Three weeks later (geesh!) when Daine was reading Ryvre a book, someone rapped on the door. Daine put down the book and walked over to the door and opened it.
"Alanna!" she gasped and hugged the redhead. When she let go of her, she asked, "What are you doing here in Snowsdale? Goddess, how long has it been since I saw you? "
"I just thought I'd stop by, that's all," Alanna said, stepping inside. "About six years, I think."
Daine frowned. "So you just happened to be in Galla? What's the real reason, Alanna?"
She looked around the home and Ryvre hid on a chair where she couldn't see her. Strangers always made her nervous.
"Has Numair left yet?" she asked. "Jonathon is getting testy."
"Yes." Daine looked at her horrified. "He left a few weeks ago. Why, he hasn't gotten there yet?"
"I didn't mean to frighten you, Daine," Alanna said. "But, no, he hasn't gotten there yet."
She hummed nervously, wondering what could have happened. "M-maybe there's just a lot of people on the roads."
Alanna shook her head. "It was practically empty when I was traveling up here."
Ryvre took a deep rattling breath and jumped off the chair. She walked slowly toward her mother and grabbed her skirts and looked up into Daine's eyes.
"Why isn't daddy at Corus, yet, mommy?" she cried, already knowing that she didn't know.
Daine picked her up as Alanna's eyes widened.
"You have a daughter?!" she rasped. "She's so adorable!"
Ryvre looked at her and smiled. Daine sighed and walked over to their kitchen table. She sat down and motioned for Alanna to sit next to her. Ryvre went over and sat on the cushioned chair on the other side of the large room. Daine glared at her.
"Ryvre, I think it's time for you to go to bed," she said, pointing toward an old staircase. "This isn't a conversation for children."
Ryvre sighed and got up from her chair. Looking back at Alanna, she walked up the stairs and into her room. Now she let it out; tears streamed down her fragile cheeks and she fell on her bed and sobbed, worried for her father.