“It’s…pale.” Gwynith shrugged. “I don’t spend much time in our piece of Tir Alainn, but I don’t remember feeling hungry all the time when I was there. The food here has little taste. At home, you can’t tell the difference between what was grown in Tir Alainn and what was grown in the fields we tend in our Old Place. Well”—she smiled—“you won’t find a worm in an apple that came from Tir Alainn.”

Selena didn’t smile back. She stood and brushed off her hands.

Gwynith studied her. “If I may ask, what is it you see here?”

“A beautiful land ruined by ignorance and blind arrogance,” Selena said sharply. “Let’s get back to the Clan house. There are things to be done before I leave.”

“But…where are you going?”

Home. She wasn’t sure anymore. “You said Lady Ashk was on her way to Willowsbrook?”

“Yes.”

“Then that’s where I’ll be going.” Selena hesitated. “Do you know where it is?”

“It’s on the other side of the Mother’s Hills. I think.” Gwynith looked at the escorts. “We could find out for you.”

“I would be grateful.” She returned to Mistrunner and mounted, then waited for Gwynith to mount and move up beside her.

“It would be a long journey from here, no matter which direction you went,” Gwynith said.

“Direction?”

“There aren’t any long bridges between the midland Clans and the Clans on the eastern side of the hills. You’d have to go north or south to swing round the hills.”

“There is one other possibility,” Selena said, smiling. “I can simply ride straight through the hills.”

“But you can’t,” Gwynith protested.

“Whyever not?”

“Because the Fae…Because we don’t…”

“Maybe the Fae don’t, but as one of the Mother’s Daughters, I certainly do.”

“I forgot,” Gwynith said faintly. “I forgot that’s where you come from.”

Because she truly liked this woman, Selena leaned in the saddle and lightly touched Gwynith’s arm. “Moon sister, that is something you should never forget about me.”

Tonight, I’ll be back in the real world, guesting with Ella’s family. Mother’s mercy, a meal of soup and day-old bread will be a feast compared to what I’ve eaten here. Would Gwynith be willing to come with me? There’s so much I need to understand about the Fae. So much they need to understand about themselves.