Many thanks to Todger65 for editing and Nthusiastic for beta reading and making suggestions!
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Mes was flushed as she carried in a pitcher of steaming water looking for a place to put it. Isonei tilted her head as the woman set it next to the bed and darted for the door. She returned with another pitcher and Krouth carried the large basin with the cloths and soap inside. He placed it quickly on the other nightstand and left in a rush as Mes nearly poured the water over the things inside.
"What's wrong?" Isonei frowned moving quickly to empty the basin before it was filled.
"The King, your Grace, and all four of the other Princes are waiting in the other room. Krouth is trying to see to them all but..."
"But he needs help. Lay out a dress for me and the things that go with it and I'll wash and dress myself."
The relief on Mes' face as she carried the empty pitcher to the closet was almost amusing. She almost made a comment that they must be getting along better. One of her pale grey gowns was laid on the bed and most of the undergarments to go with it. Her stockings and small clothes were absent. Before she could protest Mes had darted out of the door.
Isonei shook her head and began to wash. There was a little more blood this morning so she used one of the cloths to make certain she made no mess as she pulled on her chemise and ventured into the closet herself. She was opening trunks and peering inside as she heard Krouth, "Your Grace?"
"Here! I'm trying to find stockings..."
He appeared in the doorway with a scowl. "I told her she should stay with you in case you needed anything. The King sent her to the kitchen to fetch tea for you the moment she stepped out."
"She was flustered because she thought you needed help. Mes is very sweet-natured and unlike you, easy to ruffle."
Krouth gestured for her to come out. As he ventured in to find her stockings, she leaned into the closet and spoke quietly, "I think I also need small clothes, no matter what Draeseth would prefer. I seem to be bleeding."
The slim servant gave her a startled look and then inclined his head. "The midwives sent something for it. They suspected that you might if their advice was not followed. When Mes returns I will have her take you somewhere private to discuss their instructions thoroughly." He offered her a more Aran undergarment with ties to hold in place the thick cloth pads he pushed toward her. Her stockings he laid on her gown as he busied himself with the basin of dirty water.
She put on the padded undergarment with relief and tried to conceal the bloodied cloth in her hand as she approached Krouth. "I need to wash my hands again, and I don't know what to do with this."
He took the dirty damp cloth and opened it holding it out. "I will take it." His face was carefully schooled as she gave him the bloody rag and washed her hands.
"Thank you, Krouth."
Isonei finished dressing as he gathered things and departed. Mes rushed back in looking chagrined as she was brushing her hair. The maid quickly put it up for her in crossed braids and held open the door for her.
The sight of the small table cluttered with mostly empty breakfast platters made her laugh. "I'm very sorry I took so long to get ready."
King Orgath smiled warmly gesturing at the table, "Have your breakfast, little Duchess. We would not expect you to come out in your robe as you did for Kresh."
She gave him an amused look, "Kresh was very understanding of my tiredness. And since someone borrowed my intended dining companion..."
He and Draeseth's brothers laughed but Draeseth looked sour. "You knew I did not want you to speak with her."
"She was very insistent. And my father says if you can't say no, say yes with a caveat."
The King grinned wolfishly, "I would enjoy meeting him, he seems a reasonable man."
On the plate Mes gave her, Isonei put what she hoped was a very hard egg and the last sweet batter cake. The sight and smell of the leftover chicken livers and other unidentifiable meats made her feel queasy. She glanced around for a place to sit. With so many guests the available seats were taken and she made her way to Draeseth to perch on his lap.
The large Torgan made a pleased sound in his throat and adjusted her, wordlessly offering to hold her plate.
"That is barely enough to keep a bird alive, little Duchess. Have something more." The King frowned at her plate.
"Nothing else looks appetizing to me, your Majesty."
"Bring my wife one of her apples." Draeseth's tone was not to be argued with and she tilted her head with a half smile.
"Not even the manirel?" Burgath looked at her curiously.
"Torgan or Aran? I wasn't fond of the Torgan version. It's too mild and oddly bitter." The memory of the taste didn't help her stomach.
"You have the same palette as Kresh." Rogath snorted. "She encourages my daughters to be picky eaters."
"I was never a very picky eater until I came to Torga. As a child, my father complained that if he had food I was trying to steal it from him. Anything he was eating I wanted a bite of, even raw oysters. He dislikes capers, and so do I, he-" She paused as the King and Rogath began to laugh. "What's so amusing?"
"Kas is that way. I only have to look at a food and she reaches for it. But if I decline it she turns up her nose."
"I would love to meet your daughters. I adore children."
"Ror is more aloof like her mother." Rogath smiled wryly. "She does not warm to strangers."
"Kresh was very warm. She said my arrival was like a summer rain, welcome and refreshing." Isonei took a tentative bite of her sweet batter cake as the Torgans looked at her in bafflement. "Dinner with her was a pleasure."
"There was no unpleasantness at all?" Adareth leaned forward with a confused frown.
"We had a," Isonei paused choosing her words carefully, "difference of opinion about how servants should be treated. But my sharpness didn't spoil the meal."
"I wish I had seen that," Burgath smirked. "Your tongue can be surprisingly sharp, Duchess.
"They had to wake me for dinner, I don't wake well."
"It sounded like you woke very well," Ougath muttered leaning back in his comfortable chair.
"Your brother gave me a wonderful massage before-"
Draeseth cut her off with a loud annoyed sound. "They do not need to know."
His father and brothers began to laugh again as she shrugged and forced herself to finish her cake.
She was carefully cracking the shell of the greenish-brown speckled egg when Krouth brought a small plate of sliced apple. "Thank you Krouth." As she freed the egg from its shell he took the plate and left the one with the apple in its place. "I forgot to get a knife for my egg, could you...?"
The slim servant was already handing her one. "Of course, your Grace."
"You're always so quick!" Isonei smiled at him. "Thank you."
"Not always." King Orgath reminded her coolly. "How do you find Mes?"
"I adore her. She's wonderfully sweet and she reminds me of home. Arans and the Sons of Mun aren't so terribly different."
He nodded with a pleased smile as if that were what he expected.
Isonei sliced her egg in half, glad to see the yolk was hard enough to be a faintly discolored pink. It didn't smell appetizing but she knew it should help with her queasiness. She tried to offer a bite to Draeseth but he shook his head eyeing the egg with distaste.
"You like them so hard, Duchess?" Adareth sounded surprised.
"My brothers always asked for them this way when they'd had too much to drink. Ivorith said the dryness is good for the stomach. They aren't bad. I've had breakfast with my brothers often enough to like them."
"Sweet batter cakes and very hard eggs." Rogath nodded with a half smile, "That does sound more pleasant than the food mother always insisted on giving us when we had too much. Pickle juice and scrambled eggs mixed with porridge." His smile widened as she pressed the back of her hand to mouth and put the egg down on the plate.
Draeseth growled something at him as she shuddered. "Eat. Try your apple."
She shook her head slowly and tried to get off of his lap, feeling as if she were moments away from being sick. He kept her in place and insistently pushed the plate at her. "Eat."
"Her Grace is going to be ill." Krouth hurried forward with a cloth napkin in hand as her stomach tried to revolt. He managed to catch most of it and hurried her into the washing room ordering Mes to bring water.
°°°°°°°°°°
"I'm fine, really Mes." Isonei gave the hovering woman a wan smile as she sipped her warm tea.
"Krouth says you're bleeding more than you should be and the only thing you've kept down since breakfast has been tea, your Grace."
The sliced apple that had been offered between meals and the very bland lunch of buttered bread and apple mash she'd just attempted to eat had both sent her back to the washing room.
"It's very nearly stopped now and the midwives said fresh air would be good for me, didn't they? Her Majesty asked me to join her retinue outside. I'll be fine. Did you ask Krouth to send my letters?" The Torgan servant had been very sour when she'd insisted on finishing them instead of lying down and resting.
"I did, your Grace." Mes followed her to the door of the room where Krouth waited with her cloak and a sternly disapproving frown.
