Petrea stood very still, not wanting to be jabbed with a pin as the clothier fitted her gown for the Longest Night. It was a beautiful frock, as befitted the Second of Cereus House. It would be the last night Masque she would attend in that position..
The conversation between the two friends had been tense when Petrea finally went to Aliksandria to break the news. In truth, Aliks could scarcely remember a time without her.They had grown up as near sisters in Cereus House, from wild children to romantic youths to powerful women, in tandem. So it was heartbreaking for Aliks to learn that Petrea did not want to continue on the same path they had begun together so long ago.
The clothier was instructing Petrea to turn around when Patroclus began to coo from his crib. It was yet another thing that had changed, another way their journey’s had diverged.
Aliks went to the child and picked him up, cradling him in her arms. His small fists were clenched and she recognised on his face that if she did not feed him his cute coos would soon become unbearable screams. Petrea looked over and smiled.
As she began to nurse, Aliks looked at her friend and said, “You are going to miss this, you know. You may not wish to be Second any more or even Dowayne, but you will miss this life.”
“I am not leaving the House, Aliks. I’m not retiring from Naamah’s service, I am just retiring from my position. I will continue to take patrons, as would any adept who has made their marque and chosen to stay. I will attend the same fêtes and balls as always, I’ll just do it in my own way.”
“And me? Will you not miss me? And what of Patroclus, you are an Aunt to him.”
“We have discussed this, I will never be far from either of your lives.” Petrea gave her a gentle smile. “It’s not as though I’m going to La Serenissima. I’m moving down the hall.”
The reassurance helped Aliks, though she was loath to admit she needed it. She knew she had been selfish, wanting Petrea to stay with her, for her. It had been a departure she had managed to forestall for years, but she could halt the inevitable no longer.
“And what, pray tell, shall we do when you start stealing tarts from the kitchen?” Petrea asked, jutting her chin at Patroclus.
Aliks looked at the boy, whose appetite was great indeed and smiled, “Why, the same thing that our Dowayne did, pretend I don’t know about it.”
The two women laughed.
“He won’t be for Cereus house, you can tell already. He is too swarthy for that, so I imagine his antics will not be my worry for over long. Though I will be embroidering him a pillow to take with him when he leaves,” she said with a wink.
“If he goes to Orchis House it would go over well, but should he find himself at Alyssum it may prove awkward.”
“Oh, no more than it was here at Cereus House.” Aliks chuckled at the memory of their childhood lark.
“Whatever happened to those cushions?” Petrea asked.
“Check the crib.”
Petrea looked at the clothier, who nodded, then carefully walked over to the boy’s bed and peered in. There it was, a 20 year old cushion with a flower in shades of medium and pale blue, with a phallus for a stamen. “I had thought the Dowayne had thrown them away.”
“When I became Second, they were returned to me. Apparently, our old Dowayne had a great ability to hide her thoughts, for though she scolded us, she secretly found them hilarious. She was originally from Orchis herself, you know. The other one is in your room. I hid it there while you were off with Marco. I have been waiting for you to notice, but it appears we did hide our design too well.”
“Truly?” Petrea said, shrugging out of the gown and taking Patroclus from Aliks. He had finished feeding and was falling into the sort of slumber that only comes from a full belly, “I will look for it this evening.” She stroked his soft cheek. While the announcement of Aliks’s pregnancy and Patroclus’s arrival had thrown her own life into upheaval, she did love the babe. How could one not?
Aliks stood and walked to the clothier and began donning her costume for its final fitting. Once her costume was on, Petrea made a slight choking noise, and Aliks turned her head slightly to look at her friend, “Yes?”
“You are wearing that?”
“Why? Is something wrong with it?”
“Well, no, not specifically. It’s lovely, but I, hmm, well, I just expected you to wear something more, well more.” Petrea gestured at the lack of fabric covering Aliks’s body.
Aliks laughed. “Oh? And why would I do that?”
“Well, you’re a mother now,” Petrea said, gesturing to Patroclus.
“So I am, and happy to be one. But I was a Servant of Naamah first, And I will be one always. And as this Longest Night marks my return to full duties, I intend to lead with the message that I am returned to work.”