The midday sun was directly overhead when they gathered at the sanctuary's edge.
Skye had volunteered to stay with Sally and the snakelings without being asked—had simply positioned himself at the courtyard entrance with the quiet finality of someone who had decided where they needed to be and was not moving. Sally had given him a look that contained, in order: surprise, gratitude, and the particular warmth she reserved for people she'd decided were hers.
"Back by sunset," she told Alex, and there was no question in it.
"Back by sunset," he agreed.
The snakelings had extracted promises in the usual way—Jade formally, one condition at a time; Ripple emotionally, his small face pressed against Alex's belly for a goodbye that lasted four minutes; Siddy chaotically, his promises conditional on things he seemed to be making up in real time; and River with the simple, devastating clarity he brought to everything.
"Come back," River said.
"Always," Alex said.
