Page 95

“Aye. She does.” He rubbed the base of his horn, searching for a way to explain the rest without upsetting her. There wasn’t one. “She’s going home.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow, most likely.”

Korinnae considered that. “Okay. When is she coming back?”

He should have known that would be her next question.

“She’ll visit.”

“For how long?”

“I don’t know.”

“No. I mean, how long until she comes back here?”

He hesitated. “She isn’t coming back to live here.”

Korinnae stared at him, the confusion on her face giving way to understanding.

“She’s leaving us?”

“She’s going home.”

“This is her home too.”

He didn’t have an answer for that.

Korinnae’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t want her to go.”

“It isn’t about what I want.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Ria has a life in the Upperworld. She’s a healer. There are people there who need her, and I can’t expect her to give all of that up.”

“Did she say she would have to?”

“What?”

“Did Ria say she had to give everything up to stay?”

“Nay, but⁠—”

“Then why are you saying that?”

He was beginning to understand why arguing with a ten-year-old could be more exhausting than sparring with a warrior twice his size. “It’s complicated.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re from different worlds. She has responsibilities there. I have responsibilities here.”

Korinnae stared at him for another moment before crossing her arms. “That’s stupid.”

He frowned. “Watch yourself.”

“It is.” She planted her hooves more firmly. “Does Ria want to leave?”