"Because sometimes I just don't get it." The answer came quickly, as if it was something he had been thinking about a lot. "I mean, I try these days, I really do. But a lot of the time the things other people take for granted just doesn't occur to me. Like that it would be bad to have a five year old plan a jailbreak. I mean I know that now, because it was pointed out to me that it's bad, but chances are I might screw up something else instead. Just because it doesn't occur to me that it might be problematic."

He grimaced in frustration. "Life is so bloody complicated. Just as people. I honestly don't plan to make half the mess of things that I end up doing."

Morgana cupped her hands over her mouth and giggled. "I'm sorry. You realise she had only two winters more than Acorn has now? Of course Niabheara's spent most of her life three winters older than she had any right to be."

She looked more kindly on Jochy. "You think it's any different for anyone else? We do the best we can and try not to hurt too many people in the process. You haven't really had anyone you were afraid to lose."

"I'm afraid to lose everyone." Jochy gave her a surprisingly serious glance. "Why do you think I cling so damn hard even when people try to get rid of me? Hell, Nialla even threatened to kill me more than once, and when a Niall is promising to do that yer kinda sits up and takes notice."

That was one of his biggest fears. Ending up alone. He was skirting too close to it as it were.

"Just don't know how to keep them, so I just try to... well, be useful I suppose. I can be that."

"And this is why you are going back to the Mainland?" she asked. "To be useful? Well," she said to herself, "the gods know I can't counter the logic of being useful."

"Yeah. And, I mean I like her. I don't want her possessed by a vengeful spirit or anything. Maybe I can fix that. Without wrecking something else this time. I already sorta blew up her house even if it wasn't my fault." Jochy scratched his neck a little.

"I suppose I ain't that easy to be friends with come to think of it."

Morgana gave him a half-smile. "You make it such trouble to know you," she chided gently. "Your Cara is fond enough of you."

"She hasn't known me that long yet." Jochy chuckled. "But she's a weird one herself. So far it's been undead rat monsters, bloodsucking resurrectionists, being almost set on fire, bombarded with pickled bodyparts and ending up transported to another part of the world without warning. She's holding up surprisingly fine. I hope."

He got a slightly worried look on his face.

"But I always think that until it's too late."

"If she survived all that then she won't break from you asking her, will she?" Meg replied, rather archly. "You are not made of stone, nor is anyone in the world who isn't you made of straw. I will say this much: if you ask her nothing at all, you'll lose her faster than if you offend her with some stupid question."

"True..." He scratched his neck a little. "I've asked her some impressively stupid questions, and she's still around. That's got to count for something."

He looked around a little, then lowered his voice into a conspiratory "Did she actually say that she liked me?"

"Oh for pity's sake, Jochy." She flapped her hands at him. "Go and ask. Besides, I've been asking her the most ignorant questions in all the world in there. I confess, she is quite beyond me."