(no subject)
Not long after the spring planting was done, Ilyana woke feeling ill. Feverish, dizzy, and every sound or bit of light felt like nails scraping over
her skin.
She took a mug of tea laced with fosebine. It didn't do more than take the
edge off, but she had to at least do that much. Thankfully, her house was
insulated, or she'd have been dragging every Sime within reach into the pain
along with her.
She'd given transfers three times since Digen and she were separated. None had been a good match for her, in terms of what they needed. Ilyana gave them her best effort, regardless, but there was no one in Rior now who truly required a Companion of her level. And Sime/Gen transfer partnerships in their House were permanent, not changing monthly as was done in the Tecton. She wouldn't take someone's lover or best friend from them simply to give herself temporary relief.
Six or seven years ago, she had been selfish enough to do just that. The memory was one of the few things in her life that she was truly ashamed of having done.
It hadn't been this bad, in the year or so since she broke step with the Farris channel. His presence during his need cycles had stimulated her body to
produce more selyn in response. None of the three adults staying with her and
Kellin was a channel. They couldn't affect her that strongly.
The last time it had been this bad, was when she'd gone to the Tecton for help. And, essentially, been refused. Until she and Digen had finally broken
the rules and shared a transfer, she'd been treated as a criminal, given only the minimal necessary care to survive.
Underdraw was a fatal condition, eventually, if not "treated" with regular
Transfers from a suitable transfer mate. She'd had longer than she would have
done, otherwise. But...Now, there was Kellin. She had to figure something out.
It was bad enough that his father wasn't there. Ilyana was determined not to
leave her son, if she could help it.
It was just before dawn. Ilyana made herself dress and walk outside, to greet
the sunrise. She would not let this keep her from fulfilling her duties, or enjoying herself despite a Companion's need.
"Sosectu!" a voice called. One of the House's renSimes hurried up to her.
"The guards at the north boundary report seeing strangers approach. Not armed,
but a mixed party--four Sime, three Gens. They think Gypsies. They're in a wagon."
Ilyana smiled wryly. "Traders? Or traveling through?"
"They're not headed for the main road to Stalles," the nearest big town northwest of Rior's valley. "But here."
"Alright. Direct them here, and I'll greet them officially." Rior had an unofficial but long-running friendship with the gypsy tribes in Nivet, dating back to the House's founding. It was a firm tradition that they were welcome
guests, in peacetime...or otherwise.