[...I think I accidentally gave you a granddaughter,] he says. [It's - kind of complicated.]

[...It sounds that way.]

[Do you wanna meet somewhere and talk about it?]

[I can do that. Where?]

[I'm just outside of New York City right now.]

[I can be there tomorrow afternoon.]

[All right.]

[Where should I find you?]

He names a hotel.

[All right.]

[See you then.]

Ranata cruises into the city and finds the hotel the next afternoon, as promised.

And there he is, sitting in the lobby with a cute little baby in his arms.

Ranata lands, strides into the lobby, looks at Kas, looks at the baby, and says, "I don't understand."

"Me neither," says Kas, getting up. "You wanna come upstairs? I've got something to show you that... will probably just confuse you more."

Ranata doesn't look happy about being as confused as she is, but she shrugs and nods.

"Magic," says Kas.

"Yes - but - I knew she was working on some astonishing spells, but -"

"Okay, well," he says, "this is my daughter. I made her by myself. I wasn't expecting her to be... anyone else's in particular. But I think she's a witch, and I've only ever been with one witch. So - I don't know - is there some way you could check...?"

"How old is she?" Ranata asks.

"Four months."

"Then there's still time for me to put a birth blessing on her and see if it sticks, but I don't have all the materials I'd need..."

"What do you need?"