Stone Circle fortunate son

Valette's warning struck Alya as strange; she didn't know why for a moment, until she realized she was wondering:

Did anyone speak of her in this way? Would a mother one day beg her daughter, Please be careful; Alya is dangerous in the same way Valette begged her now? Sometimes, it felt as though those days were behind her, but it was less and less now that she lived once more with her birth family rather than the one she'd gained by marriage.

"I'll be careful. And if I can find anything out, I'll make sure you hear of it," she said solemnly, thoughts still churning. "Next time, I'll come back with Nikai," she added with a wag of her tail, offering Leta one last smile. "Do you mind if I rest a day or so here before heading back?"