[She settles in against his chest. It's always comfortable, it always feels safe. She hesitates, because she hasn't asked. She couldn't possibly. Just because she wants to stay here doesn't mean that she can. Leaving her mum and dad forever is - it's unthinkable. It's tempting, of course. But she couldn't.

Nothing about Eudio is forever. Not Petre, not Cole - sometimes, she's worried that even her being happy won't be forever either. With Roarton, it hardly seems possible. ]

No, [she says at last. ] People are gonna leave here eventually. Imagine what that'd be like? Staying and everyone you care about leaving? [She heaves a sigh. ] Roarton's - a nightmare, except you can't wake up from it. And this is like a long dream that I'm gonna have to wake up from eventually.