“I’m not sure I know what a family is,” she admitted. She could barely hear her own voice above the patter of the rain. “Do you?”

Phalue took the two steps back to her. “My father was a decent parent, and he loved me in his own way. My mother, too. But I want better for any child of ours. And if my father could be a decent parent, you can be so much better. You’ve some sharp edges, I won’t deny that. But beneath that you have the strongest, most compassionate heart of anyone I’ve ever known. Any child would be lucky to feel a fraction of the love I know you’re capable of. We’ll figure this out together.”

This was a kindness she wasn’t sure she deserved. “How do you say the exact right thing to make me feel better?”

Phalue smiled before turning back up the path. “I’ve spent enough years saying the wrong things. I’ve got time to make up for.”

The girl stared at Ranami from Phalue’s back as she turned, her black eyes nearly wide enough to swallow her face. When had she woken up? How much had she heard? Ah, she was doing it again.

“She’s awake now,” Ranami said.

Phalue glanced at the bundle on her shoulder. “The girl?” Ranami nodded. “Can you walk?”

“Yes,” a small voice said.

Phalue set the gutter orphan on her feet. The girl swayed a little, though it seemed more like she was deciding whether or not to run than any unsteadiness. Both Phalue and Ranami blocked the path, and it became clear that she had decided against running when she planted both feet firmly on the ground. Mud obscured her shoes, but Ranami was sure she saw toes peeking out from the ends. “What’s your name?” Phalue asked.

“Are you going to chop off my other hand?” the girl asked.

“What?” Phalue looked taken aback.

“My hand. Are you going to chop it off?” She spoke slowly and loudly, as if she wasn’t sure Phalue had heard her the first time.

“No,” Ranami spoke up. “Why would we do that?” She thought she knew.

“Trying to steal something is how I lost this one.” The girl held up her left arm.

In an instant, Phalue had her hand on her sword, her shoulders squared. “Who did that to you? Tell me their name. Did my father order that done?”

The girl shrank before Phalue’s anger, unsure whether it was directed at her. “Didn’t happen here,” she said. “On a different island. It… it sank.”