They darted from shadow to shadow, street to street, Kira trying to keep to places where the shadows loomed like solid pools of black. She strained her senses for signs of danger, hearing the skitterings of rats and once jumping in alarm when a wharf cat darted past. But someone must have spotted them despite Kira's precautions. They had just reached the warehouses fronting on the cargo piers when three figures emerged out of the night as if they had been Mage creatures summoned into existence. Kira froze in mid-step, staring at the old-model Mechanics Guild revolver in one of the men's hands. The other man and a woman held daggers. Even in the dimness Kira could see that the hard faces of the three held no trace of mercy.

The man with the revolver jerked the barrel toward the alley entrance the three had come out of. "In there."

Kira judged her chances and didn't like the odds. Her pistol was still in its holster, since anyone seeing her walking around the city with a weapon in hand would have notified the police for sure. In the time it would take her to reach into her jacket and draw the pistol, the man with the revolver could fire several shots.

If it looks like you don't have a chance, don't throw your life away. Wait until they make a mistake, Aunt Bev had advised Kira.

She hoped the three were only thieves. "You can have our money."

"We'll take the money, and a lot more besides," the man remarked with a derisive laugh. "What are you worth? We already know the boy can earn us a big reward. But how much will the daughter pay to get you back?"

"Maybe," Kira said, trying to keep her voice level, "you should be worrying about what the daughter will do to anyone who hurts her daughter."

"Ain't planning to hurt you, girl," the man said. "Not much, anyway." He grinned unpleasantly. "You ever had a real man before?"

"A real man wouldn't be asking that question," Kira said, not having to feign the contempt in her voice.

"You'll see otherwise!"

"Vac," the woman warned. "We can't waste time."

Jason finally spoke, his voice that of the sullen teen again but with a quavering undercurrent of fear. "You're…you're not going to hurt me, are you?"

Kira was surprised that her foremost emotion at that moment was disappointment.

"No, boy, not as long as you're good," the man said with a scornful laugh. "Both of you, in the alley."

Kira, with the revolver pointed at her, began moving slowly toward the alley, watching for any opportunity, her body tense, adrenaline urging action, any action, while her mind commanded patience.

Jason followed Kira, slouching along with a defeated posture. What had happened to him? Had everything good she had seen of Jason since they left her home been an act?