Many, many thanks to Todger65 for editing!
*****
"How do you find Oyeth Lothlaeri, dear Isonei?"
Daga Lothlaerith asked as he gestured for refreshments to be brought.
Isonei twisted her lips trying to think how to best approach the topic.
"Uhhmm, I have seen not much, but the baths please. They are lovely."
"And the people?"
He smiled and sipped some of the orange colored wine that had been brought.
"Some are nice!"
She almost laughed at the way he narrowed his eyes trying to conceal his amusement.
"Your Daga prefers a sprawling house and gardens in the quiet of his lands. You don't find the noise and activity of my city to be... concerning?"
Tilting her head as she contemplated, she let her face take on more seriousness.
"Some. But also so many people to talk to, and much to look at."
Taking a sip she smiled again,
"Your house is quiet and uhhmm..."
"Restful after the noise?"
The Daga finished for her returning her smile.
"Yes!"
"Onsh-Lothlaerith told me you sat in the crypts with your Daga's father every day? You're very fond of quiet?"
"My Daga likes to talk!"
Isonei grinned at the man as his eyes widened,
"I sit with him and talk as long as allowed, I would sit longer but I was Keran. Uhhmm, Daga Gildith said, 'They do like some quiet in the crypts, daughter of Liadith.'"
Daga Lothlaerith laughed and sighed,
"The young Daga doesn't visit his father as often to enjoy his company?"
"No. He was not visiting at all when I came home."
The Daga's eyebrows raised.
"They had argued. He did not want to say his father was right. But my Daga is always right and he should listen. They are better now but he is still sometimes,"
she waved her hand in front of her face with a stony expression.
"He's stubborn and wants to do things his way."
The Daga's face split in a broad smile.
"Yes! When there is something, I say 'Go ask your father, he will know.' My Daga says, 'Why do you always want to ask my father, I can do this.'"
Isonei made an exasperated face and took another sip of the wine.
"He should ask, but someone might tell him he doesn't have to obey. Hearing what the elder Dagas have to say before acting is always wise."
A hint of mischief seemed to touch his eyes as he continued,
"And the elder Daga is not always right, he allowed you to leave his house. I would not have made that mistake."
"But you are wrong, Daga Lothlaerith."
She put on an expression of innocence, widening her eyes.
"If I stayed how would I meet you?"
Reaching out to touch his chest through his mantle at the breast bone, she fluttered her lashes.
For a moment the older man looked as stunned and flabbergasted as her Daga had when she'd won their game.
"Your Daga unleashes your devastating charm on us all entirely without warning."
"Aha, are you like Daga Gildith? 'Don't turn your charm on me, daughter of Liadith.'"
Isonei imitated his stern face and Daga Lothlaerith began to laugh.
"I would kiss you if you could make that man laugh."
With an impish grin she turned her cheek and tapped it making the older man break into more laughter before he gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"He is a dear man and a lovely dancer."
"You had him laughing and dancing? The festivities should have been better attended. Gildith in high spirits is a rare thing. They will come from all over Leria to attend yours. A dance with a daughter of Liadith would be a thing to treasure."
"Is there not dancing tonight? Raighe said, uhhmm..."
"Raighe?"
Onsh-Lothlaerith interrupted,
"Who is that?"
"A young girl we met at the inn. She slept in our carriage with my Isonei and her brothers and sisters."
Draeseth sounded relieved to change the subject.
"She made such an impression that Lady Isonei gave her a dress to wear dancing."
Burgath joined the conversation with a smile.
Isonei half listened to them as they began discussing parts of their journey and why she had slept in the carriage. The Daga was watching the three men carefully, the two Torgans were making a tremendous effort to remain polite, but Onsh-Lothlaerith was making considerably less. When he snapped at them demanding to know why they had not stayed with Daga Caeridith the Daga Lothlaerith intervened smoothly.
"I am certain they had their reasons. I would not spend my time with the daughter of Liadith arguing that which has already passed. If I had not been ill, I would take you to one of the gatherings, dear Isonei. But perhaps you would dance with me here? Onsh-Lothlaerith could play something."
"Yes! Please!"
She beamed at him and looked to Onsh-Lothlaerith in surprise as he stood abruptly and stalked from the room.
"Your Daga thinks you difficult; he will be surprised if he has sons."
The Daga's lips twisted wryly.
"I wished Arissa four."
Isonei shrugged delicately while putting on an insincerely apologetic expression.
"May she get them and all the joy that comes with them."
He inclined his head slightly with a faintly mischievous smile.
"And may they all take after your Daga."
She covered her mouth in mock horror,
"Horrible! May they take after his father!"
"I think I see why your Daga allowed you to leave."
The Daga narrowed his eyes slightly and tilted her chin down with his fingers.
"I love my Daga and I love to uhhmm,"
Isonei mimed picking at the Daga as he tried to suppress a smile.
"Keeping you occupied as Keran and sending you to speak with his father daily must have spared him a great deal of teasing."
Onsh-Lothlaerith returned carrying a flat, many stringed instrument with a small folding stand and a small velvet bag. Seating himself on his bench he arranged the instrument and stand as he wished them before emptying the contents of the bag into his hand. She watched with interest as he placed two engraved steel rings, one on each hand, and peculiar pieces of something that extended out over his fingers, she assumed they were fitted into the rings somehow.
"It has been years since you insisted I play for your guests, father."
Onsh ran his fingers over the strings and adjusted the tones but his voice was distinctly sour.
"The daughter of Liadith is our guest, not merely mine, and her travelling companions are as well."
The Daga's voice had a warning edge to it.
"Very well father."
He sounded resigned as he let his fingers move lightly over the strings drawing out a sound sweeter than honey.
For a moment Isonei was transfixed by the sound. The Daga's touch on her wrist was a reminder that Onsh was playing for a reason. Rising with a smile, she followed the Daga's lead as he stepped into position for one of the older Lerian dances she knew and had danced with Daga Gildith days before.
Switching hands repeatedly as they ducked and bobbed around one another, Daga Lothlaerith wasn't as sure in his steps as Gildith, and after a short time he was out of breath, but the man was beaming. Before they could settle onto the bench again a man in one of the Lothlaerith sashes came to the door and cleared his throat apologetically. Onsh looked relieved, moving his instrument to the side.
"No."
The Daga held up his hand,
"Onsh-Lothlaerith you will remain and enjoy our guests. Perhaps you'll continue to delight the daughter of Liadith with more of your playing? Something suitable for a gathering?"
He pressed his hand to his heart with a warm smile and Isonei returned the gesture. Almost as an afterthought he inclined his head to the Princes who rose and bowed graciously.
Onsh didn't move the instrument back into its playing position and she smiled at him ruefully, settling onto the end of her bench closer to him.
"This I did not uhhmm..."
"You wish to mock me for playing?"
His face was set in cold displeasure.
"No! This I have not seen."
She pointed to the instrument as Draeseth carefully came to sit behind her as the Daga had done. Isonei glanced at him with a smile as he got comfortable.
"You mock me for my choice of instrument?"
Onsh's face didn't change.
"No."
She sighed in exasperation and shook her head.
"She has not seen that instrument before. I think she wishes to know what it is."
Draeseth spoke quietly behind her.
"
Yes, thank you."
"You've never seen a kanon?"
"Kantele and cithara, not this."
"The kanon is more difficult to play."
He idly rubbed the rings with his thumbs.
"And more lovely to hear."
Isonei smiled as he looked at the instrument.
Without lifting his eyes from it Onsh spoke coolly,
"It would take more than a little praise to wrap me around your fingers as you have my father, daughter of Liadith."
Draeseth stroked her arm reassuringly and she let the two Torgans take over the conversation. She laid her head on her arm looking at the instrument as they discussed the house and the gate admiring the defensive capabilities of both. Talk of trade and the growth of what was apparently considered by the Torgans to be a split city seemed to go well but it was so dull she struggled to keep her eyes open. She couldn't help but wish that the Daga had stayed.
During a lull in the conversation, Onsh moved his instrument back into place as if he were going to play it.
"My father will not forgive me if I don't play at least one more song for the daughter of Liadith."
"No. It would not please to hear what it would not please to play."
Isonei met his gaze and his green eyes seemed to shimmer.
"It would please me to play one more. A song I learned as a child."
Onsh-Lothlaerith began to play, his fingers dancing over the strings like light on the water. His voice lifted in a song of lament, a song of Desecration and of the breaking of the line of Lothlaerith, the violation of the daughter and the shattering of the crypts.
The tone then changed to one of grim pride. The daughter rose and took up her father's mantle, she fought and Leria prevailed. She walked the shattered crypts and restored the line. From what had been taken and the ashes that remained, Lothlaerith rose with blood upon her mantle. The beauty that drew the conquerors was not a thornless flower, and her sons are the venom of the bees.
The song ended and the sound of the last chords died away. Isonei found herself breathlessly perched on the edge of her seat with her hand over her heart. Lothlaerith lifted his dark golden head and his eyes lingered on her hand until she was able to speak.
"Onsh-Lothlaerith, that song, it-it is an honor to hear it. Not only because of the sweetness of your voice and the skill of your fingers..." She trailed off realizing she'd spoken Aran and his face wore an expression of gentle confusion.
"She says, 'It was an honor to hear the song and you sing well.'"
Draeseth translated stiffly, reaching to take hold of her hand and pull it from where it still rested over her heart.
She thought she saw the color of Lothlaerith's shimmering green eyes flicker as he moved his instrument and removed the steel rings from his fingers, but when he met her gaze they were as hard and cool as they had been before.
"The daughter of Liadith should be able to speak for herself."
The words cut and she bowed her head answering quietly,
