Torgan Wine Ch. 09

"I agree with my father, something traditional. I have a necklace that should help cover your bruises."

Isonei inhaled sharply looking at the necklace as it was laid out for her. The delicate pearlescent strands would cover as much as the high Torgan collar, strung so close together, barely anything could be seen under them. They fanned across the shoulders and the longer strands would hang down over the bust of the gown. Arissa's was similar with fewer strands and brilliant blue jewels among them.

Her gown very nearly matched the one Arissa was going to wear, with scarlet instead of zaffre. The band of creamy fabric was gathered making her bust look more impressive than it was. It looped around her arms and the loose sleeves, split up the outside and connected with jeweled pins, only reached to her elbows. The silky scarlet fabric hugging her waist and reaching to the floor was split to her hips revealing the skirt beneath of the same material as the band accenting her bust. It could barely be said to be covering it, the neckline of the formal gown was lower cut than the day dress and left the tops of her breasts bare except for the strands of the necklace.

Once dressed, even their hair was identically and artfully arranged in the Lerian style which left fat ringlets hanging down from two, tiered, fishtail braids crowning their heads. The effect of it all truly made her feel like a daughter of Liadith.

"I wish I could visit the crypt before dinner. The elder Daga would love to see this. Thank you, Arissa." She gave the Lerian woman a grateful smile.

"When the Dagas come to fetch us, perhaps we can persuade them." Arissa smiled warmly back. "We look like we could be sisters."

"We look like we should be attending a gala with music and dancing... Have you seen the Seivenis Jara being danced?"

"No! I've only ever seen the Jara!" Arissa leaned toward her excitedly. "Does the Torgan dance?"

Isonei winced. "No. I forgot for a moment. He moves well, but he doesn't dance."

Arissa smiled mischievously, "What would that have to do with dancing? I would think there's less room to spin in the bed."

Laughing and shaking her head, Isonei started to tell her about the soldier from one of the previous Festivals and his assertion that a man who moved well when dancing and fighting would move well in bed. They were giggling, and even Amay was listening raptly as she began to get into the details of the night as proof, when someone knocked on the door to their rooms.

"The Dagas!" Arissa mock pouted at the door as the maids rushed to open it. "You'll have to tell me the rest later."

"I will!" Isonei laughed and clasped hands with her rising from their seats.

"Tell you the rest of what?" Daga Gildith arched an eyebrow as he stepped regally into the room. "The Keran should be maintaining propriety."

"She's been telling me about dancing. I so want to dance tonight, father. Did you know they've made a new Jara?"

"Are they ready...?" Daga Liadith entered the room and fell speechless.

"Arissa would like to dance tonight if it can be arranged, Daga Liadith." Daga Gildith smiled faintly looking at him.

Her Daga opened his mouth and closed it before inclining his head, "It will be arranged. Anything the daughter of Gildith wants." His eyes were glued to Arissa as if he hadn't seen her before and he'd found himself enchanted.

"Could we be late to dinner? Isonei wanted to show her dress to the elder Daga." Arissa grinned impishly at Daga Liadith.

"Of course." He smiled back at her bemusedly before tearing his eyes away and looking at Isonei. Sucking his lips against his teeth he blinked in surprise. "You look lovely Isonei. My father will enjoy seeing you dressed as the daughter of Liadith should be."

"He says you look lovely but he doesn't compliment me." Arissa's teasing of the Daga made Isonei laugh.

"He expects you to be lovely, did you see his surprise?" Isonei imitated the Daga's mannerisms with an exaggerated expression of surprise sending Arissa into peals of laughter. The Dagas looked slightly less amused and she fluttered her lashes at them both.

"You have two of the loveliest women in Leria under your roof, Daga Liadith, and somehow I cannot envy you." Daga Gildith spoke dryly.

"I would say they are the loveliest. My father often said all beauty comes with a price. I'll endure the teasing to look on the enchanting daughter of Gildith."

Arissa flushed and beamed.

"To the crypts and then to dinner." Daga Gildith stepped forward to take Arissa's arm. "Perhaps the enchanting daughter of Gildith will walk with her father?" He wore a strange slightly melancholy expression.

"Of course, father."

Letting the two of them leave the room, Isonei took her Daga's arm. "Do you still remember the Jara?"

"It's been a long time." He sounded hesitant.

"You used to be good with it. Try to remember, and do your best when you dance with her tonight."

He stopped and turned to look at her with amusement, "You're pressing the match."

"I'm not pressing, just," she tried to find a better word, "being encouraging. Arissa will be good to you."

"Daga Gildith was concerned that you might change your mind and pursue me if your match with the Torgan was failing. I told him you wouldn't but I'm pleased to see you still firmly support this match."

"My Daga, I love you, but not the way you need. I will see you happy." Isonei took a deep breath, "I don't know what to do about Draeseth. I'm-I'm going to have to speak to him and I don't think I want to yet."

"When you wish to speak with him, I will allow it. He won't be permitted to bother you until you're ready to hear him." He started walking again drawing her along.

"Thank you, my Daga."

"Did I hear Daga Gildith chiding you over propriety before I entered?"

"We were talking like my sisters used to talk."

"That can probably be forgiven, but consider refraining from the demonstrations."

Arissa began to laugh as Daga Gildith turned his disapproving gaze on them. "Demonstrations? Of?"

"I'm teasing her about some of the discussions her sisters had in her presence. Aran women teach each other certain things." Her Daga was needling the older Daga somewhat, why she didn't know.

"Perhaps she should be reminded that the daughter of Gildith is not Aran." He looked at Isonei sharply and she bowed her head, wondering if she'd done something wrong.

"Father, did you think we discussed only the ceremony after my older sisters were matched?" Arissa smiled up at the older Daga. "We're not children. And you know Isonei has always been eager to please and loathe to disappoint. You should be more gentle."

"The Keran must maintain propriety. If you decide you do not want this match, there should be no way it could be pressed."

"There won't be, Daga Gildith. The elder Daga made certain I understood what is expected of me. And my Daga is uhhmm..." She hunted for the right words and then lapsed into Aran, "My Daga has always been courteous and self-restrained, I expect a great deal of him and I won't allow him to be less than the man I know him to be."

Daga Liadith squeezed her hand. "Your Torgan would benefit if you treated him the same way."

"He has difficulty with courtesy and self-restraint, my Daga. If you behaved as he does, I would send you to sit with your father until you learned how to behave." She looked up in surprise at the sound Daga Gildith made, something between a laugh and a cough.

"Perhaps that's what I should do with him; send him to my father to be talked into submission."

"Send him to me, Daga Liadith. For my old friend, I can teach her match both courtesy and self-restraint."

"If I were certain it were a permanent match I would. It would need to be renewed at the next Festival of..." He hesitated as if trying to remember the name.

"Maeralya." Isonei offered helpfully.

"We can discuss it at dinner," Daga Gildith smiled faintly. "The crypts?"

"This way." Daga Liadith took the lead moving more purposefully. At the entrance to the crypts he stopped and gave her a smile, "Go down and show him the dress and then we should go to dinner."

"Yes, my Daga."

Going down into the crypts by herself she heard a quiet, unintelligible murmur of conversation from the three begin. There was a veiled priest waiting as she approached the chamber. He placed his hand over his heart as he saw her. Isonei gave a twirl in her dress with a proud smile and the laughter that poured from the man was unmistakably the elder Daga's.

"Sweet girl, daughter of Liadith, you look beautiful."

"Thank you, my Daga." She entered the chamber and the priest followed. "I wanted to show you before dinner."

"You should have been wearing dresses like this long ago." His voice sounded wistful. "Have Daga Gildith dance with you on my behalf."

"Yes, my Daga." Isonei almost felt like skipping to the sarg; she pressed her cheek to his name after kissing it. "I wish you could still dance."

The veiled priest held out his hand and took her through a half spin of one of the Daga's favorite dances before releasing her hand and placing it over his heart. She returned the gesture feeling tears starting to well up.

"Thank you."

"Go to dinner, daughter of Liadith. Come to see your Daga again tomorrow."

"Gladly."

Leaving the crypts she felt the elder Daga's absence keenly, but she was also grateful that she could still speak to him. The thought of leaving for Torga eventually seemed bitter, staying to keep the elder Daga company and to serve as Keran was much more of a privilege than a task. She took a deep breath as she crossed the threshold, smiling warmly at the two Dagas and Arissa.

"He was very pleased to see you. We heard him laughing from here." Arissa took hold of her face tilting her head and staring intently at her hair. "It's red. It was grey the last time."

"It was scarlet when it was fresh. They're supposed to be rare." Daga Liadith sounded both amused and annoyed but he was smiling.

"This is a rare occasion." Daga Gildith's face relaxed into a smile. "I remember the first time I saw my own daughters in their formal gowns."

"Will you dance with me on his behalf, Daga Gildith? He asked." Isonei smiled hopefully.

"I will do it joyfully, daughter of Liadith." He offered his hands to both of them, leaving Daga Liadith to walk unescorted.

"I find myself looking forward to your departure, my friend. I have the two most beautiful women in Leria under my roof and still I'm walking to dinner alone." His dryly teasing tone brought Daga Gildith's face back to its more accustomed expression of regal sternness.

Entering the dining room, Princes Draeseth and Burgath were standing by the table dressed in Lerian garments. Isonei was surprised to see it, and she looked them over approvingly. The long, black, sleeveless jerkins were well cut and the collars and long edges where the fasteners were spaced were stitched with rich cream colored lace. The full flowing sleeves of the shirt beneath were of a fabric very similar to the creamy fabric under the scarlet of her own gown. Around their waists were traditional sashes denoting the Dagas they either served or were protected by. Draeseth wore the Liadith scarlet, and Burgath the Gildith zaffre.

"It has been impressed upon you both how important this evening is. We are pleased that you are able to join us." Something in the Daga's words made her look at Draeseth's face.

The larger of the two Torgan Princes wore the same face as he had when he'd been forced to leave her in Ara as his brother thanked the Dagas for the gracious invitation. This time she knew better than to go to him.

She returned her attention to the Dagas. They sat together in the center of the table, Arissa sat next to her father and Isonei next to Daga Liadith. Their two guests sat at the lower table that had been arranged directly in front of the Dagas, Draeseth on the side of Liadith, and Burgath on the side of Gildith.

As the tiered trays of delicacies were brought out, Daga Liadith gestured for one of the older servants to approach and spoke quietly to him about arranging the dancing before making the announcement to his guests.

"There will be dancing tonight after dinner, at the daughter of Gildith's request." He gave Isonei a small smile as he filled both his plate and hers. "I understand that Torgans are opposed to dancing, your Highnesses will not be required to attend."

"Not all Torgans are opposed to it, Daga Liadith. If the Lady would not find it to be an intrusion, perhaps we might also attend?" Prince Burgath asked smoothly and she saw Draeseth give a slight nod of his head.

"Lady Arissa, the choice is yours." Daga Liadith turned his face toward her and Isonei couldn't see what manner of look he gave.

Arissa, however, looked thoughtful as her father finished filling her plate. "I think I would prefer it to be just the four of us."

Daga Gildith spoke quietly. "I'm told Prince Burgath is good company, and the four of you would probably be more content dancing than if Isonei had to spend all evening with me."

"I don't want her to feel uncomfortable."

"Allowing Prince Draeseth to sit with me until he can behave as he should might help matters." Daga Gildith's cool tone promised an unpleasant evening for Draeseth and Isonei knew it would end badly.

"I didn't know you would be staying, father." Arissa's words were light but her look was pointed.

"If he might be permitted to apologize to his wife? He has been-" Burgath was cut off by Daga Liadith's impatient gesture.

"She isn't yet ready to speak with him. And I hadn't wanted the evening soured by this topic."

"Allow him to apologize to you, Daga Liadith. It may clear the air somewhat. You of all people should know how long it can take her to be ready to speak to someone when she's been hurt by their words."

The room felt colder as the Dagas sat looking at one another with displeasure. Isonei knew better than to speak into the silence, but she reached out and touched Daga Liadith's hand and tapped it twice very gently. The subtle double tap of his finger had always been a sign his father was going to relent on a matter.

"Very well." Both Dagas inclined their heads to one another and then looked to the Princes. "Rise Prince Draeseth, you may offer an apology to me."

The Torgan Prince rose and bowed low, when he began to speak he barely lifted his eyes. "I should not have spoken to her that way, but your Torgan is poor. I did not say that I would be ashamed to stand at her side. I demanded to know if she had no shame; to leave the room with her underskirts showing would be shameful." Draeseth looked like he was going to be sick as he lapsed into Torgan. She recognized some of the words that he had so angrily spoken earlier even though she didn't understand them. "She knows my temper, and that she has no need to fear it. I am not ashamed to be her husband. It is the pain on her face that shames me."

Isonei looked away from him as he finished. Nothing he'd said addressed the fact that he'd refused to listen and expected her to behave as a Torgan woman.

"Do you believe him?" Daga Liadith took her hand. "You don't look convinced."

"He expects a Torgan woman. It isn't me he wants."

"No. I want you. Only you." Draeseth took a step toward her, earning a sharp look from both Dagas. "You-my Isonei, we have to learn each other. I should have listened, you were wearing Torgan gowns and I forgot for a moment that you-" He stopped and sank to his knees. "It doesn't pardon me for being the brute you have insisted I'm not. I cannot..." Covering his face, his shoulders hunched.

Seeing it, she started to rise from her chair, "Draeseth."

Hoarsely he interrupted her, "I release you. I release you from your promise."

The broken look of him brought her around the table as she spoke, "You can't. I chose to stay."

"Lady Isonei, you don't have to be his wife against your will. Nothing more will be asked of you." Burgath spoke gently as if she was failing to understand something.

"Nothing I've done with him has been against my will." She laid a hand on Draeseth's head and looked at Burgath, speaking to him earnestly. "But he cannot release me from my promise. If he wanted to part ways with me, I would still be exclusive to him." Seeing the lack of comprehension she tried again. "'If we were in an arrangement, we could add to it and adjust it as we see fit, or even dissolve it. But I chose to stay, this..."

Draeseth lifted his head and drew her hand to his lips. "You said if I changed my mind the next day you would still be bound to me. This is what you meant."

"I didn't think you would be able to convince them to let you take me to Torga, but I remained exclusive to you." Isonei looked down into his dark eyes, "This doesn't come easily to me. If you were a brute, I wouldn't have attempted it. I know controlling your temper doesn't-"

"I will learn. I will try, Isonei."

Daga Liadith interrupted them, "You will. You won't leave here with her until I am content. The daughter of Liadith will not be treated the way you have treated her."

"I understand."

"You said that before, and I have my doubts. Lady Isonei will not be alone with you until I deem it safe, and you will not touch her until you have my permission. Is that clear?"

"Yes, my Daga." Isonei answered immediately.

Releasing her hand reluctantly, Draeseth echoed, "Yes, Daga Liadith."

"Lady Arissa, has your answer changed?" The Daga gave her a wry smile as Isonei returned to the table.

"If my father wishes to spend his evening speaking to Prince Draeseth instead of enjoying the time with us I won't deny him his wish." The peeved look she gave her father didn't make the Daga flinch.

"Good. Daga Liadith can spend his time more pleasantly; and I can spend mine productively."

"You will still dance with me?" Isonei asked with a small smile.

"Of course. It will be the greatest pleasure of my evening." He offered her a warm smile and she beamed at him before he shifted his gaze back to the Princes and his smile faded. "Gildith and Liadith have been friends for a very long time. A daughter of Liadith is as a daughter of Gildith in my eyes. Much is expected of her and of those she spends her time with."

"Expectations." Daga Liadith spoke as if remembering something, "We should agree on when the daughter of Liadith may have her time with the elder Daga. He wishes to see her daily." He took a bite from his plate and gestured for Isonei to do the same.

"He shouldn't ask her to come daily, she may resent it." Daga Gildith took a bite of his own falling into the conversation.

"Never, it is no tax but a pleasure." Isonei gave him a frown before taking a bite of a tiny roasted mushroom stuffed with scallops.

"She was always his favorite. When he was alive she was never annoyed at the length of his stories, or even when he repeated them. Did I tell you he allowed her on the sarg?"