“I think you must visit this phantom house,” the Avatar replied.

Kaylin frowned. “You think there are paintings in it?”

“No, that is what you suspect. I am, however, uncertain that you will be able to do what Terrano and I have done here. If it is true that your children cannot leave your Mrs. Erickson’s small home, it is unlikely that you will be able to take them to the location in which they were once trapped.”

Kaylin shook her head. “They’re not like Amaldi and Darreno. They’re dead. They’re trapped. Humans aren’t like Barrani or Dragons—they don’t live forever. I don’t know where the dead are supposed to go, but we don’t return to the Lake or whatever the human analogy might be. We don’t have words at our core. And most of us don’t get trapped the way they’ve been trapped.”

“Interesting. Do you not believe mortals require bodies?”

“Of course we do.”

“But these ones don’t?”

“I told you—they’re dead.”

“But present.”

“Demonstrably.”

“It is always a conundrum,” the Avatar then said. “So much of the horror visited upon us happens because we do not accept what we are; to live peacefully, that acceptance is necessary. But if we accept limitations without question, we never excel.” The Avatar gestured. “I will keep these rooms as they are; Serralyn wishes to visit when things are, as she puts it, back to normal.

“I do not believe that same decision should be reached with regards to the phantom house.” He turned to fully face Kaylin. “Spike will continue to accompany you, and I will see that Amaldi and Darreno are offered rooms here.” He frowned. “Spike, please assume a less visible form.”

Spike seemed to notice that Hope was allowed visibility, and clearly felt this unfair; there was an exchange of clicking—speedy clicking—before Spike trembled indignantly and...vanished. She knew where Spike was because the noise continued.

Kaylin shook her head as the clicking diminished. “While they try to get their bearings, they can stay with me.”

“Kitling, maybe you should ask before making decisions on their behalf—they are not children, and they may have preferences.”

Darreno said, “We are not children, no. But we would prefer—if possible—to avoid residence in the High Halls at this time.”

The walk home made clear that neither Amaldi nor Darreno were accustomed to actual, physical presence. Darreno didn’t tend to move out of the way when people approached; he expected that they would pass through him, which was awkward. Amaldi seemed to adapt more easily; her excitement was stronger than her fear.

Helen was waiting at the door when Kaylin returned home with her two guests. She was standing in the doorway, her eyes their usual brown, her lips turned up in a welcoming smile.