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"I know."

"They do not know I am here."

"No."

"I like watching them anyway."

I smiled.

"I am glad."

She unwrapped another sweet and placed it in her mouth.

I almost asked for one, but thought it improper to take candy from a child.

You will be home soon and whether it is Veynar, Shalvar, or Alarna, there will be sweets. And Kiss. And Ari. And Colsar.

The thought made something in my chest ease.

"They smile more now."

"They do."

"They look like you."

"They look like Colsar."

She considered that.

She looked at Fiorakis pause to put her fingers in her mouth.

“They look hungry."

I laughed. “They always look hungry."

She nodded as though I had confirmed something very important.

"I wanted to thank you," I said quietly.

She looked at me for the first time.

"For what?"

"For telling him."

"The white-haired man?"

"Yes."

She shrugged.

"He looked sad."

"He was."

“Sadness is a weakness. And weakness will not keep them safe.” She nodded toward the twins.

“And I like them.”