"I can't. Wanda can't. Lucien couldn't, if memory of what Wanda told me was correct," and I nod. "We both tried it, a few times.... walk one direction or the other, end up back here."

"Well, fine, but why did you think I couldn't?" I say. "Mean, not as if I swore myself t'the thing in the tower, nor was woven up by one beholden to it and one half its daughter, and Lucien was tied up with the Carnival. There's Dorian Gray as's left town, bloody sure Hollow at least crossed its bounds last winter when the Abney girl went missing, that sulking rat as used to work the Tavern, Essa Timcar's daughter..."

"Just hearing that someone with ties to town is able to leave makes me hopeful whatever has bound us here may have loosened it's grip."

"Best to you both, then," I say, "but not guessing my ties to town are a match to yours," and then he's after making apologies for keeping me up.

"Bloody aren't," I say, grinning a little. Mean, we've been walking as we spoke, and hardly as if I'd not cut the talk short were I minded to. "Go along home, then, if you're after hurrying." Wave him along, and settle back to my stroll.