Leelo hated to make Isola relive her pain, but she had to understand. “I don’t mean this as an accusation. I’m genuinely curious. Why didn’t you send him back before the ice melted?”

“I tried. He didn’t want to go. He said he had nothing to go back to.”

Leelo had assumed it was his love for Isola that had made him reckless. “But the villagers across the water knew his name. He must have had a life there.”

Isola scoffed. “What do you think it’s like out there for incantu, Leelo? Do you think they all lead merry little lives like we have here on Endla? They’re children when we send them away. If they don’t find someone to take them in, they’re forced to live as thieves. Or worse. Pieter may have known some of those villagers, but he didn’t have a family. He didn’t have anyone who loved him like I did.”

Leelo shuddered at the phrase “or worse.” What could possibly be worse than being entirely alone in the world? Her heart ached at the thought of Tate having to steal food or sleep in the cold, but he had said he would be all right. Whatever her mother had told him, Leelo had to believe it would keep him safe.

“But the other incantu don’t return,” Leelo said feebly. “So some of them must make it.” Unless they all died. She shoved the thought away. It was too horrible to consider.

Isola softened, just a little. “I’m sorry. I know you’re scared for Tate. And I’m sure some of them do find nice families or learn a trade and live an honest life. But Pieter was not the same when he came back. He was so broken, Leelo. Like a bird kicked from its nest too soon who never learned to fly. I couldn’t help but love him. I couldn’t help but promise he could stay with me. Even if I knew it wouldn’t last forever, that eventually I’d have to say goodbye.”

Leelo held Isola while she sobbed against her, still so brittle and raw after all these weeks.

Leelo didn’t love Jaren. She didn’t even know him. Whether he lived or died should mean nothing to her.

But deep down she knew that his being here was her fault. She had sung the prayer for Tate when she shouldn’t have, and Jaren had heard her, as improbable as it seemed. If he was discovered, it would all lead back to her. For the sake of her mother, she needed to get him safely off the island before anyone knew what she’d done.

When Isola’s tears had subsided, Leelo asked gently, “Do you know where they keep the boat? The one the incantu children use?”