Torgan Wine Ch. 22

Draeseth cupped her bared ass and squeezed firmly. "Woman, I will enjoy tearing every pair you put on, but if you wish to please me you will refrain from wearing them."

Murmuring against his lips she watched his face flush with anticipation, "I will refrain when it isn't entirely inappropriate, husband. Your strong hands on my skin are a delight."

"To have you in Torga, to have you calling me husband and telling me my hands on your perfect blue skin are a delight, wife..." His breathing was rough and his dark eyes burned with desire as he moved her enough to adjust his tunics and free his cock enough to pull her onto it.

Facing him and shifting her hips to sink herself onto his large Torgan cock, Isonei kissed him, his lips, his jaw line, pressing gentle biting kisses to his neck beneath his ear. The fervent Torgan words spilling from his mouth as he held her hips in his iron grip setting the pace were thrilling despite the fact she couldn't understand them. The desire in his voice was pure and breathtaking, she tightened around him.

He shifted on the seat as if he needed to be deeper, grinding himself more urgently. "Woman. If you..." he growled and groaned something in Torgan. "I will not last, woman."

"Let me feel you, let me feel-" Isonei whimpered softly as he gripped her hips painfully tight and ground himself deeper, deliberately squeezing and releasing him. As she felt his seed spilling into her she tried to squeeze him in time with the throbbing of his magnificent cock pressing kisses into his throat as he panted with his face upturned to the carriage ceiling.

"You enjoy the feeling of me releasing inside you?"

"Yes, the way you feel, my Draeseth. Husband," she shifted slightly and smiled as he cupped and squeezed her ass again. "You enjoyed the way it felt when I found my release with you inside me, even though you-"

The Torgan began to laugh and bent his head to kiss her. "I did woman. Is your reminder a proposition for tonight?"

"You did say we could do it again."

His wicked grin made her face flush. "I did. I should have asked you to do it at the inn. That would have been... something to see."

"You are wicked and depraved." Her thoughts turned unbidden to the sounds from the other room at the inn.

"I am your Beast, woman." Draeseth kissed her hungrily. "I plan to keep my Duchess and she requires a hard man with a large... appetite." His indecent teasing made her laugh despite the disquieting thoughts.

"I do adore the Beast of Kroscur and his large," she deliberately imitated the pause he made, "appetite."

The carriage came to a stop and the door opened after a brief knock. Krouth leaned in with a concerned look speaking quickly in Torgan.

"Your cloak was taken. The Lerian boy spoke to Dura and then he and the cloak disappeared. What did you say to him?"

"I told him who I was and he asked how I got here. You came before I learned his name or who his Daga is."

"He will take the cloak to the Daga Lothlaerith as proof that you were stolen away." Draeseth was scowling .

"You expected the Daga not to notice? I can write to him asking-"

"No." He cut her off sharply but his tone softened, "No, wife, Burgath will do any writing that must be done to the Dagas. I know that if you were permitted you would be truthful. Until he has convinced them that you are content here and that you belong here, you cannot go back."

"You've made promises, husband..." Isonei studied his face.

"I have. I will keep them if I can." The large Torgan stroked her face. "I have you beyond their reach but to keep you I need them to believe you came willingly."

"They would never believe that. I would not defy Daga Lothlaerith. And even if you could persuade him that I would, Liadith and Gildith would know better." She searched his face. "Only a fool would think they could be deceived."

From the open door Krouth's cool voice spoke sharply, "They know you to be sweet and not very sensible, a woman easily swayed by her affections and childlike beliefs. It is not so difficult to believe they would see your desire and love for Prince Draeseth as something able to overwhelm your senses and your obedience. You not only bedded but agreed to spend a year with a complete stranger."

Turning her head to fix him with the most gelid look she could summon, Isonei spoke clearly, "You do not know me Master Krouth. Both Dagas have put their hands upon my soul. They know me more intimately than any lover, more wholly than I know myself. I am a daughter of Liadith." She let her lips curve in her best imitation of Andnaeuth's knifelike smile, "How is it, do you think, the Dagas know me on sight, never having laid eyes on me? The green eyes of a Daga see far more than you could ever hope to. I am known." Her emphasis on the last word made the slim Torgan pale slightly.

°°°°°°°°°°

Draeseth had been silent on the rest of the carriage ride. Isonei's words had crushed whatever plans he had been relying on. He hadn't pulled away after their clothes had been readjusted and she curled close again for comfort, but there was a marked difference in the way his embrace felt.

Their arrival at the Keep of Dalcur was solemn and unlike at a Daga's home, they were not greeted until they had entered and reached the great hall. Burgath was dressed in brown and green as he had been when she first met him. The Torgan tunics he wore were carefully tailored to make his waist seem smaller and his shoulders broader.

"Lady Isonei, it is a pleasure to have you in my Keep. The journey from the inn seemed to take longer than anticipated; I hope there were no difficulties?"

She arched an eyebrow at him but before she could say anything at all Draeseth began to speak in a displeased tone. The Torgan words were almost entirely unfamiliar to her but she recognized her name, as well as Krouth's and the three Dagas she had spoken of.

Burgath's face soured and he gestured for them to follow him as he stalked toward a study, replying in Torgan.

"I would very much like to be included in this conversation." Isonei frowned at them as she entered the room with the two men.

"Did they ever intend to allow you to pass into Torga?" Burgath snapped as a reply.

"I believe my Daga did, yes. He and Arissa seemed to think this would become a permanent arrangement. If my Daga thought otherwise I would not have been permitted to travel with you." She allowed Draeseth to lead her to a chair and pull her into his lap. "Putting me in a barrel and smuggling me out against Daga Lothlaerith's command however was incredibly stupid. You should have allowed the Dagas to deal with the matter between themselves."

"I would have been robbed of my time with you, wife." The Torgan holding her stiffened and his low voice was cool.

"I told you, husband, we could have gone back to my Daga. There would have been other ways for us to have our time and make our decision. Unless you want this to get worse, you should let me write to my Daga and to Daga Lothlaerith."

"Unless you tell them you came willingly there is no way to remedy this that I can see, Lady Isonei." Burgath poured two drinks and brought one to Draeseth before sitting and sipping on the other.

"That would be a lie, Prince Burgath. Had the Daga given his permission I would have come willingly. And I will write that to them. If my Daga gives his permission I will stay willingly now that I am already here. If you truly want to remedy this you will let me write to both Dagas."

"Very well." The Prince in brown and green looked at Draeseth with a resigned shrug. "If your Duchess can assist us in not losing every advance we've made in trade with Leria it would be miraculous. I told you Krouth's wretchedly clever plan was unwise."

"If putting me in that barrel in only my cloak was his idea I would like for him to carry the letters. Letting him hang from Daga Lothlaerith's gate might be a just punishment." Isonei rose from Draeseth's lap and approached the large desk.

"He would have had you dressed in the gown, wife. I couldn't bear to put you back in it." Draeseth looked at her with a stern frown. "He is loyal and I will not have him executed for allowing me to bring my Duchess to Torga."

"I can promise you that Daga Lothlaerith will want someone hanging from his gate as punishment, husband. That poisoner would be a better choice than you." Her hand rested on the chair behind the desk.

Burgath smirked and drained his glass. "I think Krouth's time in your employ is coming to an end brother. If you don't keep him far from your Duchess she'll find a reason to have him executed." He rose and joined her at the desk. "What do you require for your letters?"

"Paper and a pen, as well as the use of your desk."

From a drawer he drew a few sheets of paper and laying them on the clear desk, gestured at the pots and implements lined along the side. "You may use all you require."

Seating herself she looked at the row with a frown. "I don't see a pen."

"Lerian pens are terribly clever; I intend to purchase some at my next opportunity. Torgan quills are serviceable, however." He offered her a feather with the tip cut into a sharp point and a pot of black ink. "You use it almost as you would an Aran pen. You simply have to dip it more often."

Isonei looked at it with dismay. "How do you keep the ink off of your fingers?"

"By being very careful. Men of importance prefer to use scribes and dictate most of their letters. I can offer you mine if you wish."

"My Daga will know if the hand is not mine." She shook her head with a small sigh. "Perhaps your scribe could instruct me on how to do this carefully?"

"I will have him sent for." Burgath seemed amused. "If you wish I can also send for my Lerian tutor. He resides in the Torga Dalcur."

"That would be very kind Prince Burgath and greatly appreciated. If I can tell my Daga I've been given a tutor to help me keep my word and improve my Lerian he will see that as a sign of good faith. The same as the promise you gave me, my Draeseth. If I wish to return you will see it done." Isonei studied his sour face looking for a sign that he would fail to keep his word.

"You must first try to enjoy my home. I would not have your fear and misperceptions of Torga send you running from me."

"I have intended to." She let him see her concern, "I still intend to."

Burgath started speaking hurriedly in Torgan and Draeseth shifted is eyes from her to his brother with a deepening frown. After a moment he looked back to her and inclined his head, "The moment you ask me to send you back to your Daga it will be done, wife. I ask you not to do it lightly."

"Thank you. That is what I require. My Daga will need to know that you intend to honor your word."

"You would have me write him as well?"

"Yes. Tell him that you will return me if he commands. Tell him you understand that the way you went about this is wrong and give him the reasons you chose to do it. He respects you and calls you a friend. You must be honest with him. He will understand better than you think."

"Your Duchess is truly a jewel, brother. If she were mine I'd send Krouth with the letters just to keep her content." Burgath's teasing caused the larger Torgan Prince to glower impressively and Isonei nearly laughed.

"I love my brothers, as awful as they can sometimes be. You remind me very much of them, Prince Burgath. I hope you will continue being brotherly."

"Of course, Lady Isonei." His eyes looked a great deal like Draeseth's as they glittered. "I will try to be slightly less awful than they are."

Draeseth made a loud annoyed sound drawing her eyes back to him. "Summon your scribe and tutor, brother. I would have my wife's charms to myself again by dinner."

"She's going to grow sick of you if you keep her too isolated." Burgath's sourness was somehow deeply amusing.

Isonei smiled shaking her head. "No, he's magnificently skilled at making certain I don't get bored or tired of his presence."

Muttering under his breath, Burgath moved to the wall and pulled a cord. The only thing she caught was 'keenly aware'.

The scowling Torgan's face flushed and she watched him try not to let his glower slip. "If you keep discussing my skills, woman, you won't be writing your letters tonight."

°°°°°°°°°°

Isonei found the quill infuriating to write with. The scribe was helpful, but she still ended up with black ink on her fingers and what should have been smooth even strokes had odd variations. The letters to the Dagas were, however, complete.

In her letter to Daga Liadith she had begged him to speak to Daga Lothlaerith, to comfort the man calling him sweet and charming, he would be horribly upset. And also to inquire if her silphium could be sent. Sending anything might be seen as condoning her presence in Torga but without the silphium things could happen before she was prepared for them to.

She also reassured him of her safety despite the fear and awfulness of her journey and that she believed Draeseth had been prodded to it by Krouth who she referred to as 'the poisoner'. That she was uncertain of what to do, and that Draeseth would return her if she asked, were made clear as well. The matter of whether she would return immediately or give Draeseth the rest of his time was left in her Daga's hands and she felt relieved.

The letter to Daga Lothlaerith had been more difficult to write. Isonei begged his forgiveness for not listening to Onsh-Lothlaerith when he suggested that she speak to Draeseth through the stonework, and for arguing with Captain Valothe. Both had been right and she had been too sure of Draeseth's patience to listen. She told him that Draeseth had assured her, when she had asked, that Captain Valothe and his men had been released to return to Onsh-Lothlaerith after he had left Oyeth Lothlaeri and asked him to give her deepest apologies to them for putting them in such a dangerous situation so heedlessly.

Letting him know that she had given the choice of the timing of her return to her Daga, she begged again for forgiveness and hoped that he would grant her permission to cross under his gate to return, either immediately or at the end of her time in Torga.

The scribe set the ink on the letters with a powder and sealed them in envelopes with hot wax. Isonei plucked two hairs from her head and coiled them, one in each, before the gold-flecked wax was stamped with Draeseth's seal.

Draeseth's letter was dictated to the scribe in Torgan and the three were sent immediately even though night had already fallen.

With the matter firmly out of their hands Isonei was able to relax and begin to look at the Keep around her. Tapestries hung in the great hall and the dining room was large and prettily painted with images of mountains and what must have been Lothlaerith's Gate flanked by cliffs. The painted gate looked imposing but the massive arches and towering stonework were so beautiful she understood why it would grace a royal dining room.

"You keep gazing at the Great Gate, Lady Isonei." Burgath remarked half way through the evening meal. "I had hoped to engage you in conversation."

"Forgive my distraction, Prince Burgath. That gate is so beautiful. That's Lothlaerith's Gate? I wasn't given the chance to look for myself." She picked at her sliced boiled tongue and vegetables, half wishing she were dining with the Daga again.

"It is. Perhaps on your way back for the Festival you'll be able to stop and enjoy the view. This time of year the weather is too unpleasant to let you see it at its best."

"I can't imagine looking on it and thinking it less than magnificent. The way the arches rise... It's breathtaking." Isonei gazed at the picture again with a smile.

"She looks at the Gate the way she looks at you, brother." Burgath sounded amused.

"My Duchess admires strength." Draeseth looked at her from across the table with a faint smile, "If she finds me as imposing as the Great Gate that would be a compliment I would accept."

"I did have to step back to admire you the first time you took off your clothes."

Draeseth blushed and his faint smile grew more assured. "You still look giddy when I stand bare before you, woman."

Burgath began muttering in Torgan and Draeseth answered apologetically in their language.

"Forgive me, Prince Burgath." Isonei gave him a mischievous smile. "But you did start it."

"I did. I should know better than to tease my brother in front of you, Lady Isonei." He gave her a wry smile. "I'm not accustomed to him joining in the jest, it's disconcerting."

"He has a very wicked sense of humor. And he blushes so charmingly when he shows it I can't keep myself from encouraging him."

"Speaking of encouraging," Burgath leaned with his elbow on the table. "The way you sat with the Daga Lothlaerith... If our father asks you to sit with him you'll need to be much less," he paused looking at her suggestively, "comfortable. King Orgath wouldn't hesitate to make the new Duchess of Kroscur his mistress as the old one was."

Isonei looked at him in stunned surprise trying to judge his seriousness. "That's a disturbing thing to jest about, Prince Burgath."

"It isn't a jest my Duchess." Draeseth placed both elbows on the table and scowled at his clasped hands. "I will be trying to keep you as far from him as I can."

"Our father has an entire wing of the palace filled with his women. His appetites are very nearly legendary. But as long as you behave chastely and give him no reason to think of you indecently you should be spared any advances."

"I thought he was married to your mother? Are they not exclusive?" She looked at the amused Prince with some apprehension.

"A King has certain privileges. My mother is the Queen, she is exclusive to him as you would say but he is not required to be exclusive to anyone."

"Your poor mother! That must be unbearable!" Isonei covered her mouth and to her horror Burgath began to laugh.

"My mother may actually like your wife, Draeseth. I'll see if she would be willing to add Lady Isonei to her retinue during your stay at Court. It would serve to keep her out of father's path."

"I would be in her debt." Draeseth gave Burgath a sour look and the smaller Prince grinned viciously.

"I won't tell her that. You can consider it a wedding gift."

Draeseth barked a laugh. "A generous one. She would send me back to fight for the honor of Torga in the Melee of Bir Vrakh."

"You did well the first time." Burgath leaned back from the table as servants came to clear away the plates.

"I was younger and had Rogath at my back. To do it alone would be a death sentence."

"What is the Melee of Bir Vrakh?" Isonei looked at him curiously.

"In Phaethia they have a yearly celebration of the strength and fierceness of their warriors." Burgath gestured at Draeseth. "Customarily only one man wins, but you're not required to kill your brother if you fight back to back with him. The year they fought, they won. It garnered Rogath his wife and Prince Draeseth a tremendous amount of respect in Court."

"I thought you said you went to Bir uhhmm Bir Viccard to find your brother's wife?"

"Bir Viccord." Draeseth corrected her with a faint smile and a tilt of his head. "The City of Victory. Bir Vrakh is the City of Death. You must pass through one to reach the other and to enter as Princes, and not servants or slaves, we were required to fight. Her Imperial Highness, Princess Kresh, was not pleased but she was not in a position to defy her Emperor. She was given to Rogath and we returned with her to Torga."

"She was matched against her will?" Isonei felt her mouth going dry and goosebumps rising on her arms beneath her long sleeves.