Thanks to Nthusiastic for her help in editing, beta reading, and asking good questions!
*****
Possibly due to the tea that her Daga had insisted she drink, Isonei was very much awake during the carriage ride to Oyeth Lothlaeri. Hesh, however, had fallen asleep slumped against the side next to Onsh-Velarith. Keeping their voices low, she and Daga Liadith were looking at the book of drawings her sister Yarmina had sent.
The few things that Xagorath and Ximesra had been able to bring with them had been removed from the boxes after breakfast and the Lerians Hesh had arrived with were sent on their way with the remaining goods and a surprising amount of money. Some would be traveling to Oyeth Lothlaeri but the rest would be returning to Daga Velarith.
Isonei brushed her opal ring with her thumb as Daga Liadith studied the image of Udnerath's fountain. Ximesra had stolen it out of its box and hidden it in the cloth that protected the glass wreath; she hadn't taken the note, there hadn't been time. The Munian woman hadn't been surprised when Draeseth had ordered it sent to the Kroscur, but Isonei was. She'd expected Draeseth to give it to Ximesra as payment.
"It's beautiful but I can't understand why you would build such a stunning fountain in honor of a God who steals away your people and kills sailors."
"How can you love someone if you don't embrace their flaws as well? He's beautiful and mad. A great deal of what we love comes from him, from the sea, like foods and pearls, but he's unpredictable sometimes. There's a story about the party he threw to celebrate his Arrangement with Obris, whom he loves."
Isonei took the book and looked down at the image feeling her own heart ache.
"Tell me, Isonei. I've always enjoyed your stories."
The Daga put an arm around her and pulled her close to his side.
"He and Obris spent months preparing. The island it was to be held on was decorated with glass and gems to make the light ripple as it does beneath the waves. Gifts for the guests were gathered and arrayed but as they began to arrive, Udnerath and his brother Iemith began to quarrel. The island was battered and everything on it was washed into the sea.
"Aulla, Obris' sister was furious, but Obris made apologies to the guests and began to wade into the rough water. Aulla stopped her and asked why she would follow him after he ruined the party. The story goes that Obris smiled like the sun and said she knew whom she loved and she wouldn't expect him to change who he was for her convenience.
"That was when he rose from the water with the largest pearl that had ever been seen before or since and offered it to her joyously, with the promise that he would try with all his being to be certain of her happiness. It's why Aran sailors keep a piece of sea glass with them and when the sea is too rough or becalmed, they pray to Obris and one of them will cast their piece of glass back into the sea."
"But..."
Onsh-Velarith frowned,
"why cast them into the sea if they're praying to this Obris? Is she a sea Goddess? And what did Udnerath fight about with his brother?"
"The sea glass is a reminder of his promise. It's considered to be blessed. Obris, the Goddess of love, spends some of her time in the sea with him and some with his brother Iemith. They were fighting about her."
Daga Liadith sucked his lips against his teeth,
"That explains the Aran insistence that you never bed two of the same House because it causes discord."
Covering her face she sighed,
"No, my Daga. They were fighting about her not because they both wanted her but because Iemith was jealous that his brother was spending so much time with her. Udnerath and Iemith love to dance together and they're inseparable. She eventually took Iemith as a lover as well to settle the issue."
Isonei glanced up at the two stunned Lerians and Onsh began to blush furiously.
"You're saying, now the three of them can... spend time together."
Inclining her head slightly, she danced around the question just a bit.
"Iemith came to love her because she loves his brother as he does, and while Iemith can be biting and cold, he can also be warm and gentle. Obris seems to prefer men who are difficult to love but are loving."
Onsh narrowed his eyes and leaned back before glancing to Daga Liadith.
"All Aran Gods are brother and sister, Onsh-Velarith. The entire religion is incestuous but if you can ignore that it's fascinating."
The Daga shrugged slightly.
"And Aran men do take male lovers, almost as often as they take female lovers."
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Onsh closed his eyes.
"And they see nothing wrong with-with any of it?"
"It's different for Gods. It isn't incest for them,"
Isonei folded her arms,
"all the priests I've spoken to have said so. And if both people are of age who does it harm if a man takes a man as a lover or a woman takes a woman? Our Houses grow, we're happy, our Gods are happy..."
"She'll be difficult to match."
Onsh-Velarith ran his hand over his face and looked at her as if he wished to ask a question but was biting his tongue.
"I'll be difficult to match because, like Obris, I seem to have a fondness for difficult men."
Isonei arched an eyebrow at him.
There was a glint of amusement in Onsh's eye as he inquired,
"And you don't think having a number of lovers, male and female, would give your match pause?"
"No, I don't. Anyone who chooses to be with me should understand that desire is a choice. If I choose to give my desire to just one person I am perfectly capable of it. And my match would benefit from the things I've learned with those other lovers."
"Arissa has been delighting in showing me how much she learned from you."
Daga Liadith squeezed her against his side.
"I understand why the Torgan was so adamant about keeping you."
"I taught his second Duchess to do some of the things he enjoys. Unlike with Arissa, I had to get into bed with them to do it. Draeseth-"
Onsh made a strangled sound and she glanced over to see him covering his eyes with one hand and biting his other fist.
"Draeseth seemed to enjoy it, but Lislora wasn't happy about sharing. I think her jealousy may have heightened his pleasure."
"You enjoyed his, if I remember..."
Daga Liadith smiled faintly.
"At first his jealousy was exciting and exotic. I'd never been with a jealous man so I didn't know any better. It gets tiring very quickly."
She tilted her head,
"But some of the things he did I intend to teach my next lover, he was magnificent in bed, despite everything else."
"You're not,"
Onsh hesitated,
"embarrassed to talk about it?"
"Why would I be?"
Isonei looked at him curiously.
"She's Aran, Onsh. They're very open."
Daga Liadith glanced out of the window for a moment.
"How open?"
Onsh leaned forward slightly.
"Open enough that I'd be happy to give you a few pages of positions and instructions when you take a match, but not so open that I'd offer you intimate descriptions of Draeseth's finer parts."
She gave him an impish grin as he flushed again.
"Instructions for me or for her?"
Onsh leaned back and tilted his chin up as if he were accepting a challenge.
"For both of you! I drew some serviceable pictures for Arissa and my Daga and pointed out the places that a teasing tongue-"
Isonei broke into laughter as he blushed furiously and covered his face.
"You're so much fun now that we're older, Onsh-Velarith! You blush so adorably."
His eyes flickered between shades as he lowered his hands, still flushed.
