Closing my eyes, I took two deep breaths. Surely the nonsense didn't start as soon as he opened his eyes? Surely the Goddess was not so cruel?

"Star? Star? Star?"

Apparently ignoring him didn't work. He'd pushed up onto his knees, both arms lifted, fingers opening and closing, going all jazz hands on me, and the chant grew faster and faster until it became unclear what he was even saying.

"Enough," I warned, silencing him. "I'm not picking you up. You're wet."

"Wurta is wet," Lumen said happily, his arms dropping to his sides as a goofy grin stole away at his face. He still had milk teeth, the gaps...