Notes: 1) My thanks to Roz for beta reading! 2) If you see this anywhere but Literotica, it isn't supposed to be there!
*****
Lislora took a few moments to calm herself before she changed. Her cousin's ease in discussing inappropriate things with her was concerning, but the fact that she couldn't stop trying to envision how Isonei had managed to 'see to his needs' was worse. It was, however, an almost welcome distraction from the Duchess' sudden illness.
Donning a much plainer black and green gown and rebraiding her hair into something much more severe, she murmured a small prayer for strength before leaving her room. Draeseth's cloak wasn't hanging in its accustomed place as she took up her own. She winced realizing she must have taken longer than she thought. He would already be praying.
Entering the sacellum as quietly as she could, she was startled to find that two of the guests were still there and that they seemed to be praying with Draeseth as Brother Odgar intoned words of comfort and implorations for Ganas to heal the sick. Lislora took up a place in the back to avoid interrupting.
After a time, the priest paused and Draeseth rose, inclining his head and murmuring thanks.
"Your Highness?" Lord Boran rose from his knees with some difficulty and his son, Lord Bertrath, assisted him in standing.
"Lord Boran." Draeseth wore a cool expression.
"I sent my girls home with a few of your other guests, and I wish to offer my assistance in any way that I can."
"For which I'm grateful." Draeseth inclined his head, looking slightly pained. "I don't know what assistance can be offered. I intend to find my brothers and assist them in the questioning."
"If you kill them the moment you find them you'll leave your Duchess vulnerable."
Draeseth's face hardened. "I'm aware"
"If you let someone else do the questioning, your Highness, you may get more out of them. They'll think they have a chance of surviving if they don't see your face."
The Prince made a loud unpleasant sound. "I cannot sit and do nothing."
"We can help you find ways to fortify your household." Lord Boran tried to subtly stretch some of the stiffness from his legs. "I doubt it would have been one of your servants. Lady Lislora was gushing about the sweetness of your Duchess all through dinner."
Lislora swallowed as she stood and tried not to twist her fingers. "I was going to ask the Commander to put a guard on the lower door permanently. They were so busy today and so many people needed to use the stairs, it was impossible to keep it properly locked at all times. It's how the jester found his way in to present himself."
"I warned them!" Draeseth's face contorted in fury.
"The preparations were so immense that they needed to bring extra help from town to accomplish everything!" Lislora clasped her hands. "It wasn't willful. They did their best to follow your command."
"During the confusion and commotion of preparation is when the house is at its most vulnerable." Lord Boran nodded. "It isn't their fault but guards on the door would be wise."
"I will see it done." Draeseth straightened and glowered at the door.
"You might also have the extra help and the entertainers searched to be certain they don't have any empty pouches or poison rings." Lord Boran offered helpfully.
"If my brothers have not already done so I will have it done immediately." He inclined his head to the older man just slightly. "I apologize that this has not been the joyous evening my wife and I had hoped for."
"She put a great deal of effort and expense into the evening." The older Lord smiled faintly.
"She wanted to show me what she learned from her mother." Draeseth's face softened. "Aran Ladies do not run the household, that is servant's work. They make silk flowers and throw parties. Her family is known for wine, she tells me she can brew it from honey, as well as brew honey beer."
"We will look forward to sampling it at future parties." Lord Bertrath offered a small smile, "It was a magnificent party until..."
"Your mother would have enjoyed it immensely." Lord Boran shuffled forward.
"She would have." Draeseth took a deep breath, "My mother would love my wife dearly."
"The Duchess seemed cheerful like your mother always was."
Draeseth breathed a laugh and looked at his hands, "She is. My Isonei is seldom sour and she brightens any room she walks into like a ray of sunlight."
"Come, your Highness, let's find the Commander of your garrison and get some things resolved before you return to the Duchess." Lord Boran patted the large Prince's arm familiarly.
Lislora followed them back into the house. The two Lords took Draeseth to his study and she went to find the Commander. He was occupied with the two Princes in the servant's dining area, speaking to one of the women from the kitchen, so she waited as patiently as she could.
When the door finally opened and the tired looking cook came out Lislora slipped in.
"Lady?" Prince Adareth rose from his seat.
"Lord Boran and his son have taken Prince Draeseth to his study to discuss ways the Keep could be better protected in the future. They wished to speak to the Commander."
"They're keeping him occupied and away from us as we question the servants." Prince Ougath smiled tiredly and rubbed his temples, "How is he?"
"He was better after praying. I was asked to look in on the Duchess. He was distraught at the way she was trembling and can't bear seeing her that way."
"I would wait. I made the mistake of asking one of the maids helping my brother's servant how she was faring. The Duchess is still violently ill. They've put the birthing covers on the bed to keep the mattress from being soiled."
She shuddered.
"If my brother is in a better frame of mind he should be kept away."
"I'll take some Kurebra and discuss stationing guards at entrances until he's too tired to do anything but sleep."
"Strong liquor may not-" Lislora began with disapproval and the men snorted looking at each other.
"My brother rarely has anything stronger than wine. He holds it well but once he begins to show the effects it isn't long before he falls into a deep sleep. I would expect it to be faster while he's upset and already exhausted from worry over his wife." Prince Ougath looked at her as if she were simple and gestured with his head for the Commander to go. "Make certain the Lords and yourself have some as well, Commander. If my brother should be poisoned and the three of you survive, I promise you, it won't be for long." His tone was as frigid as Lislora remembered the King's being.
The Commander hesitated and then offered a stiff bow.
"Stay, Lady Lislora, a face they know seemed to help ease their minds." Prince Adareth rose as if to offer his chair and she smiled at his generosity.
"Please, you're a guest. I can have another chair fetched."
"I was going to go speak with the entertainment." He looked amused and offered the chair again.
"Thank you, your Highness." As the thought occurred to her she frowned, "The jester managed to sneak in during the preparations to present himself. He said the Duchess would be pleased with his presence. The others presented themselves properly beforehand. Duchess Isonei was so delighted by all of them that she insisted they all take turns performing. If she met the jester I wasn't with her."
Adareth's face hardened, "I'll speak with him first."
°°°°°°°°°°
Lislora was exhausted by the time they had finished with the servants. As far as she could tell they were all very truthful, no one had been in the kitchens that wasn't supposed to be there. The only odd thing was that Master Krouth hadn't been overseeing things as he usually was. Draeseth had him occupied with the Duchess and other preparations. The senior cook had thought it was a relief not to have the man walking through to point things out a second before his own staff had noticed them, but now his sharp eyes were missed.
A few hours of sleep were suggested by the Commander after he and some of his guards had managed to carry the soundly sleeping Draeseth to his chambers. It had taken longer than they expected, and two bottles of Kurebra. She heard Prince Ougath ask about his brother's frame of mind as she walked away, and the Commander's laugh. Lislora picked up her pace as he relayed that the Duchess could drive a saint to depravity, her cousin had spoken of his Aran wife's talents in bed at length.
Breakfast was nearly silent. As they were finishing eating, Ougath asked quietly, "How is your Duchess this morning?"
"Krouth was asleep in the chair next to the bed when I looked in on them. My wife..." He made a pained noise and shook his head, clenching his jaw.
"Is she still being ill?" Adareth asked with concern.
"No. She was asleep as well but so pale she looked bloodless and around her eyes looked almost bruised. For a moment," he swallowed and cleared his throat, "For a moment I didn't think she was breathing."
"I'll go and let Krouth have a few hours rest." Lislora winced, she hadn't thought about the man needing to sleep as well.
"He barely left my Duchess in the Dalcur when she had a fever, he may not be willing to leave her now. "
"The only thing out of place in your kitchens was the lack of his watchful eye, brother. They all said this was the first time that he hadn't been occasionally walking through and pointing out their mistakes.
Draeseth made an unpleasant sound. "I usually relieve him from his customary duties to see to preparations. This time, I insisted he serve my Duchess."
"He was also handling some of the preparations, it couldn't be done without him," Lislora spoke up quietly.
"My Isonei praises him at every turn. She says I cannot possibly pay him enough."
"If he were still a slave I'd have bought him from you long ago, brother, despite his wretched demeanor." Ougath offered a faint smile.
The larger Prince managed to return it. "The commander said everyone was searched for any remnants of poison or extra pouches."
"Yes. None were found. Adareth spoke to the entertainment at length. We had concerns about the jester but he seemed genuinely worried for the Duchess. He insisted that he'd seen this before when an Aran was given swine as a jest."
Lislora felt the blood draining from her face. "But-but swine-"
Adareth looked at her with a frown, "He said Arans think the meat is unclean because it makes them ill."
