“We’ll be back in a few hours,” Leelo assured him.

“Stay here,” Ketty said, as if he didn’t know. “And whatever you do, don’t go near the lake.” The spring festival always marked the day when Endlans could sing again.

Tate nodded and retreated into his room.

“You don’t have to be so stern with him.” Fiona knelt down to help Leelo with the laces of her knee-high boots. “He’s a good boy.”

Ketty didn’t reply.

Outside, Leelo was surprised to see Isola trudging down the trail ahead of them. She had assumed Isola wouldn’t come today, given the fact that her family was being shunned, as her aunt foretold. Ketty had forbidden the girls from going to visit their friend, but Isola was here now, and Leelo wasn’t going to ignore her. She noticed with a start that Isola’s long, dark hair had been cut almost to her chin.

“Isola,” Leelo called, trotting to catch up to her.

The girl gazed at her with empty eyes. “Leelo.”

“Are you... How are you?”

Isola turned back to the trail ahead. “I’m fine.”

Leelo thought of offering some kind of condolence for what had happened to Pieter, but what could she possibly say? He was gone, and Isola must feel partially responsible.

Sage strode up next to them, oblivious. “I can’t believe it’s finally our turn,” she said, twirling as she skipped along the trail. “Seventeen years spent watching other people participate in the ceremony, and now we get to do it.”

“Congratulations,” Isola muttered. “You both look nice.”

Leelo glanced down at Isola’s dress, a simple cream-colored wool embroidered with flowers. Her mother had made it for her, but it wasn’t nearly as fine as Fiona’s work.

“What happened to your hair?” Sage asked. Leelo shot her an admonishing glance, but Sage didn’t notice.

“My mother cut it.”

Sage frowned. “Why?”

“Because I stopped brushing it.”

Leelo could feel the sadness coming off the girl in waves. Hesitantly, she put her arm around Isola’s waist and drew her against her side, and Isola let her head fall on Leelo’s shoulder.

Leelo bit her lip and glanced behind her. Rosalie and Fiona were walking together, talking in hushed tones, no doubt about Pieter and how badly Isola was taking his death. Ketty tried to urge her sister on ahead, but Fiona ignored her.

Leelo realized her shoulder was wet, that Isola was crying. “Why did you come today?” she asked gently.

Isola sniffed and wiped her face on her sleeve. “The council said we had to, that it was important to make an example of me to the new Watchers. But I’ll understand if you don’t want to talk to me. You could get in trouble.”