“Yes, it is. Do you know about crystals?”

He nodded. “Grandfather has been teaching me. Rose quartz is a fierce defender of the heart, he said.”

My chest tightened. I pulled the ring off and slid it onto his thumb. “It’s said that if your heart is hungry, feed it with rose quartz.”

“Thank you.” His eyes shimmered then he gasped. “Wait here.”

Then he was gone, running out of the room and out of sight.

“He moves alarmingly fast.”

I jumped at the sound of Akecheta’s voice. I pressed my hand to my chest. “Dammit, dude.”

“Sorry, I’ve gotten used to moving quietly with these three around.” He laughed. “So, you came right back to this?”

I groaned and tugged on my hair. “I’m failing at this and all I’m doing is hurting them in the process.”

“No.” He sat down on the chair close to me. “It may seem to you like these seconds you’re with us are torture, but they are far from it. When you first leave, they cry. They hurt. It takes weeks to soothe their souls of the pain again . . . and then they are grateful. Especially as Rae asks questions about you. He is keeping your memory light in their hearts for the time being. In the long run, they are going to cherish these memories.”

I took a deep breath then let it out. There was too much to say to say anything at all.

Rae sped back into the room carrying something. When he stopped beside me, he held out a leather cord with a handful of shells strung onto it. “I made this from shells I collected at the beach.”

“It’s beautiful. I love the beach⁠—”

“Grandfather told me.” He reached up and slid the leather cord over my head. “Now you have a memory from me.”

“Oh, Rae. Thank you.” I pulled him in for a hug mostly so he wouldn’t see me crying. “I’m sorry I cannot stay with you.”

“It is all right, you have a special job to do.” He smiled. “And now I will have more to tell you when I see you again. When I’m big.”

I laughed. “We’re going to have a lot of fun when you’re big. As soon as I find where your mother has hidden you.”

He grinned. “Did you check Issale?”

I opened my mouth then shut it. “I have not. But I have met dragons⁠—”

“I love the dragons!”

We talked for a few minutes about dragons and Issale. I tried not to feel sad for Issale of the future. It sounded like there used to be dozens and dozens of dragons.

A dark shadow billowed from the side wall then Everest stepped out of it, dragging Auryn with him. His blue and white eyes met mine instantly. “You’re supposed to be finishing your quest.”