The little girl sniffled. “I’m Valeriana of Mid Crosswood,” she answered, all the fight gone out of her.
“Why don’t you tell us what happened?” Cylea said.
Valeriana shook her head adamantly.
“We might be able to help if you tell us,” Jeondar said.
The girl doubled down, wrapping her arms around her body. I recognized her behavior all too well.
“Valeriana,” I kneeled on the side opposite Jeondar, “it’s fine if you don’t want to talk about it, but we’re here for you.”
She glanced up at me with her huge green eyes. She blinked several times as she took me in. She inclined her head, frowning at my rounded ears.
“What are you?” she asked, curiosity getting the best of her.
“I come from the human realm,” I told her, unsure of whether or not she knew about it.
“Human?”
Apparently, she didn’t.
“I can tell you a bit about it if you want.”
Kryn peeled away from the tree and strolled toward us. “We don’t have time for this. We should get back on the road before…” He let the words hang and glanced toward Kalyll and Arabis, who were standing a distance away, talking in hushed tones.
I understood immediately what he’s left unsaid:before Kalyll gets angry again.
Jeondar grunted and rose to his feet. “I think you’re right.”
“But what about the child?” I asked.
No one said anything.
I added, “We can’t leave her here—not if her family is…”
Kryn huffed. “We’re not childminders.”
“Dani’s right,” Jeondar said. “She shouldn’t stay here by herself. We can bring her to Imbermore. We can find someone there to take care of her.”
Valeriana jumped to her feet, fists shaking at her sides. “I’m staying here. I can take care of myself and kill those wretches that murdered my family. They’ll come back. They always do.”
It broke my heart to see someone so young full of hatred and desire for vengeance. Yet, it wasn’t hard to understand her. If someone were to hurt my family…
I thought for a moment about what to say to convince her, then spoke, “You’re entitled to revenge, but you’re small right now, and it might be hard to do what you want. When you’re bigger, it would be easier to accomplish anything you set your mind to, don’t you think?”
She didn’t answer, but I could tell by her expression that she didn’t disagree.
“So maybe the best way you can honor your family right now,” I went on, “is to make sure you make it, to make sure you give yourself the chance to get big and strong. But it’s up to you.”
Jeondar nodded thoughtfully. “I agree with Dani. You look like a smart little dryad, Valeriana, so I think you’ll make the right choice. I promise that I will find someone to care for you in Imbermore. I know people, and we can find a clan of your own kind for you to join.”
The girl took two steps back, sniffling. It seemed she’d decided to stay.
Jeondar inclined his head. “May the sun warm your path in your travels.”
Everyone walked back to their horses and mounted. I reached for Dandelion’s reins, glancing at Valeriana over my shoulder, wishing there was something I could do for her. If only my healing powers worked on broken hearts.
Before mounting, I glanced her way one last time. Her head was hanging low as she peered sadly at a trampled cluster of wildflowers at her feet.