"Liya," Helly began again, but Liya cut nem off.

"I know there in't a point," she mumbled, unable to bring herself to look at nem. The tremble in her voice was still there, but she'd gotten her face back under control--the few tears had ceased, and a strange, tenuous calm had come over her. "I know. There in't any point in wonderin'."

She swallowed, and said very quietly, "I just miss my brothers. And I wanna to go home."

A silence fell at that. The night was very still--no whisper of grass in the wind, no crickets, no chirping frogs. No smell of brackish water or rust or damp and rotting wood. A corked glass bottle sat on the windowsill beside the bed, and the moonlight ran over its surface brightly; it held a handful of earth and a sprig of red flowers.

"I think I want to go to bed now," Liya said after a long time. "I'm...I'm really tired."

Helly gave a little smile. "No, my dear, I understand," ne said gently. "Will you come and see me again tomorrow?"

Liya watched nem rise, blinking. It was a request, not just a question, she realized. "Yeah," she murmured. "I...I will."

As Helly left the bedside Liya lay back, stretching out; she pillowed her head on her arms and stared at the ceiling. After a moment, she asked aloud, "Helly?"

Helly paused and glanced back. "Yes?"