My da once said to me, "Síle, if you ever find what's most important to you right in front of you, grab hold and don't let go."

I squeezed the hand held in mine, and I liked to think I would make him proud.

I mean, Alyx and I, we hadn't known each other for very long, but when you know, you know. I think that zap of magic, and seeing memories of each other's worlds, it gave us a special bond. And sure, she's Fí-Réalta, and I was a little jealous at first to see someone else get what I couldn't have. But it wasn't the Fí-Réalta that made me come back over and over. It was her kindness, a gentle soul, a little absentmindedly searching for answers. Not for power, or strength, but just to help people and have fun. Just to know. I wondered how long it'd been since I felt like that, if I ever had.

She squeezed my hand back and looked over at me, smiled. It was hard not to feel my insides melting when she did that. She had no idea how devastating that was.

I wanted to be Fí-Réalta, growing up. I used to think that I just needed to want it badly enough, to try hard enough, and I'd get there. When I understood that it wasn't like that, I still thought that, maybe if I worked hard enough at the consoeurie, I could still get there. The guild let me down on that front pretty quickly.

It's Danna who chooses.

I stayed at the consoeurie and improved my reading and writing beyond what a farm village would allow. I studied the regular magic disciplines. I'm not particularly talented at any of them, but that's a kind of talent in its own way, I guess - nowhere to go but up.

I still had no idea what I wanted to do, though. What did I plan to use the magic for? But looking back over at that devastating smile again, I knew. Someone like that needed someone to watch her back, and I had someone in mind for the job.

We had all somehow piled into Alyx's parents' metal carriage. The three from her university club had even decided to come. I was looking forward to getting home and showing it off to the other Earth people. Alyx's mom, Adelle, already had a history with my world. I could see the trepidation in her jaw. The three friends were gabbing away in Alyx's language, in English; I had no idea what they were saying, but they didn't seem to be particularly worried.

"How are you feeling?" I asked Alyx. She smiled at me again, but her eyebrows said that she had a lot on her mind.

She leaned over and rested her head on my shoulder.

"I'm fine," she said quietly. "Ready."

The buildings at the trail came into view, and Alyx's da manoeuvred the carriage into the lines painted on the ground.

"Woo hoo!" MacKenzie yelled from behind me as the engine stopped.

Everyone piled out and stretched, and Alyx went to grab her big backpack that I remembered from her first visit. She was wearing some of the garb she'd bought in Fleuve Clair already, and she added a cloak we'd gotten from the guild. I felt oddly proud that she was looking more Shanaclaran by the minute. It made the return home feel more real.

I grabbed Alyx's day pack from the back and pulled it over my shoulders. It took some arguing, but she'd finally let me carry some of her load.

I couldn't understand what Alyx's da called out, but the meaning was pretty clear. We trouped over toward the hiking trail.

"Pray forgive the intrusion," Adelle said to me during the hike. "Will you be happy for the homecoming?"

I nodded with a smile. "I've got nothing against your world, ma'am, but I'll be relieved when we're back in mine."

"Yes, one does become weary of travelling, yearning for the comforts of home and hearth."

Adelle had a strangely archaic way of speaking Clair. She spoke it with an accent I couldn't place, and sometimes almost like a kid would speak it. But at least we could understand each other.

"I'll take good care of her," I said, searching for something to talk about, something to calm this mother just trying to stay afloat. "I'll make sure she eats well, and that she calls home."

Adelle laughed, a genuine laugh. I guessed I hit my mark.

"I can see why she might like you, my dear," she replied, and I felt myself blushing. "I rather worry in any event. I am uncertain that I could even pass this Gate, with or without help. Scarcely can a mother conceive of her child disappearing into another world without a gamut of dire visions... But one must suppose that such is the fate of children, whether crossing worlds or no."

It seemed like an astute but melancholy observation; I guessed, even in that world of automation and instant communication, it was difficult to be physically away from kids, unable to help.

"Did she tell you about the cable?" I asked.

Adelle looked confused. "Not that I can remember. What is it?"

I sighed. "I probably should let the surprise be Alyx's. But she's found a way to stay in touch."

"Did she just," Adelle said, sounding surprised and hopeful.

We stopped a few times for water and snack breaks, and then I saw the bend in the path coming up again. I'd just seen it the night before, so it was still fresh in my mind. And sure enough, off to the side, I could already see the Gate. Home so close, and yet so far away. Because I knew...

Alyx asked her ma something, and Adelle responded with a nod and some English. Alyx's club friends and her da all shook their heads after squinting at the trees a moment.

Of course. She wouldn't pass up an opportunity to do her science.

This went on for a little while until she was apparently content with the results. She spent a long while staring at it before turning to me.

"Síle, would you mind going first?" Alyx asked me.

I noticed that she didn't hold my hand or otherwise guide me in. I guessed that I would be test subject #1. Ah well.

I walked through the arch, keeping my eyes open, and from one footstep to the next, my sight shifted from the Earth forest into the now-familiar path to Fleuve Clair and An Gleann. We'd arrived near dusk, and I was just beginning to see the faintest whisper of Danna's Breath above. Isíl and Niamh were both visible in the sky but apart, each moon at its own phase. The Earth people would get a show tonight.

I stood to the side to wait for Alyx to finish her science.

"My word," I heard a voice say in Clair. I turned around to see Adelle there. "I never thought to see this view again, but here 'tis. Lucy..."

She looked down, deep in thought and memory, I guessed.

I'd had enough of the respectful distance I'd been holding; this was a woman in pain. I walked over and put an arm around her shoulder. She seemed surprised for a moment and then held on to my hand near her shoulder.