"If it did come to exile, could you do it?" she asked. "Could you go North? I know what everyone seems to think about it, but . . . " She broke off. "Dierdre, I'm torn. I want to say to trust in the Queen. Anything else will likely get us both in worser stead."

"Better north than Refuge, right?" Dierdre asked pitifully. "Nialla, I don't know, I don't know. I've never been North. How am I supposed to know if I can stand it unless that's what they have me do?"

"I will be there an she tries you," she promised, eyes solemn. "Beg, bribe, and if it be that it's worse than Refuge, we'll smuggle you out. But there's nothing else for it but that you will have to face justice. You knew that from the start."

Dierdre nodded and put a finger to Niabheara's lips."I did," she agreed. "I do know it. And I will do it honorably, sweetling." Her breath caught in her throat. "Are you going back to Cnoch-na-Niall?"

She kissed Dierdre's fingertip, then moved her hand away. "I have to before the first storms." Her eyes slid away. "Marcello may not be going with us."

Dierdre frowned. "What?" she asked. "Why not? Is-- did something happen? With his sister, or...?" She looked honestly concerned.

She sighed. "I told him. He knows."

Dierdre went quiet and still and slipped her hands away from Niabheara. "Oh," she replied. "And he...he's leaving you?" she asked. "I-- I'm sorry, Nialla, I didn't mean for this to hurt you. But if he...if he's just going to leave like that, then he's not...it wasn't meant to work."

"I went about it very badly. He's upset. I know not what his plans might be, but as it stands . . . " She shrugged. "I wouldn't much blame him no matter what he decides."

"Oh, shh, love," Dierdre said, stroking the younger girl's hair. "If he...no. I don't blame him," she said, "but all the same...if I must leave you, and he leaves you, too... I can't bear to think you'll be all alone."