Maimiti

Maimiti looked over the setting pinks of the evening sky from the pocket. PegLateral, or as he preferred, Paul, when it was just the two of them, was meditating nearby.

He opened his eyes slowly and watched the day fade into purples of their own blood as he thought, “My mother takes the Water of Fluoride tonight. We will see if she can be Mother Hygiene of the Frefairy or if her Enamel will join that of the pocket.”

Paul rose to leave for the ceremony.

Maimiti held her belly and asked, “Is the great worm rider too busy to be here with me for just one evening?”

Paul noted, “My mother. She’s going to drink the poison tonight. I should be there. I can’t think of anything else.”

His consort countered, “Why make yourself suffer watching her in pain? Your mother is the greatest Bene Hygienist I have ever met. She will pass the test with ease, Paul. It just will not be easy and, well, she should concentrate on herself and not worry about how it affects you.”

He returned her affection and spoke to his unborn son as well as his consort, “I know. Everything will be fine. Someday, however, I will be the Bene Hygienist that all women fear and need: Der Tseyn-Gehilf.”

She replied, “You plan on making our son an orphan before he’s even born. Pual needs to be Peg and stop what PegLateral means to the Frefairy. Your path, you’ve told me what you see, fairies everywhere collecting enamel. All enamel. The castle, the dream of Frefairydom, is a dream, Paul. You must let go and just be a Frefairy with me. Just Peg and Maimiti during the day and Paul and Maimiti at night. Like now.”

He looked at her and she could swear his eyes were gray when he said, “PegLateral will need to live for a bit longer, Maimiti,” and he walked out of the room.