Juno's took long blinks as she walked back to the night house. Floren steadied Juno as she drifted into Floren's path. Juno forced her eyes open and apologized in a soft voice. Two days without sleep. All she could think about was closing her eyes and exiting reality.

"You'll be in your bed soon enough," Floren said, steering Juno to a safer path.

"Do you ever forget?" Juno asked. The birthing was long and a failure. The little babe, a girl, did not breathe when she finally appeared. Floren was methodical about it. Juno felt as if a boulder had been laid on her chest.

"Nay." Floren sighed. "It is part of life. A curse on top of our curse." She took Juno's hand in hers and raised it to her lips, placing a light kiss on the back of it. It was a rare thing and did more to wake Juno than the walking. "The memory will be shadowed in time. The first scream of a lively born tends to weaken the image."

"You did not take the man's coin. Will we not be short when the tithe is due?"

"There are times when coin is paramount. A families misery is not one of them. Think on it. Is it a big leap for people who look down on us to assume we had a hand in the babe's death? It is best if we share the misery, and leave failure in the Goddess' hands."

"But the Brethren's tithe will be claimed none the same."

"I will show you something when we return, a secret all mother's share." Floren smiled. "It is time you knew more of running a nighthouse." Juno had begun to notice Floren treating her more like an equal. To be sure, Floren's words were still to be followed, but they had mellowed in tone when spoken to Juno. They sounded more like requests, not orders. Now Floren was sharing secrets with her.

"Why do you share this with me?" Juno asked. Something about Floren's change frightened her. Floren stopped walking and turned Juno toward her, grasping Juno's hands in hers.

"That babe never saw a sunrise. Like her, none of us know how many we will see. We only know we won't see all of them." Floren forced a smile, one that reminded Juno of her true mother. "It is my duty to make sure someone who will see many more sunrises then me, be ready to continue the house. I have chosen you."

"But, there are those that are older and wiser?"

"Aye, older," Floren said, nodding her head. "And wiser in some things. Running a night house is more than those things alone. You must mix wisdom with compassion, and stir in a heap of good guessing." Floren lifted a hand and tapped Juno's forehead with her finger. "No one is better at the guessing then you are. I give you hints, and you infer fact." She smiled again. "You're not always right, but you never wallow in indecision."

"I'm not ready," Juno said, worried that Floren meant she should take over soon. Floren laughed.

"Nor am I ready to stop counting sunrises. That is why we start now. I have delayed the decision for too long, and you have much to learn." Floren turned back to the path, pulling Juno along. "That poor babe has reminded me that all things must end. It is because of her that I decide now. You are a good choice. Mayhap, the babe's passing isn't for nothing."

"It is an awful symbol for the Goddess to send," Juno said.

"I doubt the Goddess sees us one at a time," Floren whispered. Juno's eyes widened. "Don't be so surprised. I have put much thought into it. I suspect you have as well."

Juno nodded. "Too much sadness. She leaves much to chance."

"And in the arms of the unworthy," Floren added below a whisper. Juno knew she meant the King and Brethren. "But that kind of talk stays in our heads," Floren said, her voice returning to normal. Juno smiled as she visually agreed. Secrets indeed. Floren had let her inside as a confidant, sharing some of her illicit thoughts. Things had changed.

When they returned, Floren opened the chest that lay at the foot of her bed. She pulled out a small wooden coffer with a metal latch.

"You have seen this before?" Floren asked.

"Aye. It holds the house's coin."

"Each moon, we are tithed for each of the cursed housed here." Floren opened the box and pulled a handful of odd looking tokens made of wood that lay on top of the coin. They each had a wilted rose carved on their face. "I have a token for each moon since the longest day. Each time the King's own come to collect, I must show them my token count. They figure the coin required by tallying the missing tokens according to the current moon count. I pay them, then they hand me tokens up to the moon count I've paid." She handed a token to Juno who examined it. "In this way, they can miss a collection, but not miss a tithe."

"They collect all the tokens after the longest day?"

"Aye." Floren gave Juno her largest smile. "You see. Not everyone would figure that out without thinking long." Juno turned the token over. There was a strange symbol carved on the back. It was snakelike in shape but flared out where the tail and head would be. "That is the mark for our house."

"So we can't share with the other houses and avoid a tithe," Juno reasoned.

"So quick of mind. I have made a good choice," Floren complimented herself. "Every coin flows into here, each of us contributing our share. What do you think would happen when the Goddess' share is due, and the collector saw it full to the top, holding much more than owed?" Juno thought for a moment. The collector wouldn't take it for himself, the penalties would be too grave. There were stories of what happened to those who had robbed a nighthouse. The things told made death sound welcome. The Goddess' share was sacrosanct, akin to robbing the Brethren themselves. Yet, those of the wilted rose were cursed, undeserved of the comfort that excess wealth would bring.

"They would raise our tithe," Juno decided.

"Very good," Floren said. She pushed the chest away from the bed and surprised Juno by lifting a loose board on the floor where the chest normally covered. Inside was two other wooden coffers, similar in size and shape to the tithe box. Without withdrawing them, Floren lifted their lids. The interiors were filled with coin, mostly silver and coppers. Juno covered her mouth to muffle her gasp.

"It is my duty to see to the survival of the house. You remember when Lorian was ill two winters ago, bedridden for almost three moons?" Juno nodded. "Her portion was still due, yet her earning coin was not possible." Floren pointed at the boxes. "These protect us from such things. When times are good, we fill them. When times are less so, they fill our tithe box." She pointed at Juno. "Never can we come up short. If that were to happen, a new mother would be chosen by the Brethren."

"And the old mother?" Juno asked.

"There are only stories of such things," Floren said, her eyes drifting to the hidden boxes. "I will tell you them one day when we have wine to spare. They are not tales for the right-minded." She reached into the closet box and retrieved four coppers and deposited them into the tithe box. "And so the Brethren have been paid for our two days. The death of a babe is ever an unfortunate time."

"What if they knew of these boxes?" Juno asked.

"They are not fools," Floren said as she closed the boxes, replacing the floorboard. "They are blind to such things as long as we are never short. It does not suit their purpose or ours to risk the steady flow of coin." She sighed. "That said, if it were brought into the light, I would be forfeit, and the house's tithe raised to suffering levels. They are ever the makers of examples."

"That is silly if all they want is their steady coin."

"They desire obedience more," Floren said as Juno helped her scoot the chest back into place. "At least the appearance of it." Floren sat on the bed. "It is why that red-haired boy causes them such pain."

"Kelton disrupts the steady flow," Juno said.

"In all things," Floren agreed. "He damaged something they cherish more than our tithe."

"A choosing."

"Aye," Floren said. "And I fear the Brethren will corner him soon. Like a river, no matter storm or draught, in time the steady flow returns." A knock on the door interrupted Juno's pending opinion about the survival of Kelton.

"There's a messenger, Mother," the voice called from the other side of the door.

"Sleep will have to wait a moment longer," Floren whispered to Juno. Juno nodded and started to leave. Floren grabbed her wrist and pointed to the chair next to the bed. "It is time you learned." Juno sat, surprised that she would be present for the messenger.

"Send her in," Mother called.

A petite woman entered, her body the size of a young girl, her face well aged to mid of life. Wisps of yellowish hair poked out from underneath a tightly tied head wrap. Still wearing her warm fur traveling cloak, she bowed to Floren. Her eyes tentatively examining Juno.

"You have a message?" Floren asked.

"For your ears only, Mother."

"Juno is my second and now shares all that I hear and see. You will inform your mother of that when you return," Floren said in her commanding voice. Disagreement wasn't a consideration when she spoke in such a way. Juno questioned if she could ever be as imposing.

"Juno?" the messenger said. There was surprise in her voice that was mirrored in her eyes.

"Aye, Juno," Floren replied. "Do you have a message?"

"Mother, it was for your ears alone," the messenger repeated. Juno sat up straighter, feeling the need to stake a claim to the authority Floren was giving her.

"Speak now, or return to your house and explain your failure to your mother," Floren said in an even tone. There was no hint of aggravation or expectation. It wasn't an order, it was given as a choice. Juno knew the messenger could only respond in one way.

"As you wish, Mother," the messenger said. She began by detailing the movement of a company of the King's Own who were to travel in our direction in three days time. The count of the men and a list of some of the fetishes the officers enjoyed. Juno had long figured out the Whispering Way and that Floren had forewarning of troop migrations. It was interesting to hear it. Her mind began associating certain of the house's cursed to particular officer's needs so that a smooth flow could be maintained during the visit.

"There are other messages, Mother. Some have been delayed." The messenger sounded hesitant again.

"Speak them," Floren said, again with the even tone. The messenger looked at Juno, then decided another argument wasn't worth the effort. Her eyes returned to Floren.

"It is about the red-haired boy, the one who might have been," the messenger said. Juno struggled not to show concern.

"What of him?" Floren asked as if it mattered little.

"He revealed himself in a crowded tavern. In Shunneer City," the messenger's words were halted as if she were not confident in them.

"And what did the boy say?" Floren prodded.

"He claimed not to be the one," the messenger said, then lowered her voice. Juno had to lean in to hear. "He said he was Unseen, and that is why the Brethren were after him." He was alive and clearly disruptive. Juno smiled on the inside. She hoped it didn't show.

"Well, that would make sense," Floren said, then looked at Juno. "That captain he traded swords with near here didn't have a chance." Juno nodded, trying to remain outwardly objective.

"His words started a fight," the messenger continued. "Some called him The Answer, others the red demon. It is not sure how he retreated before the King's Own arrived." There were many questions Juno swallowed down, knowing that any conversation should be led by Floren.

"So he left unharmed?" Floren asked.

"Aye, that is my mother's understanding," the messenger replied. Juno could have kissed Floren for asking the question. "Some words say he is no longer in Shunneer City. Mother doesn't know if she trusts them."

"A wise woman," Floren said. The messenger nodded her agreement. Her eyes drifted to Juno, then snapped back to Floren as if she were embarrassed.

"Is there more?" Floren asked.

"Words that are said to come from the boy," the messenger said as she struggled not to look at Juno.

"Well, what are they?" Floren's tone had slid to irritation.

The messenger looked pained as if the words themselves would burn her throat. Juno was sure it was because she was present. The messenger closed her eyes, let out a breath then whispered, "Kelton remembers Juno."

"Ahh, I see the source of your hesitation," Juno said, her smile soft and understanding on the outside. Inside, her heart was experiencing a bliss it had never known could exist. "I have not met the boy. It must be another Juno he speaks of if it is his words at all." Juno hoped the lie was convincing.

"I'm sorry, Mother," the messenger said, her relieved smile evident. "It was a silly worry. I thought...well, it was silly."

"Not so silly," Floren said. "I have known of only one other Juno, and she would be an ancient woman this day if she still lives." She looked over at Juno. "You have much to learn. I'll explain this boy to you, and the words that have been traded about him tomorrow." Juno nodded, not really listening to Floren. Juno's thoughts were lost in a kiss. She could almost feel it on her lips, growing in importance with every passing thought.

"It is getting late," Floren told the messenger. "We will house you for the night. Juno will see that you are fed and secure you a mattress."

"Thank you, Mother."

Juno rose and led the messenger to the door. Floren signaled for her to return once the messenger was settled. It would be a while longer before Juno could sleep. Not that sleep was on her mind anymore.

Floren was sitting in the chair when Juno returned. She signaled for Juno to sit on the bed. There wasn't any formality in the movement, just a wave of the hand as one would do to offer a friend a seat. Juno was pleased it wasn't Mother she would be speaking too. It would ruin the happiness bouncing in her heart.

"You thought fast. It is a good thing the messenger believed you," Floren said.

"It seemed the right thing to do," Juno said.

"I thought you told me you didn't spread your legs for that boy," Floren said. Juno blanched at the idea. Something about it was wrong. She would never have spread her legs for Kelton. The dream of him between them was incredibly pleasant, but offering it to him seemed crass and unbalanced in some way.

"I did not lie," Juno said.

"My guess is that those words were sent by him. He knew they would reach my ears."

"I thought the same." Juno tried not to smile. The kiss was the best idea she had ever had. It kept a part of him with her, and now she knew, a part of her with him.

"Your dreaming again." Floren smiled as she spoke. A friend to a friend.

"Aye," Juno said, letting her smile loose. "I know there is little chance I will see him again. It's just a wonderful dream of a boy." She felt her eyes mist. "Did I tell you he washed my hair?" Floren's eyebrows rose. "He did." Juno nodded. "I felt it, you know. His body was more than ready, but he thought it wrong like it would dishonor me or something. Cursed as I am, and he was worried about me." She looked upwards, toward the ceiling as if the sky shown through it. "I still feel his hands in my hair, the warm water, and the pleasure he found in the task. If he had asked, I would have burned off my mark and run with him."

"Love," Floren said.

"Aye." Juno nodded.

"For him as well," Floren added with a softness. There was none of the admonishment Juno expected.

"It is a good dream," Juno said. "It will get me through many years. Mayhap, a lifetime." Her curse controlled her life, not her mind. The memory of Kelton weakened its hold over her.

"And if he returns?"

"I will not toy with the trust you have put in me," Juno said with a seriousness that seemed out of place when thoughts of Kelton were swimming in her mind. "If he came for me, I would be gone before the sun set that day."

"Then it would be best for the house that he never returns," Floren said.

"Aye," Juno agreed.

"Then, let me tell you of my dream," Floren began. Juno's smile grew. These were good secrets to lose sleep over.