“Eliana can’t stay here,” Sumi said. “She’s only gotten sicker since she’s been here. I promised Senka I’d watch over her, and I promised Jem-Kruk I’d take her home.”

“Jem,” I echoed, feeling a sharp pang in my chest. Tears filled my eyes when I looked to her. “Did you see . . .”

Sumi swallowed hard and nodded once. “I saw that he’s gone.”

“I’m sorry,” I said thickly. “I know he was a good friend to you.”

“I’m sorry for us all.” She stared off for a moment, her lips twitching slightly, and her gaze off at some distant point.

“Jem thought of himself as an adventurer above all else,” she said finally. “But he was a knight. He wanted to save every injured foundling he met on his travels, and I am forever grateful that he met me.

“I loved him,” she went on after a pause. “Not as a lover, but as a brother.” Then she looked at me, a strange smile forming and her eyes glistening. “Which was good, because he was still in love with your mother.”

“I knew he was very fond of her,” I replied uncertainly.

“You have a strong heart like Senka.” She breathed in through her nose. “And like Jem. Strong hearts are drawn to one another.”

“That explains how you ended up hanging out with us all the time,” I said, and she laughed as a tear rolled down her cheek.

She blinked several times, then looked around. “And now I need to be a good friend to Eliana. Have you seen her?”

“I think she’s still down underground,” Pan said.

Sumi started jogging back toward the stables. “Eliana? Ellie!”

I stood up slowly, and my hip was starting to ache again. Sunniva had warned me that her healing effects wouldn’t last long, and it felt like they were starting to wear off.

“Are you okay?” Pan got up and put his arm around my waist—I wasn’t sure if it was to steady me or comfort me, but I needed it either way.

“I think so.” I nodded. “How about you?”

“I’m alive and you’re alive, so I’m not gonna complain right now,” he said.

We walked toward the bridge, but the growing pain meant it was slow going, and almost all the Ögonen had made it completely across the bridge. Sumi came running, half dragging Eliana behind her.

“Ulla!” Eliana shouted when she saw me, and she wriggled free from Sumi’s grip and ran at me.

“Eliana!” Sumi shouted. “We can’t get left behind!”

“I have to say goodbye!” Eliana yelled, and she was crying as she lunged at me. She threw her arms around me, and I hugged her tightly, lifting her off the ground with the last strength that I had.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get to know you better,” I said.