It took us another five days to get back to the Valley, since we avoided the Ruined Forest. Walking back into town and seeing Marra was the hardest thing I’d ever done.

She came running out as soon as she heard we were approaching. Her eyes searched our group and then landed on me. She froze in place as she waited for me.

I shook my head.

She fisted her hands over her chest. Then she moved them a few inches away. As if there was a stick in each palm, she made a breaking motion.

I understood. My heart was breaking too.

My eyes must’ve said it all, because she crumpled right there on the spot. Ruck and I both moved forward, but Burn beat us to her. She wrapped her arms around him as he rocked her silent form. I didn’t care where she got comfort, as long as she did.

Ryker stopped beside me. “I’ve already got people out locating the Debt Collector. I’m going to send some more out to see if they can dig up some information on the other issue.”

He waited for me to say something, but I only nodded. He nodded too and headed off toward his place.

It was hours later, everyone asleep, as I made my way to the edge of the forest and dug my hole.

“What are you asking it now?”

I turned to see Burn walking over. I leaned forward until my forearm rested on my knees.

“I’m not sure.” I let a worm slip past without picking it up. “How’s Marra?”

“Could be worse, I guess. She’s sleeping, at least.” He looked almost as sad as she had.

I nodded, moving dirt around with my fingers. It was enough for now. The loss of her sister was going to take her a while to recover from, maybe forever.

Burn knelt a few feet away from me. “Ryker said he’s going to try and undo the oath if he can.” It sounded as if Burn wanted confirmation whether it was something I wanted.

“He said that to me too.” I didn’t say anything else because I didn’t know myself anymore.

Burn cleared his throat, then did it again, until it was very obvious he was trying to say something that was getting stuck on his tongue.

He finally spat it out. “You belong here. You know you do.” He pointed at my hole. “That’s why you’re here, right? You shouldn’t have to ask the worm. You should know.”

“But I don’t.”

“Then do it.”

Burn wasn’t a bad guy, and I knew, in his way, he was torn in his loyalties. I dug a fresh hole. This time, after I was done, I hesitated. Did I draw two Xs? If I drew a Y and an N, he might guess that I hadn’t known what they were before. Not that I was going to win any reading awards, but the books had helped.

I drew the Y and the N anyway. Screw what anyone thought. I didn’t look up to see if he noticed, but I knew he probably had.

I lifted the wriggling worm, cupped my hands, and then put it down without asking. “You’re right. I should know.”

I hadn’t asked my question, but the worm crawled toward Y anyway.

“What was the question you didn’t ask?”

“I didn’t even phrase it in my head yet,” I lied.

He nodded, and some of the tension in his shoulders seemed to fade as he slumped forward a bit, probably fearing I’d asked the worm if I should leave.

“Really think about this, okay?” Burn asked.

“I will. Thanks for the books, by the way,” I said before he walked away.

“What books?” The way he wrinkled his forehead let me know he had no clue what I was talking about.

“Nothing. I thought something was from you. Not a big deal.”

He nodded, leaving me there.

I smiled thinking of the new books I’d found when I’d gotten back. I should’ve known when the top one had all sorts of clock drawings on it.