My thanks to Todger65 for helping edit and Nthusiastic for beta reading and asking good questions!
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"My Duchess used to rub my head..." King Orgath exhaled and closed his eyes as Isonei tilted his head back, beginning at his temples and then drawing her nails over his scalp to the crown.
"I learned to do this for my brother Geroth, he gets headaches." She couldn't help but smile at the way his face relaxed.
"As do I, I always wanted a daughter to rub my head. I had hoped to get one from my Duchess, but it seems I was only meant to have sons."
"My father only wanted sons. I was supposed to be Isionath." Making circles with her thumbs at the back of his head, she remembered the way her father had kissed her head as he'd talked about it. "But he said he was glad I wasn't. A son might not have been as affectionate, and he enjoyed buying me dresses because I used to twirl in them when I showed them to him. My brothers never did that when he bought them new clothes."
The King laughed and opened his eyes slightly. "That was what I wanted. Athelosa wanted to name her Orleesa. My Deventha tried to give me one when she learned that was why I had given my Duchess a child. She loves her sons, but each time she had another she hated Draeseth more. My wife intended to name the girl Orventha."
"Both are lovely names. Kothesei is the one Draeseth and I like."
"Peculiar but pretty. And if you have a son?" He smiled warmly closing his eyes again.
"Mallath. I let Draeseth choose between that and Thaedreth."
"I like Thaedreth better but Mallath might appease the Kamrus. It was wise to ask Draeseth's opinion."
"In Ara, the father names his children. It would be too strange for me to name them without it."
"You want a large family as you and Draeseth both had?"
Isonei laughed, massaging her way forward again, "I do. I adore children and my mothers always said, 'The more love the better.'"
"Wise women. Your father is a fortunate man."
"He is. I hope he still is... when he's unhappy his temper can rival Draeseth's. My mothers can't bear to be around him-"
A loud displeased sound from the doorway startled her. She looked up to see Draeseth standing with a clenched jaw and hard eyes.
"Come have a seat," King Orgath gestured to her vacant place at the table before reaching up to touch her hands. "There is a basin in the bedroom if you wish to wash your hands, little Duchess."
"Thank you."
The servant helpfully appeared and gestured for her and she gratefully followed to wash as the pair of Torgans began a gelid sounding conversation.
When she returned, Draeseth rose and gripped her arm behind the elbow. "We will see you below when you are ready, father." His fingers dug into her painfully as he escorted her from the room.
Near the top of the stairs, he stopped and turned her to face him. His face was set in a furious scowl and his hand didn't loosen. "Are you seducing my father or are you allowing him to seduce you, Duchess?"
"Neither! You should know better, Draeseth." Isonei touched his wrist, "You're hurting me."
"You hurt me each time you allow yourself to be seduced." He tightened his grip before releasing her.
"I haven't! Not once since the Festival!"
Draeseth snarled at her in Torgan drawing his hand back as he had before he struck the wall in Ara.
A polite cough brought him back to himself and he put his hand down, schooling his face to frigid displeasure. "Halloc Hroth, the Duchess you wished to meet. Escort her to the carriage; I will be riding with my brothers."
°°°°°°°°°°
Isonei felt nervous in the carriage, surrounded by disapproving priests. Halloc Urroth sat next to her and Kamrus Gillaugrim sat directly across from her. The one introduced as Halloc Hroth sat next to him eying her coolly.
"You looked at Prince Draeseth as if he betrayed you as he mounted to ride with his father and brothers." The Kamrus folded his hands and adjusted himself on the seat.
"I made the mistake of believing him when he said he was going to start keeping his word. I will remember not to do it again." She turned her head to look out of the window but the Kamrus reached to pull the curtain blocking her view.
"And what had he promised?" He narrowed his eyes when she looked at him incredulously. "You will be respectful."
"He promised he would stay with me and make certain you were kind. Instead, he abandoned me to ride by myself in a carriage with a man who has been cruel and disrespectful to me." Isonei folded her arms and straightened herself, moving into what felt like a safer position in her corner of the carriage. "I will continue to return your disrespect to you. I loathe cruel people."
"I would expect a more repentant attitude from someone who has expressed interest in joining a convent."
"Why would I be repentant?"
"You do not repent for your sins?"
"What sins?!" Isonei shook her head and turned her head again to eye the drawn curtain. Realizing that if she pushed it she could slide it toward the Kamrus and open it on her side again, she did so letting in some light and a view of the now passing countryside.
There was a long pause until Halloc Urroth cleared his throat. "Have you not bedded men other than Prince Draeseth?"