Thanks to Nthusiastic for her help with editing, beta reading, and making good suggestions!
*****
In the royal carriage Rogath had ordered, Isonei sat with her arms around the girls. Ror, ensconced between her and the Crown Prince, leaned against her side, while Kas curled on her lap listening intently to the end of the story she had begun what felt like a very long time ago.
"Because he loved her so much, he took the name of her House as his own so that it wouldn't end with her father. By showing a little kindness, a man who had very little gained a fine house, a proud name, and a loving wife."
Lislora translated and Kas yawned as she asked a question. "She wants to know what happened to the figurine."
"They put it on the mantle at home. His wife loved to watch it dance." Isonei bent to kiss the girl's dark hair, in the dimness the red couldn't be seen.
"You should write out these little stories, Isonei." Adareth sat wedged in the far corner beside Ougath on Lislora's seat. "They would be popular to read to small children."
"There are so many, writing them down would take up all of my time." She gave him a bright smile. "There are some that have been collected into books though, but
The Wretched Traveler
is more popular when it's told. You lose something without the storyteller."
Rogath snorted. "It would require a jester to tell it the way you do. But if you put it in a book, Torgan storytellers can learn it."
As she inclined her head proudly smiling at the jester comment, Ougath eyed her with amusement, "You may have the time in Gogmenos. I gave a small purse to your cook to be sure you had paper for letters. If father received a thank you note as gracious as you gave me..."
"I wrote one for him yesterday, before the worst of the unpleasantness. I didn't alter it, I imagine Master Krouth will have it delivered after I've left."
Rogath said something that sounded speculative in Torgan and Lislora inclined her head with a resigned expression as she answered.
"Are all Aran women so gracious, Isonei?" Adareth gazed at her wistfully.
"We try to be. We don't always succeed." Tilting her head with a smile she had to ask, "Didn't Andnaeuth write a thank you note?"
"He did not. It would have been strange if he had." Rogath leaned to stroke Kas' cheek.
"We did not write any on leaving Ara, either." Ougath shrugged.
"You should have. Your trip may have ended less pleasantly than you wished it to, but-"
"He knew he was inviting Torgans, not Arans." Rogath gave her a look of amused annoyance.
Isonei arched her brows, "You weren't just making a comment to Lislora about being as gracious as I am? If you expect graciousness, you should be more gracious yourselves."
The flat look he gave her made him resemble Draeseth strongly but his teasing tone as he spoke to Lislora in Torgan reminded her more of Burgath. The two other Princes chuckled and Lislora inclined her head suppressing a smile.
"You teased your brother that he was trying to make you miss him less. It is kind of you to do that for us." Ougath grinned at her and Adareth elbowed him in the ribs.
Laughing, Isonei inclined her head, "If I don't leave now, you'll learn all of my jests by heart! I'd have to find new ones!"
"It would be no hardship for you." Adareth gave her a longing look and Rogath made a peculiar sound. The youngest Prince winced and shifted in his seat. "To lose the company of someone who makes a room brighter just by entering it, is bitter."
"You're always so sweet, Adareth. I hope it isn't so bitter that you regret meeting me."
"Never, Isonei."
The carriage came to a stop.
"We must be at the gate." Rogath frowned slightly and began speaking quietly to the girls.
Little arms tightened around her and Isonei bent to kiss their heads. "Tell them I'll send them something when I arrive, and if they ask nicely, perhaps Aunt Lislora will let them look at the Aran jewelry I gave her when they get back to the palace."
Rogath smiled faintly and relayed her words and the girls loosened their grip and looked to Lislora who said something that sounded cheerful.
"I would like to speak to Lislora privately for just a moment, if-if I may." Isonei tried to keep a smile on her face for the girls and the Princes began to clamber out of the carriage, taking the two Princesses with them.
"I will make sure Hodrim is taken care of." Lislora fidgeted, twisting two of her fingers.
"And Draeseth. This is breaking his heart." Isonei swallowed and took a deep breath. "Let him grieve and be gentle with him. His pain doesn't mean he loves you less."
Lislora opened her mouth to speak but the door of the carriage was opened and Hodrim peered in worriedly. "Alma?"
"My little love!" She made her way to the open door and let Draeseth help her down, embracing Hodrim as the Prince helped Lislora. "I feel so loved that everyone came to see me off."
The boy squeezed her and murmured something in Torgan before stepping back and gesturing for her to kneel as he'd done at the convent. Isonei sank as gracefully as she could to the hard packed dirt outside the gate. She couldn't help but smile as he kissed her head and covered her face, drawing his hands out toward her ears.
"My love will go with you everywhere, dearest Hodrim," Isonei reassured him and turned her head to kiss his palm.
Putting an arm around the boy, Lislora gently guided him to the side as Draeseth helped Isonei back to her feet.
"He said you are loved." They began walking slowly toward the smaller, plainer carriage that was waiting next to a covered cart. "I have spoken with Kamrus Rimathe; he knows some of the Brothers at the shrine and will make certain you are well treated. Should you require anything, Xagorath is carrying most of your money and if you recall my man, Taugh, he is accompanying the guards I hired."
"Thank you, Draeseth." She rubbed his arm comfortingly and he looked down, letting her see the dampness of his eyes despite his grim expression. "I don't regret you, my flower wine. I want you to know that. I've learned so much and you brought so much joy into my life." Looking up at him tearfully she tried to smile. It didn't matter at the moment that he'd also brought pain, he needed reassurance and she wanted desperately to leave on good terms.
He stopped and turned to press his face to hers, "Isonei, my Isonei..."
She took a juddering breath and stepped back to caress his damp face. "You are loved, and I want you to be proud and joyful. Let her comfort you and promise me you'll be gentle with each other."
Draeseth straightened and cleared his throat as he tried to regain some composure. "We will see each other again soon. When I have finished with the bouts, Lislora and I will come to Gogmenos on our way to the Kroscur."
"I'd like that." Isonei tried to give him a bright smile. "Perhaps you'll have some of the pink stones set into a belt buckle and I can see you in my wedding gift."
His eyes glittered and he made a loud amused sound in his throat. "Perhaps. Or perhaps I will keep them on my wife where they belong."
Burgath put a hand on her shoulder and said something in Torgan that soured the larger Prince's face before speaking to her in Aran. "It is time to go, Isonei. I would have liked to ride in the carriage with you. I didn't expect all of my brothers to accompany you down."
"The girls can tell you the end of the story." She gave Burgath a smile and let him walk her to the door of the carriage as Draeseth moved back toward the others.
"I will insist they do." He smiled faintly. "Riding with Draeseth allowed me to help him make the orders to the guards clear and inform your servants that I had word sent ahead and made some arrangements for you along the way. It will not be as comfortable as traveling with Princes but it should be bearable."
"Thank you, Burgath. Could I ask a favor of you?" Isonei glanced up at him as his brow furrowed. "Look after yourself and your brothers for me? Don't let Rogath court anyone who won't be good to the girls, and make sure Draeseth and Adareth don't spend too much time being miserable? I worry less about you and Ougath but..."
A grin split his face. "I will. I may not even tease them about needing less coddling in your eyes than they do."
Isonei laughed and nodded before teasing back, "If you don't like coddling you wouldn't want an Aran wife."
He kissed her covered head before opening the carriage door and helping her inside. "Have a safe journey, Isonei."
"Thank you, Burgath." She settled onto the seat as he closed the door, adjusting the bag and book slightly under her over-cloak. Halloc Aurim sat across from her and the young Brother Sarroth was seated to her left. Kamrus Olauth was in the far corner wearing an icy frown.
"Thank you for joining us. I had begun to think we would need to rally the palace guard to get you into the carriage."
"My apologies, Kamrus. The Princesses wanted to hear the end of a story I had been telling them and the Princes are all very dear men who have been like brothers to me. I feel very loved and grateful for such a warm-"
The Kamrus made an annoyed sound and directed his attention out of the window.
Brother Sarroth fidgeted and gave her a hopeful glance, "Perhaps you could tell us the story you told the Princesses? It may help the miles pass."
"Of course.
The Wretched Traveler
is a favorite of mine and there are so many parts I can tell it from here to Gogmenos if you'd like." She glanced to Halloc Aurim for a moment and then asked the younger priest, "Do you speak Lerian?"
°°°°°°°°°°
Isonei nearly talked herself hoarse by telling stories in Lerian until they stopped for a late lunch. They were a welcome distraction from the memory of the tearful goodbyes and the sour looks from the Kamrus that might otherwise have bothered her. Climbing out of the carriage she felt almost cheerful.
Ximesra and Xagorath were laying out a blanket in the sun and she went to join them with a smile.
