Farryn didn't know why she was following Claud. She couldn't unravel any of it in her head. The more she tried to understand, the more confused she got.

It took two hours to walk to the town, and she had to do it with Luli in her arms because she was shivering so badly she couldn't walk. Claud didn't speak or look back, only occasionally stopping for them to take a break. Farryn didn't speak to him either. She felt that the only thing that would come out of her mouth was hatred. She didn't want to lose it again.

But when they reached the town, in the early hours of the morning, she had no choice. "You know where Liviana is," she said. "Why did you try to get me to look for her?" "She told me where she was going. But then I..." he trailed off. "You hurt her?" "I didn't. I tried to. It wasn't my best moment." In the dim light of the rising sun, he looked a decade older. Farryn scoffed. "Yet you're trying to kill her now."

"You don't understand," he said as they entered the market square. Very few people were setting up for a day of business. "I don't have a choice. He haunts me. Whispers in my ears when I sleep to avenge him. I can't go anywhere without hearing his voice." Farryn knew what that was like. Rin had haunted her for years. Following her to the kitchen. Pressing sweets into her hand when she tried to sleep on the cold kitchen floor. Begging her to come visit in her room sometime. It didn't help that she haunted Serval too. Even when the old woman was running low on money, she'd get new dresses and hats and accessories made for her daughter, in the size she would be if she ever had a chance to grow up. Farryn remembered the gray dress she had stolen from Rin's wardrobe and forced herself to swallow.

"Killing her won't fix it," Farryn said, mostly to herself. She didn't see Rin much anymore, or her mother. But she knew they were waiting. Waiting for the moment she broke. They would be there to comfort her, to drag her to join them.

"I can't get close to her anyway," Claud admitted. "She lives in a big house, down in Sernaxa." Sernaxa. Two weeks away, with no train. They'd have to journey a while. "I only made the journey once. Almost lost my job. But now I don't care. I've probably lost it already." "So why approach me at all? You knew where she was all along" Farryn hissed, shifting Luli in her arms. "She'll let you get close," Claud said simply. "Come on, I'm hungry."

He stepped out of the square and into the tavern that Farryn and Luli had been to that first day. A tall, broad-shouldered man stood at the counter. He raised an eyebrow as they entered the otherwise empty room. "Claud? What are you doing here? Visiting Ma?"

"I have somewhere to go," Claud said, pulling out money from his pocket. "Food for all of us?" The man hesitated, then nodded.

"You must think I'm a fool. I'm not leading you to my sister." "You will. I'll follow you, and you're desperate to find her."

"I am not desperate for anything," Farryn said, but she was lying and he knew it. She would do anything to find Liviana, and now that she knew where she was there would be no keeping her away. She had to get Claud to help, but also keep him from getting to Liviana.

She set Luli up in a chair, stroked her flyaways away from her face. "I'm sorry, Luli," she said. Luli didn't answer. "I want my Mama," she whispered. "I want mine too." Farryn sighed.

Her mother would fix everything, if she were still around. She'd convince Claud that Nevan didn't need to be avenged, convince him to act rationally. She'd hug Farryn and let her close her eyes for a moment. If she was around all this wouldn't be happening in the first place.

Their food arrived, three plates of steaming hot fish and hard rolls of bread. Farryn ate quietly, trying to think of what to do. If she found a way to lose Claud, she'd have to find a ride all the way down to Sernaxa before he caught up with them again. And he definitely would catch up with them again.

"What's the plan, then?" she asked him as he scarfed down his food. He spat out a bit of bone, then said "We'll go down to the train station and head for Hasin. We should be able to get a connecting train to Sernaxa." Farryn kept her face expressionless and nodded.

They finished up their meal and then Farryn led them outside. The wind was cold, biting, but she didn't complain and began the long walk to the station. Luli fell asleep in her arms, and after about an hour Farryn felt her rage directed to Claud cooling.

"What of your family?" she asked him. He shrugged. "I'll find another job." "And give it up for another worthless-" "You don't understand." he snapped. "I understand perfectly." she retorted. "My aunt was horrible. She treated me wonderfully once upon a time. But then she stopped doing that, so I killed her." In the darkness, she could see Claud's eyes widen. "What I don't understand is why you're going after my sister. I would never feel the need to avenge a monster."

They were silent for a moment before he said "Of course not. Seems like murderers run in the family, though."

After about three hours of walking, they stopped to take a break. Luli was barely awake and very grumpy, and Farryn felt like her arms were going to fall off. The three of them sat underneath a tree on the side of the road, and Farryn stared up at the brightening sky.

"Even if I don't kill her," Claud said suddenly "I'll report her. She'll be arrested." Farryn didn't answer him. "She can't get away with it." "I told you it wasn't her, didn't I?" "What proof do you have?' he scoffed. "I'm not stupid. It's obvious." Luli tugged on her sleeve and said she needed to pee, so Farryn dropped the conversation to find a spot for her to go.

That was how they journeyed to the station; Claud occasionally saying something about Liviana or Nevan, Farryn rebutting, and then letting the conversation fall. As much as he annoyed her, Farryn didn't think he was a bad person, now that her anger had passed. She thought he was worthlessly stupid and hopelessly confused, but not a monster. And she was grateful she hadn't had to make the walk alone.

The train station was still peaceful when they arrived. Farryn paid for her and Luli's tickets, and Claud paid for his own and joined them as they sat waiting on the platform. Luli seemed to be finally well rested, since she was no longer whining and was happily singing and swinging her legs. Claud regarded her with raised eyebrows. "And who is she really? Liv never mentioned you having another sister."

Farryn wanted to smack the nickname from his mouth, but she didn't. "None of your business. She's with me." She tried not to admit that she didn't know what she would do with Luli. Would she stay with her and Liviana? She couldn't imagine parting with her. Farryn had never felt like the best big sister. When her mother had come home with her sister all those years ago, she hadn't liked her much. All of her crying, the dirty diapers, the new staff that had tended to the baby, and how much time her mother spent with her. She'd never wanted to hold her, and until she was about four she would always pick fights with Liviana.

I suppose distance makes the heart grow fonder. She thought as a train pulled into the station. "Hasin station!!" a man cried out the window as it pulled to a stop. The trio rose and Farryn gripped Luli's hand in hers as they boarded.