"I can do that."

"You realize to do that we have to take him to another world."

"He'll come back."

"Do you care if it's me or Ranary?"

"Can't be both of you, but if you want to take the chance to send her off, fine."

"She's miserable."

"I did -"

"Don't," he says firmly. Maitimo does not finish the sentence.

"You did what?"

"I said to you, '"If you tip her off that she should leave then we'll stop her while she's trying and then she'll be a prisoner and unhappy about it instead of a backup plan and perfectly happy about it.'"

"I think I'll pretend I didn't ask."

"I'll have someone get her."

"How about I go get her, so she doesn't feel compelled to bite anyone today."

"Sure."

He goes and gets Ranary.

And they can have another bucket of cow's blood.

Ranary paints herself and Findekáno, a little shakily.

No one stops her.

"Cor -"

"Go," he murmurs.

"Are you all right -"

"So far, more or less. I'll feel better if you're off safe somewhere."

She purses her lips, nods, chants.

There is a flash of dark and she and Findekáno are somewhere terribly cold.

He isn't allowed outside much. He shivers. "This is the uninhabited planet?"

"Yeah," says Ranary, brushing away a tear. "I don't know if you can see it, there's a little camp over there, with blankets and stuff -" She heads for it.

He follows her.

There is a tent and blankets and boots and a few sacks of ash and a firepit. "Don't have aim good enough to land right in here. Are you going to be okay for maybe twenty minutes or should I warm it up in here?"

"I'll be fine."

Nod. "You'll watch out for Cor, won't you?"