Many thanks to Todger65 for helping me with editing!
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As breakfast finished the Daga rose from the table, "You are welcome to enjoy my home. Lady Isonei will entertain you until my duties allow me to rejoin you." He took Isonei's hand and escorted her from the table to the arch that led to the family rooms. "
You'll join me for a private lunch to discuss family matters.
" With a glance to the Torgans he continued, "
If you should wish to return to the room my father kept for you, you are welcome to, or you may continue to stay with our guests. The choice is yours.
"
"
Thank you my Daga. I will stay with our guests.
" She inclined her head respectfully; as she did the Daga tilted her chin lower to look at the grave flower.
"
You will be required to return more often. You should make sure the Torgan understands.
"
"
I will my Daga.
"
"Go, attend to your duties." He smiled wryly. "You'll be fetched when your Daga requires you."
"I assumed as much, my Daga. I can't imagine you're still sent on errands." She smiled as he patted her cheek with the back of his hand as his father used to before she turned to walk back toward Draeseth and Burgath.
Draeseth looked as though he might throw her over his shoulder and carry her straight to the carriage, but Burgath looked at her with calculation and interest.
"Did I understand correctly? You are a member of this House?" Burgath stepped forward to take her arm. Isonei instead raised her hands, moving to stand next to Draeseth and clasp his hand as he stood stiffly.
"In Leria there are no Houses. You have a Daga that you serve. Daga Liadith has graciously given me a place in his family."
"You failed to mention relations were quite so warm." Burgath was smiling tightly.
"It's been years, I wasn't sure they still would be. The elder Daga-"
As he began muttering angrily in Torgan, Isonei looked up at Draeseth with concern.
"My brother is horrified that you have been participating in some dark ritual and conversing with the dead. This 'grave flower' on your head is... disturbing."
"Perhaps we should go out into the garden, and I can explain that there was no dark ritual." She gnawed in the inside of her lip as he refused to look at her and didn't clasp her hand back.
"If it fades in the sunlight, yes." Burgath inclined his head and she let go of Draeseth's hand to lead the way to the garden since it seemed he wasn't going to take her hand or arm. He still walked closely enough for his legs to brush her skirts which did ease her mind just a little.
The servants were already arranging cushions on the wide sun drenched benches. Lounging in the sun in the heavy Torgan dress wouldn't be very pleasant. She tried not to sigh as she chose a bench and sank onto the cushions comfortably, lying on her stomach.
The Torgan princes looked at her oddly. "The benches are for lounging, your Highnesses. Please make yourselves comfortable."
"You're comfortable with Lerian customs; more so than we are, Lady Isonei." Burgath frowned disapprovingly, coupled with the perplexing way Draeseth was behaving she found it made her furious.
"Then get comfortable with them, Prince Burgath. As a favored daughter of Liadith, in this garden I outrank you and you are being rude." Out of the corner of her eye she saw one of the servants struggle to compose themselves. With a look she dismissed him and the rest followed, retreating to a discreet distance.
Watching Burgath and Draeseth sullenly attempt to lounge was amusing enough to lighten her mood and she started speaking again when they stopped wiggling uncomfortably. "I apologize for my sharpness. If you'd like I can tell you about my visit with the elder Daga."
"Please, Lady Isonei." Burgath spoke coolly. "In Torga, one leaves flowers on a grave, perhaps offers a prayer to Ganas for their loved one's soul. There is no conversing with the dead or..." he gestured toward her.
"I'm sure your loved ones rest well. A Daga, however, lingers to be consulted with. Each new Daga is welcomed by the line of the old. Wives and other children rest in their crypts close by." The Torgans glanced uneasily around them as if they expected one of the dead Dagas to rise and approach. "You don't need to be concerned about the elder Dagas wandering. They stay in the crypts in their sargs. They're dead; it's the spirit that lingers. The veiled priests offer comfort to the family and are spoken to more directly by the Dagas. You aren't permitted in the crypts and don't have to worry about being spoken to."
"And that?" Draeseth glanced at her with a frown.
"I've never seen a grave flower. They're rare and precious." She studied his face as he avoided her eyes. "The elder Daga thought of me like a daughter, this is a sign of that affection."
"Then why did he not include you in his Hou-in his family?" Burgath asked with more curiosity than coldness.
"Because of his son's feelings for me. How would you feel if you wanted to marry a woman and your father stepped in and said, 'No, this is your sister now?'"
"You are the Daga's sister now." Draeseth tilted his head, still frowning.
"No. I am a daughter of Liadith, if his father had granted me that, I would be the new Daga's sister. However, since it is the new Daga that has-"
"You're his daughter?" Burgath sat up incredulously.
"As far as Lerian customs are concerned, yes. You might have noticed he was treating me like a child at the table?" Isonei smiled wryly.
"Are you now in the line of succession?" Burgath was leaning forward with fascination.
"I certainly hope not! The Daga needs to have a son, and he's still young yet. The elder Daga was older than my Daga is now when he was born. A daughter can inherit the position if there is no chosen son but I don't think it's been done more than once."
"Daga Gildith has only daughters."
"Daga Gildith had half a dozen grandsons to choose from the last time Ivorith mentioned it. His line is secure. He'll choose one of them and elevate him at the appropriate time."
"Your Daga." Draeseth was still displeased, and it showed on his face and in his tone as he emphasized the 'your'.
"You had no difficulty with me calling King Tamnaeuth my King. Daga Liadith is my Daga." She shifted on her cushions and sighed. "That's probably the best way to explain it to you. Think of Daga Liadith as a King, it's not far from the mark. I need to explain to you that the privileges I've been granted come with responsibilities."
Draeseth sat up and looked at her sharply as she continued, "He will be issuing commands I am expected to follow, like entertaining you in his absence. I will also be expected to return 'home' at least once a year."
"That could be of tremendous benefit." Burgath nodded slowly. "You could smooth things for our father and for trade in Torga."
"I could. If Draeseth is agreeable to it."
"He will be. Having a close relationship with a Daga, even a lesser Daga-"
Isonei lifted herself off of the cushions sputtering incredulously as she came to a curled seated position. The princes looked at her as if they were unsure of what she was sputtering about. She took a moment to compose herself. "I now understand why you have such difficulty in Leria. There are no lesser Dagas. They may wax and wane among themselves but to you or to anyone who is not a Daga you are expected to treat them with the respect you reserve for King Tamnaeuth or your father. Have I made that clear?"
