“I’m sorry,” she said. “That’s probably too personal.”

“It’s not that. I hardly know her. She sells honey at the market. She’s from Endla, actually. I’m not sure why I didn’t think of that before. You must have known her. Her name is Lupin.”

Leelo cocked her head. “The only Lupin I know is elderly. Are you sure she’s from Endla?”

“I’m sure. But I suppose she could have changed her name. She has long blond hair. Darker than yours. And green eyes.”

She shook her head. “There are lots of girls on Endla that look like that. When did she leave?”

“She’s my age. Eighteen. So six or seven years ago, I suppose.”

Leelo thought for a moment. “I didn’t pay as much attention to who was leaving when I was younger. I’d already been singing for years by that point. But my mother would probably remember.”

“It’s not important. As I said, I hardly know her.”

Leelo brightened suddenly. “So this girl. She found a home in Bricklebury? Who does she live with? Is she healthy?”

Jaren told her everything he knew about Lupin, and there was something about the way Leelo hung on every word that made him think she knew one of these incantu, quite well, perhaps.

When he was finished, Leelo looked happy, relieved. He wanted to ask her about it, but he was afraid he’d inadvertently misstep again, and he liked seeing her smile.

They sat in silence for a while, until it began to feel awkward. Jaren shifted, and Leelo blinked, like she’d been far away in her mind.

“I should go,” she said, all business once again. “As I said, I have the day after tomorrow free, so I’ll be able to look for the boat. I’ll come when I can. Will you be all right until then?”

He nodded. “I think so. I just don’t like not helping. I’m the one who shouldn’t be here. I should be doing something to make it right.”

“I understand not wanting to sit still. But believe me, that’s the most helpful thing you can do right now.”

“All right, then. I’ll be here.”

She moved toward the door, then paused and reached into her satchel. She pulled out the songbook and stared at it for a moment before handing it to Jaren.

“Are you sure?” he asked, taking it gently.

“No,” she said with a crooked smile. Her eyes met his for longer than they ever had before. They were such a particular shade of blue, crystalline against her fair skin. Finally, she looked away. “I’m not sure about anything anymore,” she said, before closing the door behind her.

Chapter Twenty-Eight