I was surprised at the utter conviction in my voice, and it seemed to affect Ralph as well, because he let me pull him forward again. I could have sworn when we went by the herbalist, he gave me a look I couldn’t quite read, but it looked a lot like happy surprise.

I kept waiting for him to scold me, ask what I’d been thinking sneaking out alone, or tell me what a burden I was to him, but it never came. He actually looked downright exuberant as he carefully padded over to Ralph, who was ...