Determined not to look frightened, Kira went up a steep ladder onto the deck, blinking against the bright sunlight after being in the dark for so long. The Son of Taris turned out to be of only moderate size and square-rigged, sails visible overhead on two masts. Steam-powered ships were becoming more common, but sailing ships similar to this still carried the great majority of seagoing trade. The Son of Taris could have been built at any time in the centuries that made up the history of Dematr.

Kira caught glimpses of men and women in the crew watching with curiosity as she and Jason were marched aft to where a man in a long greatcoat stood watching them grimly. "What have we here, First Mate?" he asked the woman.

"Stowaways, Captain. They were inside one of the crates we loaded at Dorcastle."

The captain gave Kira and Jason a look that measured them and did not appear to be impressed. "Was there any damage to the cargo?"

"No," Kira said. "The casting was not damaged."

"Oh? So you're a master mechanic, then, girl? Quiet until I ask a question of you!" The captain turned to the first mate.

The first mate shook her head. "They pulled out packing, but the contents of the crate were not damaged."

"Lucky for them," the captain said. "Your names?"

Kira almost sagged with relief as she realized that these sailors, making only a brief stop in Dorcastle, did not recognize her and had not seen the posted pictures of Jason. Since this ship was highly unlikely to have a far-talker aboard, the crew might have little knowledge of recent events. "I'm Kara. Kara of Minut. This is J'son of…Cape Henri."

"Cape Henri?" the captain questioned. "I've met few who even know where that is, and never anyone from near there."

"Well…I am," Jason said with a glance at Kira and a surly nod.

"Are you now? You speak oddly enough."

"The girl was carrying this," the first mate told the captain, offering the pistol in its holster.

The captain looked it over like someone examining trade goods for value. "This isn't a cheap copy out of Ringhmon. It's fine work out of Danalee, with the mark of Master Mechanic Alli herself on it. And this holster is well crafted, too, out of Tiae from the finish on the leather. Yes, there's the royal maker's mark. Where did you get both?"

"My mother gave them to me," Kira said.

"And is your mother Master Mechanic Alli?" the captain asked sarcastically. "Or perhaps the Queen of Tiae?"

"No, sir. Neither one," Kira said. She wondered what the captain would have said if she had claimed both Aunt Alli and Queen Sien as friends.

"You were wearing this when the first mate found you? Why didn't you threaten her with it?"

"She asked me the same," Kira said. "I'll give you the same answer. Because I'm not a murderer and I'm not a fool."