The doors closed behind us.

  Just like that, the noise of the court became distant, swallowed by stone and authority that no longer concerned me.

  I stood in the corridor, trying to understand how my life had just continued without my permission. Ruth, perhaps sensing my tension, settled himself down on my foot, leaning into my leg. Without thinking, I ruffled the soft fur between his ears.

  “Well, I’m not sure what I expected, but that wasn’t it.” I said.

  It came out thinner than I intended.

  Eithna did not answer immediately.

  Laurice had already stepped a respectful distance away, speaking quietly with one of the attendants.

  Leaving us space.

  Or privacy.

  I wasn’t sure which.

  “Well?” I tried again.

  “What exactly am I not supposed to hear?”

  Eithna exhaled slowly.

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  “There is a vote taking place,” she said.

  “A decision about the future of Tir Na Nog… and of your world.”

  My heart stumbled.

  “What kind of decision?”

  She hesitated.

  Long enough to make me hate it.

  “Whether the ways between our realms will remain open,” she said at last.

  “Or be closed.”

  Closed.

  The word echoed in the empty corridor.

  Permanent without needing to say so.

  “Closed.” I repeated. “For how long?”

  This time Eithna answered without pause.

  “For as long as it must be.”

  It was somehow no answer at all.

  I dragged a hand through my hair, trying to make sense of it.

  “But why would anyone want to do that?”

  “Because not everything that can travel between the worlds is a friend to our kind or yours.”

  I looked back toward the doors.

  “They’re deciding that now?”

  “Yes.”

  “And I can’t be in the room because…?”

  Her eyes met mine.

  Because you matter, she almost said.

  I saw it.

  But what she gave me was:

  “Because you are involved.”

  Involved.

  That was somehow worse.

  Ruth leaned in harder against my leg, letting out a quiet snort as if he didn’t like the sound of that either.

  Laurice returned, his expression giving nothing away.

  “They will send for you when the matter is settled,” he said.

  “Until then, you should prepare yourself.”

  “For what?” I asked.

  They couldn’t help but share a quick glance, neither of them answered.