As the summer wore on, things in the City were proceeding well. Niklos had missed out on the great fête of the season at Dahlia, and he still wasn’t certain he had all the rumors—or the truth —of everything that happened that evening. But he was becoming a regular at Dahlia all the same, though it seemed like each time he visited, he was introduced to a new adept. Whether that was the Dowayne’s way of protecting her adepts from the new Count, or if it was merely a chance to give him more varied opponents, Nik hadn’t decided yet. But while he was becoming a known entity at Dahlia, and Mena had always welcomed him at Heliotrope, it was time for him to undertake what many called “The Grand Tour.” Usually at least a fortnight of visits across the Mont undertaken by young nobles to make a name for themselves. And perhaps meet an adept who they would patronize for a good part of that adept’s life. Nik drew up a list one night of the Houses he planned to visit and made a separate entry in his journal for each in order to keep notes for himself.
Alyssum – Before he’d set out from the townhouse, Jacob had reminded Niklos that his visit to Alyssum would be eye opening for him and not likely in a way that was comfortable for him. Even with this reminder, Niklos was a bit thrown by his experience. The Showing made him feel like he was intruding on something despite the fact that it had been arranged for his visit. The dinner after was another strange experience. The meal was of very high-quality as was the wine, two things that made him very happy. Beyond that, to his mind, everything felt slightly off. The adept was attentive, but in a way that set herself as distant second to him. She prepared his plate but didn’t prepare her own until he told her to. She poured his wine but remained standing next to his glass until he said the wine was good. Still, he thanked her for her attention before he left. When he gave her the customary kiss of parting, her cheeks flamed with blush, and she stammered out that he was most welcome. When Jacob met him at the door of his home, he said, “You were right, as usual, demure and mindful are not my taste. Still, send over a generous sum to the House and the adept I dined with.” Jacob nodded, a small smile on his face.
Balm – Balm was the last house Niklos visited, on the recommendation of a number of the members of the staff at the townhouse. They all assured him it would be the best relaxation after a fortnight of visiting the Night Court. Jacob had even made most of the arrangements, taking upon himself the role of an older, wiser cousin. The young adept who had been selected for Niklos had a look that suggested either Menekhetan or Akkadian heritage in her lineage, not that Niklos was there to ask. The Dowayne had selected this particular adept on Jacob’s recommendation because she knew techniques that helped ease some of the deeper knots in muscles, allowing for a better healing experience. She had worked wonders for him, gently but firmly working knots out of his back and legs that he hadn’t even realized were there or were bothering him. There were a couple of times that Niklos expected they were finished until he was proven wrong. Food was brought at some point and wine as well, and he was informed that the contract had stipulated an entire day’s worth of treatment. As Niklos left the next morning, he found the family coach waiting outside, a footman holding the reins of his horse and, with a happy sigh, he climbed into the coach and collapsed.
Camellia – Niklos had found it difficult to settle Camellia into his schedule. He had planned to visit the House just as autumn was beginning, but a number of cousins had returned to the city at that point, and he became wrapped up in introductions and entertaining, and by the time he was able to refocus on his tour, his opportunity to visit Camellia had passed.
Cereus – Niklos had sent a note to Aliksandria, though Jacob had informed him that rumor had it she had just recently been made Dowayne, and Niklos wondered if she would still have time for an old friend. He received a response from her Second, inviting him to a private dinner, and he responded with an immediate acceptance. Cereus’s kitchen was well-renowned for serving some of the most exquisite food, though personally, he felt that the chef the Shahrizai employed was better than any others. He would finally have the opportunity to compare.
Eglantine – Niklos’ visit to Eglantine came as he was working with Jacob planning a dinner. The tailor most of the Shahrizai used was occupied with other commissions. The adept he was guided to was a young man who had fantastic vision for court clothes. Their first meeting lasted for hours, with the young adept taking Niklos’s measurements, showing Niklos the drawings for his ideas, and the two discussing Nikos’s preferences. Niklos had to dissuade the adept from some of his ideas—Niklos had never been a fan of codpiece and hose, and while it was certainly coming back into fashion among the young gentry, it was damnably uncomfortable and Niklos made certain to voice that opinion clearly. Still, on his ride back to the townhouse, he smiled faintly in satisfaction for what should be an excellent wardrobe. Jacob met him at the foyer, enquiring after the appointment and the adept’s name for his own records and provided Niklos with the menu for the dinner as well as some recommended invitees.
Gentian – Niklos started his tour with Gentian, mostly hoping the House could provide him some insight into his path forward. He’d had some curious dreams of late, and Jacob had suggested Gentian as the best place to start. The young adept Louis had welcomed him with tea into a chamber with a low table and pillows on the floor, the air redolent with incense. Apparently, the recipe was similar to one that was used at the Temple of Kushiel, using spikenard as one of its key components. The assignation went well, with the adept reading cards for Niklos as well as listening to what Niklos could remember of his dreams, and they had agreed to meet again so that the adept could provide Niklos with more guidance in the future.
Jasmine – Niklos decided to visit Jasmine in the middle of his tour, and he was pleased he had. It was just the right amount of hedonism for him. The adept he had met with had half her marque completed, and the evening was enlightening. Niklos felt relaxed and focused after his night at Jasmine, and the adept was curious about the newest Count in The City, so there had been an exchange of some basic gossip which allowed for plans for future visits.
Mandrake – Niklos’s appointment with Mandrake was different. He was not a fan of being beaten for pleasure, and he wasn’t certain any of his cousins were either. Mandrakes were, however, masters at their game, and one could always learn from a master. For this reason, Niklos had contracted with the Dowaynes of Mandrake and Valerian for a joint assignation so that he could work with adepts of each House to expand his proficiencies. He thought it surprised the Mandrake adept a bit to have a different target in the room, but they had gotten into a good rhythm, and both Niklos and the Mandrake adept had agreed to more joint sessions.
Orchis – Niklos’s visit to Orchis ended up being not what he had expected at all. In all honesty, he didn’t know what he should have expected, but that night was not it. He had arrived at the House, and the building was already filled with a festive atmosphere. Niklos was informed that there was to be a presentation of sorts that evening, and he was invited to stay. What he ended up seeing was a hilarity of two hours, set up like he was attending one of the Court Poet’s presentations, but with the Orchis adepts speaking to the current political questions and generally making vaguely unflattering comments regarding most of the noble houses. They even targeted members of the Night Court. Niklos was just shy of scandalized, but the evening was fantastic and refreshments had been provided. After the showing, the Dowanye and her Second wandered through the crowd, gauging the opinions of the invitees. The Second mentioned to Niklos that, in the future, only certain guests would be invited back regularly and asked if Niklos would be interested in attending. Niklos agreed, if only to see what else they would come up with.
Valerian – Niklos’s visit to Valerian happened after his visit to Mandrake, and he had contracted for the same Valerian adept for his solo visit. He already had an idea about her preferences, and she knew he was learning. He had to give her permission to let him know if something was wrong or uncomfortable, but they worked well together, and in his gratitude, he made a significant contribution toward her marque with plans to work with her again.
He had almost left Mandrake and Valerian off his list, the one being not to his taste and the other being a place he frequented with his cousins when they were all in the City. He reconsidered when he realized that perhaps a more intimate conversation would yield fruitful results. He left Bryony off his initial tour because he was trying to avoid losing money, and he wasn’t sure he could walk into Bryony without lightening his purse, and he already had insight at Heliotrope. His visit to Dahlia had become a series of visits, not as he had expected, but definitely to his benefit.