"Yes, I can get it." She peers at the baby. "You really think she's - hers? Somehow? ...She does have Isabella's eyes."

"I don't know who else's she'd be," he says. "If she's a witch, I mean, and I think she is - she's never cold, she likes moonlight..."

"But how did this happen, I don't understand."

"I don't either," he says. "I didn't think she was going to be anybody's. But I guess that's what I get for messing around with magic stuff." He cuddles the baby. "Her name's Helen," he adds.

"Kalavar," says Petaal.

"Hi, Kalavar," coos Castarilan.

"May I hold her?" Ranata asks.

"What's that mean?"

"Learning to do magic, and fly, and shoot and dagger-fight, and if she's Isabella's she's in our clan and should learn about that, and she'll need to separate when she's old enough, and - well, witches are different, dear."

"Of course," says Ranata.

"Okay then," Petaal says unconcernedly, snuggling Kalavar.

"Why don't we go back to the Olympic enclave tomorrow? It will be the full moon the day after."

"Sure," says Kas.

Ranata nods. She goes on holding Helen, rocking her slowly. "And when your mommy comes back she will find the cutest little baby ever, won't she," she murmurs to Helen, apparently provisionally buying the story that this is her grandchild.

"She is coming back, right? You told me she would," Ranata says, looking up at Kas.

"Yeah," he says. "I just don't know if she's going to be back while Helen's still little."

Petaal, in the shape of a fox, curls up around the duckling and licks her face.