Grinning, he agreed amiably, "Being able to talk to them does help, even if they sometimes can't answer in a way I understand."

She sounded a little hesitant, so Briar offered, "Just come inside and upstairs. I'll help you onto the roof once you're there." As Martha entered the house, Briar slid down the roof to the half-open skylight he had climbed out of, opening it the rest of the way and sitting on the windowsill, feet hanging into the attic room.