth inclined his head, looking at the Daga stonily. "Your offer of carts to carry our things is gladly accepted but if we are further delayed I fear we will have difficulty reaching the Torga Kroscur safely. I have already been warned Daga Lothlaerith will delay us at least a day."

Daga Caeridith looked to Isonei as if he wished to plead with her not to leave but instead simply asked, "Are you certain, daughter of Liadith?"

"I am, Daga Caeridith. Thank you for your kindness, your concern, and your generosity." She lifted her hand to her heart and he returned the gesture as if it pained him.

Krouth spoke obsequiously into the sudden quiet. "Your tea should be here in a moment, Lady Isonei. I gave them what they required to make it for you. Is there anything you require from your chests before they are sorted and loaded?"

"Thank you Krouth. I would like my cloak, please."

The slim Torgan tilted his head, "Your cloak isn't meant for the rain Lady Isonei."

"No, but it's warm."

"Of course." He moved immediately to the chests.

"Are you still cold?" The Daga frowned with concern.

"The carriage was very cool earlier and I had wished to have it."

Krouth brought the golden-brown sueded leather cloak for her inspection before hanging it on the stand with the men's cloaks.

"An Aran winter cloak, meant for the cold and nothing more." Daga Caeridith went over to inspect it running his fingers over the soft leather and then into the soft white fur lining. "Soft and lovely, but it won't be warm enough for Torga or keep you dry, child."

"My father had it made for this trip. He wanted to send me with something that would be warm enough. It's heavier than the one I usually wear." Isonei looked at him questioningly.

"How often does it snow in Ara?" The Daga asked curiously.

"Perhaps once a year? It's such pretty white dust."

"Dust?" Draeseth asked with a frown.

"Yes, it's very powdery and it's usually gone before noon. We do sometimes get ice." She frowned up at him as he stared at her in bafflement.

"She'll marvel at the snow in the Torga Kroscur, brother." Burgath snorted.

"She will freeze without a proper winter cloak." Daga Caeridith objected with an icy scowl.

"She will have one." Draeseth spoke quietly. "She is my responsibility until the next festival; I will meet her needs." Isonei felt him brush his hand up her back and turned to look up at him. "I wish you to be ready to leave the moment your tea is brought. I will allow you to put it in my drinking horn." He didn't look away from her as he ordered, "Krouth, fetch it."

°°°°°°°°°°

Daga Caeridith had escorted her to the carriage wearing a profoundly displeased expression. Isonei had hoped to leave him more at ease with her choice but the haste that Draeseth insisted on prevented that. At the very least, as they had been choosing which chests to take and which to leave with the rest of the men who would be bringing the carts, she'd been able to write a short formal note to the Daga apologizing for the haste and thanking him again for his concern and generosity. She had left it on the desk wishing she had a small gift to leave.

In the carriage, Draeseth pulled her into his lap and held her tightly without a word for what seemed like a long while. Krouth and Taugh rode above, bundled in oiled cloaks, and Burgath looked out of the window so intently it seemed he was trying to be elsewhere. Isonei sipped her tea from the horn she'd had wine from the night she'd met Draeseth and idly toyed with the chain while she debated starting a conversation.

"I don't understand why you kept thanking Daga Caeridith." Draeseth kissed her head. "But I am so grateful to have you safe and in my arms again, wife..."

She reached up and idly stroked his face with the backs of her fingers enjoying the roughness of his cheek. "I thanked him because he had done nothing wrong. Being harsh with him would have compounded the shame he felt at his sons' actions and it might have made him feel he needed to make up for it by protecting me from you."

"He is one of the Dagas who dislikes Torgans?" Draeseth pulled her closer. "I want you out of this place. Too many want to take you from me."

"I think the people at the inn had little difficulty with us being together, until you loudly called yourself my conqueror." Isonei teased him gently.

He gave a growling grunt. "What do you call a man who has been successful in battle, if not a conqueror? I vanquished those who hurt my wife."

"A champion?" She smiled up at him. "If you meant you were my champion and not that you had conquered me I do owe you an apology."

"And if I meant both?" He ran his thumb over her lips. "You submit to my desires and invite me... and the way you teased me you wanted me to enjoy my power over you." Draeseth's dark eyes were hot with desire and his face flushed.

"You are not my conqueror, but I enjoy rewarding my champion. And you were the one teasing me! Each time I got close to my release you pulled your skilled fingers away to apply your hand to my bottom." Isonei grinned impishly as he blushed and smirked.

"Fingers?" Burgath mused to himself, reminding her of his presence.

"Perhaps we should discuss this when we are alone, my well championed wife." Draeseth slipped his hand behind her head, pulling her face closer to cover in small kisses.

"You are wicked." She poked at his chest unsure if she should be amused at his teasing or not.

"I will turn you over my knees, woman. Do not prod your husband." He tilted her head to kiss along her jaw before nipping at her neck above the edge of the high Torgan gown. The roughness of his face against hers felt somehow thrilling.

"I would prefer you didn't, brother. If a Lerian saw you with her over your knees applying your hand to that perfect blue ass of hers as you call it-"

Draeseth cut him off with a terrifying sounding snarl of Torgan and the two began what sounded like a heated argument as Isonei tried to stroke the larger man's face and neck soothingly. They stopped at the sound of something hard beating on the roof of the carriage.

Removing her from his lap hurriedly, Draeseth drew his knife and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. "Stay in the carriage no matter what you hear, wife."

Burgath pulled a slim blade from behind his seat. She heard the sound of a Lerian shout and the carriage came to a halt. There was a discussion of some sort, muffled by rain and the door she couldn't understand it. Draeseth barked an order at Burgath and stepped out of the carriage into the rain.

Isonei waited nervously and after a several long moments the door opened and Draeseth climbed back in with two lap blankets and very muddy boots. She looked at him curiously as he set the blankets aside and removed his boots setting them by the door.

"Onsh-Caeridith had been sent to give you lap blankets. The Daga found the kind note you left and couldn't bear the thought of you being cold on your journey." His stern expression was softened by the glittering of his eyes. "I thanked him and told him to thank his father."

"That was as much a gift for Isonei as punishment for his son." Burgath looked amused as he put away his blade.

"Would you have behaved so differently from Onsh-Caeridith?" Isonei took her place in the large Torgan's lap again. "If someone had attacked your brother, no matter his poor behavior, wouldn't you have been disinclined to be courteous?"

"Perhaps."

The two Princes began to converse quietly in Torgan until the carriage jerked to a sudden stop again, sticking in the mud.

°°°°°°°°°°

When they finally arrived in the dark and the soaking rain, the inn the Princes had intended to stay in was full. It was suggested they could park the carriage and sleep in it, and there was some room in the barn for the horses for a price. The Torgans muttered furiously amongst themselves after paying the man. Isonei saw his eyes narrow and his jaw clench at whatever it was that they said.

She stepped in to smooth things over. "Thank you, my Daga would insist on thanks. It is not so nice to travel without arrangements and not so nice in the rain."

The innkeeper's face softened slightly, "Who is your Daga? He should know you show grace and good manners in such difficult situations."

Isonei smiled warmly, "Daga Liadith is my Daga."

"And your name so that he knows who I'm praising, sweet one?" He smiled faintly.

"Lady Isonei, I hardly think you should be-" Burgath's sharp words were cut off by the innkeeper's loud hiss of surprise.

"Lady Isonei? The daughter of Liadith?" He looked at her companions as if seeing them for the first time, "The rumors are true then? He's allowed you to travel with mannerless Torgans?"

Raising her hand to forestall their angry responses she answered for them, "They are tired and wet. They show good manners at times." She ignored their offended looks.

"Lady, even the floors are full, and there is barely room in the barn for two horses." He looked around as if hoping to discover another room had been built since her arrival. "I can offer you my own bed, it's nothing like what a daughter of Liadith is accustomed to..."

"I will not take your bed away, Master..." Pausing, she trying to remember the word for innkeeper.

"Gwathe, Lady." The innkeeper bowed his head.

"I will not take your bed away Master Gwathe. You have many guests and responsibilities it would be unfair."

"I cannot let the daughter of Liadith sleep in a cramped carriage with four Torgans." The man sounded almost desperate.

"I am small the carriage for me is," she made a dismissive motion with her hand, "for them... They are large and will be horrible. Is there no floor left, here or in the barn?"

Gwathe swallowed. "I can try to find them some space. They may be separated and they would need to be polite to the other guests."

"Thank you, Master Gwathe." Isonei lifted her hand to her heart and the innkeeper returned the gesture with a captivated smile before stepping away to find space.

"Lady Isonei-" Burgath started with a displeased tone.

She cut him off with another raise of her hand and her best imitation of Daga Gildith's frigid frown. "I know you are all tired and out of sorts, but you will all be as polite as if you were sleeping in my Daga's best beds. You will be grateful to be warm and dry. If I hear that any of you have been rude, in any way, the matter will be taken up with the next Daga we see. I am the daughter of Liadith and those I travel with reflect upon me and upon my Daga. I know you are all capable of civility at a minimum, and excellent manners when you choose." She looked pointedly at Burgath. "I will not allow any of you to reflect poorly on my Daga." The four bowed as the innkeeper returned.

"I have room for someone here, preferably someone smaller. I'll try to find room for the rest in the barn, Lady Isonei." Gwathe looked apprehensive.

Letting the cold frown fade, she gave the innkeeper a smile, "They will be polite. I have told them."

At those words he struggled to compose his face. "Daga Liadith must be very proud."

"He is. He says she must return often." Draeseth spoke quietly and reached out to stroke her back lightly. "His sweet girl."

"Daughters of Liadith are known for sweetness. It's an honor to meet one." Gwathe looked enchanted as she beamed at him.

As the smallest, Krouth was chosen to stay inside by himself. Isonei followed the innkeeper and the other three out to the barn, tucked under Draeseth's cloak. Taugh went to fetch the horses as the innkeeper tried to find space in the barn.

The family already inside the small barn pulled Gwathe aside to whisper urgently to him, casting nervous looks at the Torgans. When he gave them a whispered answer their eyes moved to Isonei.

Draeseth stopped her from approaching them, "My Isonei, let them be. If we must sleep in the carriage with you there will be more space with only three of us."

"It would be nice to sleep next to you again."

"After you chided him for rudeness?" Burgath sounded slightly sullen.

Growling something in Torgan, Draeseth rounded on him. There was an immediate whimpering from the bales of hay at the sound of his anger.