"I think the way in which Saffron ensures her safety works best when everyone around knows her and she has an established resource base. I know it's not historically your style."

"What about Laithan?"

"You could just ask him, you know."

"And he'll answer?"

"If he understands your question. Probably if you just walk up to him and say 'why' that won't work."

"If I ask he might change his mind?"

"I don't think so, no."

"Can you tell me instead?"

"I'd be guessing. You want me to guess?"

Nod.

"Like Saffron most of what he's doing with his life is very restricted to this one place. He knows the people, he has all his resources here. And he feels responsible for the town, and wouldn't want to abandon it even if it would make him a bit safer - and it would really be only a bit, because he'd be losing a lot of things simultaneously with getting away from anyone who was looking for him here with hostile intent."

"What things would he lose?"

"Well, his parents live here. He'd have to convince them to move too, or leave them behind. People here respect him and pay attention to him and do what he says; people somewhere else wouldn't. I think he likes it here and might easily not like it in whatever place would be next best."

"That sounds nice."

"Do you not like it here?"

"I do like it here."

"Good. Me too."

"If you stop will you take me where you go next?"

"If you want to come with me, yes. But I'm planning to stay put."

"Okay."

"Are there things you'd like, to make the place even nicer?"

"Your singing was nice."

"- aw, I didn't even know you liked it. I can sing to you more."

Eefa very very very slightly just a bit smiles, without meaning to.

Baaaaaaby. She will sing a song about the moons in the sky over Amenta.