“Pfft.” Ness flapped her hand at Mop. “Think of your knees, you old airmonger. How could you carry her any length of the journey?”

“Love makes her light as a lamb,” he said with a grunt as Rae, now truly beaming, leapt to piggyback on him. “But I don’t think I’ll have to carry her even a step. Look how strong this child of ours is.”

“Ness, you come, too!” exclaimed Rae. “We should all go together!”

“Oh, yes!” Mop said to Nessa’s shaking head. “Think how you’ve missed the market. I know you have. Let’s all go together. We’ll paddock the sheep as we used to: They’ll have enough to graze by their shelter, enough to drink with the stream. Think how proud you’ll be to introduce Rae as your daughter.”

At this, Nessa started, and a strange look flashed on her face. “They will know she’s not.…” Nessa gestured. “Our gray hair, our creased faces…” But seeing Rae’s gaze, she shook her head. “So proud,” she said, “to call you my child.” She sighed, hesitating, and looked again at the bright, crooked grin Rae had not worn for months.

“You’ve worn me down,” she said at last. “Rae, you may go. Yes, we will all go. But”—she placed her hands on Rae’s jumping shoulders—“no wandering. No disappearing to explore. You will stay by our sides the whole journey, the whole day at the market.”

“Yes, yes,” said Rae, hugging Mop and Nessa tight. “The whole time! I promise not to leave you at all!”

When it finally came time for the journey, Rae needed no prodding at all. Indeed, she had to hold herself back: Mop and Ness were too slow for her eagerness. All through the day, as they walked alongside the curving bright river and over the warm carpet of pine needles in the shade of the woods, Rae bounced with each step. She skipped. She hopped. She took Nessa’s hand and swung it happily; she took Mop’s hand and swung it joyfully. Only when dusk began to settle did her step start to lag, but by then the village was in sight, and the excitement at seeing the gathering crowds propelled her on.

“Oh, what’s that? What’s that?” she exclaimed as the market tents came into view. “Oh, look how many people! Look at the lanterns! Oh! So many lights!” Rae rushed forward, rushed back, grabbed their hands. “Look, look, look!”

“Yes, daughter. It’s the market.” Mop laughed. He cast a look at Nessa that said plainly, See? But despite Rae’s excitement, Nessa remained wary. She now kept a tight hold on Rae’s hand as though she were still a small child.

At Nessa’s insistence, they camped away from the crowds. As they unrolled their blankets, Rae craned her head at the voices and music drifting across the dark.

Nessa put her hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Tomorrow. We’ll explore right as the sun rises, I promise.”