“Not being one of them any more doesn’t make me helpless,” he said, sliding an arm around her shoulders. “Should they try anything foolish they would soon regret it. Barl, you are safe. We are safe. They can moan and mislike us to their heart’s content but they cannot, they will not, interfere any more.”

She shivered. “You sound so certain.”

“I am certain. I have not the slightest doubt that they’ll leave us alone.”

Pulling away a little, she looked at him. “What exactly did you say to them?”

He thought it might be best not to tell her. Not now, when she was feeling unsure of herself, and vulnerable.

“Nothing of which my father would have approved,” he said, and kissed the top of her head. “Do not ask me to elaborate. I’d not sully your ears with language of that stripe. Now, what say we take Ollet’s Compendium and—”

She pressed her palm to his chest. “Yes, but first—Morgan, I’ve been thinking. There’s something I need to do. Want to do. And I think I should do it sooner, rather than later.”

There was no need for her to tell him. He’d been waiting for her to speak on this. “Your brother.”

Her eyes were tear-bright, and full of relief. “Yes. I knew you’d…” Her fingers smoothed the front of his tunic. “I have to go and see him. He must be sick with worry for me by now. I want to tell him I’m all right. I want to tell him goodbye.”

He felt an enormous blossoming of joy. “Goodbye?”

“This is my home now,” she whispered. “You are my home. It’s Remmie’s turn to find his home. But he won’t unless I tell him to his face that he must. My brother’s a lovely man, and a jigget. This is the only way. Believe me.”

He stroked his fingertip down her cheek, across her lips. “I do.”

“I won’t be gone long. I’ll be back in time for dinner.”

“You mean you want to go now?”

“I see no point in waiting.”

He gestured to Ollet’s Compendium, abandoned on the floor. “What of our mageworking?”

“I know, I know. After dinner?” She pulled a face. “Or in the morning, if Remmie keeps me late. But that’s all right, isn’t it?”

“Yes. But you should know I resent every heartbeat you’re away from me. I resent even a brother. I want you to myself.”

“And you have me,” she said softly. “But Morgan, a part of me still belongs to Remmie. It always will.”

Yes, he could see that. And he could see that fighting Barl’s brother for it would leave him the loser. So he smiled.