"As I have told you," Alain said, "Mages can see when someone speaks the truth, as your son did. And when someone does not speak the truth."

"You're clearly withholding information," Talese Groveen said, ignoring the clear implication of Alain's last statement. "Where is my son?"

"We're looking for him," Mari said. "Surely you've seen the extent of the search activity underway."

"The appearance of search activity, perhaps. Why haven't you broadcast an order to your daughter to turn in herself and my son to the nearest authorities?"

"Your ship has been interfering with my attempts to use far-talkers," Mari replied. "I'm also still trying to understand why my daughter would have left with your son," she added.

"Are you really that naïve?" Talese Groveen asked.

"Not at all," Mari said, trying not to lose her temper again. "Because I know and trust my daughter. She's not the problem, in any event. We wouldn't be facing this if you hadn't lost your son to begin with. Why is your son trying to hide from you?"

Groveen waved a dismissive hand. "Adolescent rebellion. Mindless, unthinking, hormonally driven attempts to circumvent adult authority."

"Do you often refer to your son as mindless and unthinking?" Alain asked.

"When it fits! I believe in holding people accountable for their actions and for their failures. You would do well to remember that, especially since my patience is rapidly running out."

"Calling someone mindless does not hold them accountable," Alain said in impassive tones. "It excuses their failures by assuming they can do no better if given responsibility and advice. If your son is as incapable as you suggest, even the best efforts of our daughter could not have kept them from being found before now."

"Blaming your failures on my son's efforts? Pitiful. I understand he was on a train but somehow no one intercepted him at the train's stop!"

"He and Kira were not aboard when the train arrived," Mari said. "They must have jumped from the train while it was moving."

"You do think I'm a fool! My son? Jump from a moving train? Something that requires skill and bravery? He couldn't do anything like that, not even with your daughter goading him on, doubtless feeding his hopes of physical reward—"

"Did you actually just say that?" Mari's voice was sharp enough to halt Talese Groveen's words. "Is Urth really such a backward place that they believe girls exist solely to use their bodies to tempt boys?"

"Of course not!" Groveen insisted. "But in this case—"