He’d never leave her alone if she didn’t satisfy him with a plausible answer. “Should the Olken let us stay, we’ll suffer the drought and famine with them,” she said. “And Remmie, I can’t bear the thought of watching any more of us die. I think there might be a way for our magic to ease Lur’s suffering. So that’s my maggot. I’m trying to save us from the drought.”

It was true. And if she was trying to do more than that, well, he didn’t need to know. Not until he believed the threat from Morgan was real.

Remmie’s eyebrows lifted. “With magework?”

Oh, why was he so determined to be difficult? “If we can cure renna blight, then why can’t we—oh, I don’t know—coax more of Lur’s springs to the surface, say, or create a crop that needs less water to thrive, or—”

“No,” Remmie said, his face thundery. “Are you mad, Barl? More transmutations? After what happened at home?”

She stared. “Of course not! I’m talking about commonplace magework. All we need do is show these Olken that we can make their lives better, easier, and they’ll let us stay. I know they will.”

Turning away, Remmie pulled back the heavy tent flap and stared across their camp, towards the village of Gribley. “I wish I knew it, Barl. I tell you, I think we’re on the knife’s edge—which is why you can’t breathe a word about Morgan. You were right about one thing, I think. Give these Olken an excuse and we’ll be homeless again.”

Not even during their dreadful mountain crossing had she heard him sound so dispirited, so afraid. Had he reached the end of his strength?

He can’t have. Not Remmie. How will I do this if he loses heart now?

“I promise, I won’t mention him,” she said, trying hard to be gentle. Not to show him her fear. “Now you should go. Your pupils will be waiting. And I need to work.”

“Barl…” Turning, he showed her a face full of doubt and hope. “They’ve waited this long. They can wait a few days longer. Whatever you’re doing, I can help. Let me help. You shouldn’t be doing difficult magework on your own. You’re too tired.”

All their strife, all their arguments, and she couldn’t breathe for a moment, she loved him so much. And because of that love she could never involve him in her plan. He’d lost Irielle because of her. He’d lost Dorana. She wasn’t about to let him lose anything else.