I put my hand against the bark of the Baobab tree, feeling in it the faint pulse of life and magic that was starting to grow familiar. Landy's cavalier attitude made me double guess myself. I looked back at the old man.

"What do I say?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Just ask, child. There ain't nothing wrong with asking."

I returned my attention to the tree. Just ask. It didn't need to be a whole ceremony. I didn't need to think about how badly I wanted this, how badly I wanted to ...