The height of the summer was rapidly approaching, and it seemed like years had passed since the ball. Rumor had reached her that Odilia had left the capital soon after the Masque, her destination unclear, and the irritation she felt towards the Dahlia melted away like the snow. She was flooded with guilt for being so frustrated with her, for feeling inconvenienced by someone else’s heartbreak. It was simply that these circumstances were so common in her House that she forgot that it wasn’t the norm.
News of the death of her friend in Mandrake took longer to sink in than she had thought. Sitting through the service, listening to the priest speak about the Terre d’Ange beyond and how they’d all be reunited, watching Aliks move like a wooden doll in her uncharacteristic black dress, it all felt like it happened to someone else. While she didn’t deal much with Mandrake, her dealings were always with him. She didn’t realize it until she sent her runner to Mandrake to inquire about borrowing an adept. The woman who returned was not one she was familiar with. and it took all she had not to throw the woman out on her ear. There had been nothing wrong with the interaction, it just wasn’t familiar.
As the woman was escorted to the parlor for small refreshments before they took her back to her House, Mena felt a wave of dizziness overtake her. Clearly she’d been neglecting her health, not that she’d admit that to a soul. Laying her head on the cool marble desktop, she closed her eyes and focused on making a list. First, she must send flowers and a note to Odilia. Even if the woman had no idea, Mena still knew how she’d thought about Odilia, and that needed apology. Second, she had the Showings and a handful of patron requests to handle. There was a rumor that one of her older patrons was returning to the city, so she needed to run that down. She missed him and could use relaxation seeing him always brought. Third, the House response to the king’s betrothal needed to be finalized. They were hanging bunting in the colors of the House Courcel and the House Borlean. The colors blended well, and Mena wanted to make sure that their public support of the king was visible. Fourth, the Dowayne meeting about the royal wedding and what she was to do about the celebration. Because she had no official Second, she’d needed to decide who was going to accompany her. Perhaps Loir. Yes, yes, Loir would be the best choice. She deserved the bit of a break the festivities would give her.
Her head had stopped pounding, so she sat up and stood slowly before reaching the bell pull that would let the kitchen know she needed them. The last problem that she had was her friend Aliks. Something was going on, though there was no official word, the rumors were swirling around the Court like so much muddy water. Whatever was happening in Cereus was nibbling at her through her gossip, like so many little fish in a pond. Aliks was hiding more than her grief at losing the man who was her husband in all ways but the legal one. But what could she be hiding? No one at Cereus was speaking about it and the “Our Dowayne is as well as she can be, all things considered” was suspicious when heard from every mouth in the House.
Sighing heavily, she reminded herself that was a problem for Future Mena. Right now, she needed to eat, rest, and pen her note to Odilia.