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I never knew the baby, but I hurt for Orlene! I wish I had been watching when-”
    “Only Fate could have known, and I think she was not watching, either.”
    Lachesis, the middle Aspect of Fate, was also Orb’s mother, and Orlene’s grandmother. She did her job in the way she saw fit, but certainly she would not carelessly sacrifice her grandchild. If it had become necessary for her to do that, she would have consulted with other Incarnations, seeking some better way through. No, this seemed to be a thing only Nox was involved in.
    “I must go,” she said. “Gaea has appointments, and I-”
    “You want to follow up on this,” he finished. “Do so, and keep me posted. I hope this is not more than it seems.”
    Jolie hoped so, too, but her fear was growing that it was only the beginning. She kissed him again, dressed, and turned the page back to the Tree.
    She separated from Gaea, and Gaea woke. “Your affairs are in order?” the Incarnation inquired with a partial smile.
    “Something complicated may be afoot,” Jolie said seriously. “May I take longer leave of you for a special mission?”
    “As you wish. Is there anything I should know, in case your return is delayed?”
    Jolie considered. She could not afford to say too much, but it was only right to let Gaea know where she would be. “I think we have to visit Nox.”
    Gaea gazed at her. Then, without comment, she turned a page elsewhere, leaving Jolie alone with the sleeping ghost.
    Jolie went to the bedroom. Orlene looked much improved; the restoration had proceeded nicely as she slept. It had, of course, been enhanced by the Tree; all the things of Nature were strongest here. Soon the woman would be ready for the journey, as ready as it was possible for anyone to be.
    Jolie took a chair and allowed herself to fade out. She would wake when Orlene did. Then there would be more explaining, and a challenge of uncertain nature. Already the mystery of it disturbed her; nothing like this had happened since she had joined Gaea.
    Could this be an aspect of the great contest between God and Satan for dominance of the mortal realm? She loved Parry, but knew that in his guise as Satan he fully intended to take power if he could do so. Yet even that did not seem to make sense, for Nox had never before participated in this eternal struggle. No, it seemed to be some incidental ploy, of interest only to the Incarnation of Night, and secret from all but herself. With luck, it would prove to be a harmless diversion, something Nox was doing merely for amusement. Who could comprehend what might amuse such a creature?
    Jolie had little confidence in such luck. She slept without truly relaxing. Her ghostly state made sleep unnecessary, physically, but she certainly could use something of the sort emotionally!

Chapter 2: Nox
    “And so we shall have to brave the Void to locate Nox,” Jolie concluded. “That seems to be the only way to reach your baby.”
    “Then I shall go there!” Orlene exclaimed, brightening. She was now as lovely as she had been at the height of her mortality, though her grief and worry detracted somewhat from it. “I thank you, Jolie, for your support and research: you have given me genuine hope.”
    “We shall go there,” Jolie corrected her. “I would not send you alone to such a treacherous region.”
    “You have already done too much, my friend. You must return to your interrupted task.”
    “My observations are ongoing and not immediately pressing; this is more urgent.”
    “For me, yes, but it is not your concern. I would not-”
    “Orlene, it is my concern,” Jolie said firmly. “I was watching over you, and I neglected that, and you died.”
    “I took my own life!”
    “Because your baby sickened and died, because his genetic pattern had been changed, because your ghost husband sought a favor from Gaea without reckoning its consequence. I am Gaea’s companion; had I been watching, I could have warned her, and Gaw-Two would have