Night of Wanderlust

[Catherine nó Gentian]

Night's Doorstep: Close enough to the Night Court--far enough that I could get away from the opium smoke that seemed to saturate the Walls of Gentian House. For all it improved my visions, in truth, I thought it was foul stuff. It was nice to be out in the fresh air, and away from the looks that some of the other Adepts gave me. More than a few at House Gentian had called me god-touched, at worse daft, and while I thought myself blessed for my visions, one can only take so many covert glances.

I paused in my wanderings to inhale the cool night air, taking it into me as if it were the breath of a patron. My loose braid ceased its slow swaying and came to rest at my back, over the spot where my marque began. It was not finished yet--sometimes it seemed as if it would never be finished--but, until that day when it was, I wouldn't risk a public scandal by showing it unfinished. Well, it was safe, hidden under the simple black dress that I had chosen to wear in my wanderings. It was practical enough, and it suited my purposes for this night--which, at the moment, was to wander around Mont Nuit until I became tired, then return to Gentian House to retire for the evening.

It seemed like the perfect plan when I initially conceived it, but now I regretted travelling alone without an escort. Of course, I knew that rape was a crime punishable by death, but, still, other dangers lurked in the shadows...

I forced myself to hold my head up high and continue walking.

I am Catherine no Gentian. I am a Servant of Naamah, and I fear nothing...except spiders...

I winced at the thought. Maybe coming here wasn't such a good idea after all...

[Darien Kachine]

I was on my way home from the delivery of a painting that had led to dinner with rather pleased patrons. It had been an enjoyable evening all together and I was humming slightly to myself as I walked the familiar ways back home. The hem of my multi-colored patch-worked coat flapped softly in the occasional breeze.

Turning a corner, I saw a young woman walking alone and by the look on her face she was none to secure about the situation.

“Well met,” I said softly so as not to startle her. “Are you lost?”

[Catherine nó Gentian]

The soft voice sent a shiver down my spine--not exactly startling me, but coming close to doing so. I turned my head so that I could look him in the eye, smiling nervously. "Well met, sir--and I wouldn't say that I was 'lost'--just disoriented."

In other words: 'lost'.

Well, he certainly didn't look like a ruffian, at least. "Would you mind pointing me in the direction of Gentian House?" The question was blurted out before I had a chance to think about its implications. Well, there were a million things a person could infer from that question, the worst of them probably being that I was a simple-minded Adept who, despite reaching her nineteeth year, still couldn't find her way home after dark. I didn't find that thought very comforting.

[Darien Kachine]

I took a step or two closer to her and seeking to confirm what I suspected, she was looking for her House, not for directions to a possible contract. Being a marquist can make it easier to pick out adepts in a crowd, but it was dark and hardly the most normal of situations.

“I can yes, or perhaps you’d like an escort?” I offered, smiling kindly. “My name is Darien Kachine, I’m a marquist.”

[Catherine nó Gentian]

"That would be wonderful, Messire Kachine," I said, trying to hide the sense of relief I felt. I liked his smile, it seemed sincere and friendly. "My name is Catherine nó Gentian, pleased to make your acquaintance." I bobbed him a curtsy and impulsively reached for his hand, as if grasping it would keep me firmly anchored on the ground. "Lead on, Messire," I said, smiling nervously. I couldn't help but think that I might have been tearing him away from clients, but an escort--even a busy one--was better than no escort.

I wanted to say more, to ask him some questions about his profession, and if he would mind looking at my plans, because my marquist wasn't gentle with the ink, but I held my tongue. I didn't want to annoy him with such inane chatter--an annoyed escort was someone that I didn't want to deal with at the moment.

[Darien Kachine]

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Catherine,” I said, smiling as I wrapped her arm through mine. It would give anyone with ill intentions the impression we were indeed together and less easy targets. “And please, call me Darien.”

I angled our course so we were headed towards the Night Court and began walking at an easy pace. “Do you mind me asking how you’ve come to find yourself out here alone?" If a patron had abandoned her she must make sure to report it, for such treatment of an adept was reprehensible.

[Catherine nó Gentian]

I blushed. "Well, it sounds silly, but I grew bored of wandering the halls of Gentian and decided to take a jaunt into Night's Doorstep." My blush deepened. "I must have become so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I lost my way--but it doesn't happen to me all the time, I assure you!"

As we walked, my gaze flickered to the buildings we passed, trying to find a recognizable landmark. It seemed to be getting darker by the minute, Darien's arm was a welcome comfort, warm and safe. I could see the lights of the Night Court in the distance. Yes, I remembered walking this road earlier in the evening.

"What's it like, staring at the backsides of so many adepts?" The question came out before I had a chance to think about it, but it was something that I had always been curious about, and my marquist wasn't the most talkative, and certainly not as friendly. "Do you ever tire of it?"

[Darien Kachine]

Her question surprised me, pleasantly though, and I laughed deeply.

“No I don’t actually. I find my work both interesting and rewarding. Even though with the Houses every marque is the same, every adept is different so I never feel like I am doing the same thing repeatedly,” I answered, smiling. “I enjoy getting to know the adepts too as they continue to visit me, seeing their marques grow and watching them change from freshly debuted to fully marqued.”

[Catherine nó Gentian]

I nodded. "You must get to meet so many interesting people..." It was more than I could say for myself, having had few patrons since reaching majority. On an impulse, I looked down at his hands. "There can be no doubt--you have an artist's hands, Darien." At times, I did not know whether such comments were the comments of a visionary, or just an observation that anyone could have made, especially knowing that he was a marquist. I decided to leave it to Darien to decide on the correct interpretation.

I debated asking him which House sought his services the most, or if there was a particular marque that he liked the best, but decided against it. Instead, I kept my eyes on the horizon, watching the lights in the distance dance before my eyes like so many fireflies, growing bigger and brighter with each step that I took.

"I think we're almost there," I remarked, nodding towards the lights. In spite of the fact that I savoured the fresh night air, I was now just as eager for my warm bed. I resisted the urge to quicken my pace like an excited horse who knows that home is just around the corner.

I paused suddenly, a feeling of apprehension coming over me. "I hope no one sent anyone out looking for me," I said softly. "Elua! That would be humiliating..."

[Darien Kachine]

Gentian House was still a distance away since one still had to walk the hill up to the Night Court, but she seemed much more at ease now that she could see her home.

“If they’d sent someone we’d likely have passed them,” I said, trying to reassure her. “Would you like me to walk you to the gate or are you alright now? Whichever you prefer, I’m in no rush to get anywhere.”

[Catherine nó Gentian]

When he said that we would have met someone on the way, I let out a deep sigh of relief. "I would appreciate it if you would walk me to the gate." I didn't think I would feel safe until I was at the gate, even though I had never heard of an adept meeting with trouble on Mont Nuit.

I forced myself to slow my pace somewhat, keeping the lights in my field of vision. It wouldn't do to fall while ascending the hill, even if I did have a man's arm in mine. It was almost strange, maintaining contact with a man like this when he wasn't a patron. Well, if it kept others from bothering us, so much the better.

[Darien Kachine]

“It would be an honor,” I said, giving her a smile as we continued to walk. “So, my turn to ask how you like your life as an adept?”

[Catherine nó Gentian]

"Well..." I paused to consider his question. "I serve Naamah in my own way, and if it gives other people comfort, then I don't see any reason to complain." I gave him a small smile. "Besides, there are other...benefits...that such service brings." I covered my mouth to hide my giggle, inwardly chastising myself for behaving like a child. "I'm sorry! I've probably said more than you wanted to hear!"

I looked up at him, my expression suddenly serious. "I do enjoy my life at Gentian House, I do not think I would rather do anything else, except, maybe become a priestess of Naamah when I finish my marque, but that is a long way away, I think."

[Darien Kachine]

“That is a very honorable goal,” I said, nodding slightly and smiling. “As for more than I wanted to hear, being a marquist has exposed me to hearing many things, so have no fear.”

[Catherine nó Gentian]

I nodded. "I'm glad someone else besides myself thinks well of my goals, but, who knows? I might decide to remain at Gentian even after I've made my marque," I let out a deep sigh. "Besides Cereus House, it's the only home I've known since my mother died..."

[Darien Kachine]

The topic of her mother dying seemed to sadden her, so I didn’t pry. “It’s hard to know what the future can hold. Until the day it happened, I never thought to be the apprentice to a marquist.”

[Catherine nó Gentian]

I smiled sadly. "It is even harder to know what the future hold, and then not have the ability to change it. I have heard that some in Gentian House have such an ability." My smile brightened. "I guess we should both count ourselves fortunate--we both know where our callings lie, somewhat..." As much as I liked to think that my future was secure, some part of me knew that things could drastically change in so little time.

[Darien Kachine]

I’d had quite a few Gentian adepts on my table, a fact I’d thought odd for awhile until one told me that they found me calming and it helped with the pain. Because of this interaction, I knew a little more about the House than a passerby would. Many people came to Gentian expecting every adept to know exactly how everyone’s future would unfold, and I knew that was not only untrue but impossible.

“Perhaps the future is best faced in small increments, where things can be faced and dealt with in more manageable amounts instead of trying to change what may never happen because of something someone you’ve never met does differently,” I said.

[Catherine nó Gentian]

I nodded. "It would be nice if the future always worked that way, wouldn't it?" I pursed my lips in thought. Many patrons came wanting to know of the future, but I didn't think any of them ever paused to consider how miserable they would be if they knew of things yet-to-come. In a sense, I was one of the lucky ones, blessed with a different sort of vision. "I may give a patron guidance as to the meaning of their dreams, but, in the end, it's up to them to decide how to act on that guidance."

[Darien Kachine]

“Hopefully they heed your advice, otherwise it seems a bit pointless for them to have sought it out in the first place,” I commented, smiling.

[Catherine nó Gentian]

I nodded, matching his smile with one of my own. "I hope so, but it can be hard, most patrons want you to say what they want to hear. I guess I'm finally starting to understand what 'Truth and Vision' really means."

[Darien Kachine]

“Ah yes, I’ve known quite a few people like that. Those who believe ‘truth’ is what they want it to be, not what really is,” I said, chuckling softly.

We were nearing the gate to Gentian and I found myself regretting the fact that I would soon be losing her company.

[Catherine nó Gentian]

"It can be difficult sometimes, telling the truth when you know that a lie would make things easier for all those involved." I bit my tongue, wondering if saying such a thing would be considered heretical. "Although, what good would come from telling a lie? Sooner or later, the truth always prevails..."

I paused to take a deep breath, noticing how close we had come to the gates of Gentian House. "I don't know how to thank you for the escort," I said, my arm slipping out of his as I walked forward and stood before the gates. I turned around to face him. "Please stop by if your dreams start troubling you, I would...like to see you again," I blushed. "To converse, I mean--Do you have a salon near here?"

[Darien Kachine]

“Yes, only a couple streets over from where we met,” I said, smiling. I pulled out my calling card and offered it to her. “In case you’d like to come visit, to talk or for business, either way it would be a pleasure to see you again.”

[Catherine nó Gentian]

I plucked the card from his hand and curled my fingers over it. "Thank you again for helping me," I smiled, waving at him as I passed through the gates and began making my way to the chambers reserved for the adepts, holding Darien's card in my sweaty palm. On the morrow, perhaps I would visit him at his salon. But, who was to say what fate would hold in store for me when the sun rose the next day?

[Darien Kachine]

I watched her for just long enough to make sure she would get inside safely, then turned to make the walk back to my salon, a happy smile on my lips.