Well, Kettricken is made of stern stuff, that's for sure. Pepper had barely contained her panic when she first arrived and that was only because Gene and Tony had been there with her.

"Well, it's not impossible, exactly," she amends gently. "Just not one you can take with a ship. People have been trying to figure out the magic of how we get here for centuries, and they haven't yet." Pepper gestures to the nasty little shadow over Kettricken's shoulder. "You won't be staying in Aifaran for long, probably. A couple of weeks, and then the Dreaming - that's the thing that brought you here - will send you back home." She holds out her wrist and shows Kettricken the small, shimmering tattoo there. "If you get one of these when you arrive, it means you're staying here a while. I've been here for a few years."

Sort of. Best not to confuse her with those details just yet, since it's not that important. Pepper hesitates, and though she's still smiling it turns a little sad. "I know it's hard to believe, but... well, my dad has been here like you before - temporarily, just for a few weeks. If I could see him more often, I would."