"Ouch. You must be really upset. I'm sorry," Mari said. "It's the daughter thing."

"There are times I like the daughter thing even less than Kira does," Alain said.

"I'm sorry," Mari repeated.

Healers had come running to examine Captain Hagen and his police. "It's like they're asleep," one told Mari. "They don't seem to have been hurt, though."

"Let me know the moment they awaken," she said. Mari turned away from the Urth ship, eyeing Alain. "It looked like that woman wasn't able to scan you."

"She revealed only frustration."

"We'll soon know if we're right. If they were able to scan your Mage work, and they're worried about what we might do to their ship next time, that ship might leave without Jason. But if they still need the information on the drive Jason took, they'll hang around despite any other worries."

"But they will act more cautiously," Alain said.

"I think so." She looked toward the large ship looming on the cliff. "Do you remember the first time we talked to Urth? Right after the Great Guilds fell? We thought it was so wonderful."

"It was wonderful," Alain said. "It still is."

"I guess so. We'll keep trying to make things work. There'll be other ships someday." Mari smiled at him. "You saved me again."

"We are not keeping score," he reminded her.

Hunter had settled onto the breakwater protecting the harbor, preening and looking immensely pleased with itself. "Hunter is a mighty Roc," Alain said to Mage Saburo.

"Hunter is…happy," Saburo said. "He did not like the thing that followed us. Hunter wonders if the larger flying objects we can see are prey."

"Not yet," Alain said.

"Hopefully never," Mari said. "Talese Groveen is not a stupid person. I don't think she's going to do anything else that would seriously risk losing her chance at getting back what she wants. Get your rest, Sir Mage," she told Saburo. "We're going to need you, Mage Alber, and your Rocs the moment we hear something else about Kira and Jason."

* * *

Seven days after leaving Dorcastle, the first mate sought out Kira.

"The captain believes that you've earned your passage," the first mate told Kira. "You and J'son will be allowed to leave when we reach Caer Lyn tomorrow."

"Caer Lyn." Kira looked across the water, her stomach suddenly tightening. "May I make a request?"

"What is it?"

"Can J'son and I work our way to your next port of call?"

The first mate crossed her arms and eyed Kira. "That would be Kelsi."

"Kelsi? That would be great!"

"Is there something about Caer Lyn you wish to avoid," the first mate asked, "or something at Kelsi that draws you?"

"Both," Kira said.

"You told us you'd broken no laws. If there's a warrant out for you—"