She freecasts to the orchard again.

Etty is inside the castle, but she's looking out a window; she waves when she sees Nona.

Nona waves back, appears beside her, and gives her a hug. She's wearing some of Alice's old clothes - blue jeans and a faded black T-shirt.

Etty's still in her feather dress; she just doesn't care enough to bother changing it when it fits and appears all by itself so conveniently. Hug! "Carl and Renate are back in Astgabels, now, but they visit some time in a few days. I think they will adjust to everything, but it may take time."

"Okay," says Nona, snuggling her.

"I am sorry if Carl made you uncomfortable."

"He didn't, exactly. I just - didn't want to be here when there was someone here who didn't want me to be. So I went somewhere else."

"He will get used to you."

"If you say so."

"I think so, anyway. If he does not perhaps I will borrow somebell else's father from a more enlightened culture and see what he makes of that."

Nona laughs. "I love you. Would you really?"

"Well, I am not sure who might loan me theirs, but I might really inquire."

"I love you," says Nona. "I hope your father does get used to me."

"I love you too. And I hope so too."

Snuggle hug.

Huggle! "How did you spend your time somewhere-else, or don't I want to know?"

"With Jokers," says Nona. "We did some things that weren't sex."

"Interesting things?"

"I baked a cake!" she says proudly.

"Ooh. Probably it's all gone now."

"I could conjure you a piece."

"Ooh, will you?"

"I'm glad you like my cake so much," says Nona. "I will make more."

"That sounds lovely."

"Good! I like baking cake."

"I used to make cake occasionally but I don't miss it."

"It's fun. And then it's cake!"

"That is how it works, yes."

She giggles.

Nuzzle.

Ooh. Nuzzles. They're nuzzly!

They are!

Nuzzle nuzzle.