When the cat goes away, mice jump on the bed (attn: Con and Hera)

It was a usual peaceful late evening in the apartment of the Commander of the Harbour Guard. Con and Arette sat on the sofa and she rested her feet on his lap while she was doing needlework. The girls were asleep already, and they managed to pretend well enough that they really were alone in the house, despite the guests. Hera and Basileia were playing a game of stones by the dinner table. It seemed that Hera was loosing again to her annoyance. Arette had set them on the task, as the game developed thinking skills that were useful in Daes Dae'mar, and it galled the higher ranked young woman that her friend was more proficient in something like this. More valuable lessons in humility. They had been in the house for a few weeks now and Arette wasn't happy with Hera's progress at all. The girl might not be mouthing off openly anymore after being turned on Arette's knee a few times but she was still sullen and had an insolent attitude toward the people of the Perfumed of Quarters. And she disliked children, so there went that chance of redemption. Arette was getting closer to the conclusion that she was a hopeless case.

Her private ponderings were interrupted by a brisk knock on the door. She and Con exchanged a surprised look and she stood to answer when the door opened revealing her mother-in-law. Arette walked to embrace her with a smile and Electra wasted no time telling her her business even as she returned the squeeze. "Cilia's water did be just breaking and she be asking for you."

The news sobered her. She always wanted to be there as a midwife for the women of the family no matter what else was going on. The only thing that worried her was the young age of the mother giving birth for the first time. Cilia was only seventeen. Sure, there were some Andoran girls who married that young, but usually they were a year or two older. But now wasn't the time to start the argument again. "I am coming of course." She turned to look at Hera and Basileia with consideration. She would be gone all night, it might even take two days if things went badly, and she was not pleased at the thought of leaving them behind.

Electra and Con were sharing a hug but Con's mother picked the direction of her gaze. "You no be taking them with you", she said firmly and shook her head. "You be a fool, Arette."

She gave her mother-in-law a sharp look and puffed her cheeks letting her breath out. "We already had this discussion, Electra, and I would still be saying that I am an optimist." Even though her optimism in this particular case was rapidly waning. "But you are right. Basieia, Hera, you should stay here. If I am not back by the morning, you can start cleaning the house. You know the drill by now. And mind your manners and make sure that you give no trouble." Her warning glance was directed for Hera. She would better not be getting any ideas, or she would regret the day her mother met her father. Con was disapproving enough of their presence, and he did not need to become absolutely convinced of the true stupidity of the whole thing.

Moving to kiss her husband, she laid a loving hand on his scarred cheek. "Con, you will see that the girls get their breakfast, yes?" A rhetoric question. "You'll have to explain to them where I am." She grinned at him mischievously. "They will have questions about where babies come again. And don't you even think that you can tell them to ask me to tell the story again." A shame that she couldn't be there to watch it. But then Con seemed to deal with such embarrassing conversations much better than she did.

"I think that this can take even as long as this night and the whole tomorrow. The trio will be here with Rana and Cina, so they will be fine." She still didn't trust the noble brats enough to leave her precious daughters to their hands without someone to supervise, even though Basilea was getting there. The twins liked her and she liked them back, unlike the other trollop. And Con would likely eat lunch with them. "If they get really agitated... well, you can bring them to Cilia. But you know what to do." And despite all the fussing she knew that he did; Con was a great father.

"I will see you soon, dear." With a last embrace, she departed from her husband and walked after Electra, who had been patiently waiting for her to make her preparations.

Arette Stavros

Aes Sedai Advisor of the Queen of Illian

Kidnapper of noble women