In Which Thetis Gives Light to Diamonds

January 25, 1157

Florian had been in bed for five days, drifting in and out of consciousness and muttering indistinguishably. In all that time, Thetis had left only once, to pick up Byrn from the neighbor she had left him with; she hoped that Norwan had chosen this week for one of his little tavern-hopping, whore-mounting sprees during which he never came home for several days.

Really, right then, she didn't even care if he was home, wondering where in the hell she was and plotting various ways to put her in her place. All that mattered now was that Florian survived, because really, where was she without Florian? Her daughter would grow up in an orphanage, raised believing that her mother was dead--or worse, had abandoned her. She would spend more time at home, meaning that her son would be further exposed to his tyrannical father as opposed to her many kind neighbors, and therefore would be in danger of both Norwan and becoming Norwan.

And at the end of the day, there would be no one left to talk to; she would miss Florian's miserly musings and sarcastic half-insults.

The bedroom door creaked open as Laveria made her way into the kitchen, a grim expression upon her face. Of course, this told Thetis nothing; Laveria was often somewhat grim.

"How is he?" she inquired in a whisper as she pulled herself to her feet.

Shaking her head, Laveria quietly closed the door behind her. "He's still here, but... there's not much I can do now. I'd say he only has hours, maybe another day if we're lucky. I'm sorry, Thetis."

She knew she was being a stubborn child, but she found that all she was capable of doing was crossing her arms in defiance. "I'm sorry, but I can't accept that."

"I don't expect you to," Laveria assured her with a sigh.

"There must be something else you can try."

The older woman shook her head. "I've been trying for five days--he's a lost cause. I'll humor you, but don't get your hopes up."

She turned around and returned to the bedroom, leaving Thetis to gnaw on the inside of her cheek. Oh, Florian! In time with the knocking on the door, she mentally relived every moment she'd ever spent with him. Their first meeting... after she tried on Electra's mother's dress... playing with Evera...

Wait... knocking on the door?

Whoever it was just kept hammering away, clearly fully aware that someone was home and unwilling to leave until they had done what they had come to do. There was only one sort of person like that.

Strange, Thetis mused to herself as she hurried to answer. The tax collector isn't due for another week.

But it wasn't the tax collector. No... there was no possible way that the visitor could have been any less like a tax collector.

No, it was just a kid--a stark naked kid.

"You a'right, Dovan-lady?" he asked in broken speech; he had a very poor grasp of her language. "Why I scares you? I try look pretty, yes? Combs hair and everthings..."

Thetis honestly hadn't the faintest idea of how to reply. "Uh... Dovan?"

"Dovan," the child repeated as he stepped into the house, the dim candlelight revealing diamond eyes and black markings on his face. "Dova peoples, peoples of yous. I watches Dovans from tree and bush; it hobby to me."

"So you never... introduce yourself?"

She didn't know what she was thinking, talking to him. This was probably just some local kid, painting his face and running around without any clothes, causing havoc for nothing more than his own amusement. If she was smart, she would push him outside and lock the door behind him.

The boy shook his head. "Never, no! I no talks to Dovans. Papa don't like Dovans any--Papa say 'Dovans only good in soup'!"

Thetis stared; the kid laughed.

"No, Dovans no food to me," he assured her. "Too salty, Dovans is--very salty. Spanards, them much better; tastes rooserly."

"Rooserly?" demanded Thetis. What sort of a word was rooserly?

"Rooserly. Like rooser, no? Rooser-chicken?"

She sighed. "All right, rooster. Look, this is a bad time--"

"I helps!" he exclaimed as he kicked the door close, his peculiar eyes widening. "Dovan-man sick, I knows; I helps him bettering, yes?"

Thetis inhaled deeply, trying desperately to restrain herself from tearing her hair out in frustration. "Isn't your mama worried about--?"

The kid shook his head. "I no gots Mama. I gots Papa, but he try eat me, yes?"

She felt her eyes widen, but he simply giggled. "Joke! Papa only eat salty Dovans--and only in soup."

"Look, we're all very stressed and tired here!" snapped Thetis; she hated yelling at children, but speaking rationally didn't seem to work with this one. "Please, leave!"

"But I helps, yes?" he insisted once more. "I likes Dovans--fascitating, salty, clothes-loving Dovans. You hobby to me, so I helps sick Dovan-man bettering, yes?"

Thetis took a moment to consider. Obviously, this kid wasn't going to leave unless she listened to what he had to say... as difficult as that was. Laveria had said she'd done everything she could for Florian... maybe everything Laveria could do was not quite everything that could possibly be done?

Oh, but he was just a stupid kid! If anything, he would only make matters worse...

"Pleese, Dovan-lady?" he addressed her once more, his mouth smiling, but a forlorn look in his eye. "I helps? Papa say I useless; I no want be useless. I helps, yes? Pleese?"

Poor child; already, his father reminded her of Norwan. Maybe it wouldn't hurt if she just gave him a chance... and besides, Laveria would probably do a better job of chasing him out if he got to be in the way.

"Fine," she relented quickly, almost afraid that she would change her mind. "He's in the other room. Just go through the door.

"Real?" he demanded in disbelief, his diamond eyes sparkling with a new light. "Thanks for you, Dovan-lady! I no more useless! I helps!"

"Please, don't mention it," Thetis muttered under her breath as he hurried to the bedroom door. Had she done the right thing? Was this going to make any difference?

Maybe not... but he was worth a try. Anything was--anything for Florian.

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