Sora took a step back. Papa had never looked at her that way before. Both her parents doted on her but Papa more so. He was the one who always insisted on giving her the best bed when she came to visit. Who couldn’t stop smiling proudly at his taiga daughter when she and Daemon did their exercises in the mornings, keeping in shape on school breaks by sparring on the deck and jumping in the trees that clung to the cliffside. Scowling was so unfamiliar it seemed uncomfortable on his face.

“Look what you’ve done,” Papa said, grabbing the lopsided clay from the wheel and hurling it at the wall. It hit with a loud splat, and Sora jumped. “I suppose you expect that you can just drop in unannounced because you’re a taiga and that your mother will have food on the stove for you and a bath drawn to welcome Your Honor’s return? All hail Luna’s chosen one.”

Sora cringed at the acidic sarcasm with which he said the moon goddess’s name and the title “Your Honor.” It was the standard honorific for taigas, but she’d always insisted that her parents call her Sora. It had been their choice over the years to address her and Daemon as “Your Honor.” Papa had claimed it was a privilege to be able to do so, because not everyone got to have a child blessed by Luna with taiga magic.

“I—I’m sorry,” she said. “I happened to be passing through the area, and I wanted to check on you.”

Papa frowned. He stared at his pottery wheel as if he were deep in thought, then shook his head sharply. “Your Honor,” he said, with reverence this time. “I apologize. I don’t know what came over me. Of course you are welcome home anytime.” He rose, took off his apron, and approached Sora with arms outstretched to give her a hug.

She let him, but she was tense, not sure if this was real remorse or if he would lash out again.

It was a genuine embrace, though, and when he released her, Papa smiled in his familiar way, eyes glistening and crinkled at the corners.

What in the hells is going on? Sora thought.

He led her through the interior courtyard, into the main house. It was a small structure, but he hollered nevertheless. “Mina! Guess who surprised us with a visit!”

Mama burst out of her study, pencil still in hand. “Your Honor!” Her eyes brightened, and she bowed deeply.

Their joy made everything feel normal and right, if only for a moment. But then Sora remembered that she hadn’t seen them since she found out that Hana was still alive, and that she hadn’t been killed as a child during the Blood Rift.

Should I tell them?