The apologetic look that precedes his response is probably answer enough.

"I'm sorry, I've never heard of that. And I think you won't have heard of where I'm from either." Kai hurriedly scribbles a few more words and angles what he intends to be a reassuring smile at Lirael. "I know I'm not in my world, and maybe you're not in yours either. But it's okay. This spirit should be able to travel back to mine. The people I work for won't let us come to any harm."

While not a lie, this is certainly the most optimistic rendering of the likely outcomes, if his demon can in fact make it back. The dog prances away from Lirael's hands to peer attentively up at Kai, tongue hanging out in its best imitation of canine eagerness.