"Mommy is back and will stay home with you. Most of the time." Even Jirni didn't have the heart to lie to her daughter like that, knowing that Dripha might remember and her tiny heart would be scarred once Jirni went back on her word.
"Yay!" Dripha didn't understand much of what Jirni said, but she understood enough. "Mama 'tay. 'tay." Finally at peace, Dripha fell asleep, and the Rune Stores fell to the ground.
"What's going on, Mom?" Friya asked in confusion.
"Dripha thinks that your father and I abandoned her because of these stupid things, and that we've returned for the same reason." Jirni emitted the softest snarl her daughters had ever heard. "I'm going to kill someone for this."
Lith could only imagine the fury seething below Jirni's stoic expression, so he decided to give her some privacy and conduct his business elsewhere. He moved to the master bedroom and pressed Baron Wyalon's rune.
