I wanted to go home. Leave this crazy place with its crazy people.

Crazy leader, I amended. The people were okay.

But I couldn't just yet. Not if there was even a slim chance that Tessia could come with me. She didn't want to be near my mother anymore either. But it wasn't until after I'd left Niralessa sitting there on the ground that I realized I'd forgotten to ask her about Tessia.

Gah, why did everything always come back to that woman?

I found Sember at the edge of Camp, leaning against a tree with one bare foot against it, brushing dirt off the boot in her hands. Growing up, she'd never bothered cleaning her shoes. But these boots were a gift from Jastin, so of course she'd want to maintain them. The thought made me smile.

"Hey," I said as I approached.

"Hey." Her solemn expression told me she had probably heard my conversation with Niralessa.

"So that went well." I couldn't stop the sarcastic edge in my voice.

"Is it always like that?"

"Seems like it."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I wanted to know about my parents, and now I do. Of course, one's dead now because the other one can't stop being stupid, but hey, what can you do?"

Sember slipped her boot back on. "I don't know her very well, but maybe . . ." She glanced at the green woman, who was now talking to Minocken. "Maybe she's trying?"

When I gave her a blank look, she continued. "I get the impression she's a woman of action. She sees a problem, she takes the necessary steps to solve it. By whatever means necessary."

I gave her a funny look. "Are you describing yourself?"

She fidgeted with the end of her braided hair. "Maybe a little, sure. But I was talking about her. And maybe you."

"Me?"

"Well, yeah. You left Foresthome without telling anyone—"

"I told Remi."

"—and returned Kimmy—"

"Kibi."

"—to a tribe you've never been to before all by yourself—"

"Fen and Tessia came with me."

Her green eyes flashed with irritation. "Will you stop interrupting me?"

"If you're going to lecture me, you should at least get the facts straight."

She blew a breath out through her nose. "My point is—" She blinked a few times. "Blast it, you made me forget!"

I held back a childish giggle. "Maybe it wasn't important."

She held up a finger in warning. "My point is, you're a woman of action too. You do things without consulting people. Maybe you're not that different from your mother."

Not that different. Hmm. The thought put a sour taste in my mouth, but that did make sense. A little. Maybe very little.

Or maybe a lot. I shook my head, wanting to hold on to my righteous indignation. And wanting everything to be okay.

I couldn't have both.

I rubbed a hand over my face. "What am I supposed to do?"

Sember shrugged helplessly.

I gave her a devious grin. "How about we blow this place up and pretend it never existed?"

"You don't mean that."

"No," I said with a groan. "I don't. I actually like these people. That's the problem."

"It is?"

"Caring about people makes everything complicated."

She nodded with understanding.

"I don't want to talk to her again so soon."

"Then wait. Remi and I will wait with you."

Such great friends are worth voting for.