"No," Kira said. "There's no warrant. But…there are a lot of Imperials at Caer Lyn. And we do need to reach the Free Cities. We will work just as hard as we have so far. We'll work harder, if that's what's needed."

"Girl, the first rule of bargaining is not to let the other know how badly you want something." The first mate studied Kira again. "I'll ask the captain."

Jason came by while Kira was waiting for the first mate to return. "What's up?"

"I asked them to let us stay on the ship longer."

He stared at her. "Us? Shouldn't you have asked me first?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't have time. Jason, it is important that I not be ashore at Caer Lyn. If we do end up there, we'll need to get out again as fast as possible. But it would be very risky."

"Why is it riskier there?" Jason asked.

"The Imperials. They have a lot of influence in the Sharr Isles. And they want me."

His gaze grew puzzled. "Why?"

"Because…" She gritted her teeth, embarrassed to have to talk about it, and looked around to ensure no one else could hear them. "They want me to marry one of their princes. And even though I'm underage, the emperor could make an exception to that law in a heartbeat."

"But if you don't want to marry one of them—"

"They'd drug me, Jason, or threaten Mother, or something. The Imperial court is a vicious place where the princes and princesses are in constant competition, which means everything from spreading nasty rumors about each other to assassination attempts."

"Wow." Jason nodded to her. "I'll do anything I have to so that won't happen."

"Thank you. You'd have every right to complain."

"Somebody warned me that if I kept complaining she'd hurt me," Jason said, grinning.

Kira laughed. "Sometimes I'm not very subtle." She turned as the first mate returned, straightening to attention as she saw the captain was there as well.

The captain frowned at her and at Jason. "You wish to remain aboard as crew until Kelsi?"

"Yes, sir," Kira said.

"There's a problem. I could in good conscience work you without pay on the way to Caer Lyn, because you were stowaways. But from Caer Lyn to Kelsi you would be crew, and deserving of crew pay. We already have a full crew, so it would be a stretch for the ship to afford that."

"That's all right," Kira said. "We would work for passage again."

"All right with you, perhaps," the captain said. "But I have ever insisted on paying an honest wage for honest work. It would not sit well with me to not pay you the wages you have earned. Nor would the crew be happy, worrying that perhaps I was planning to short them on pay if I could find the likes of you willing to do the same work for little or nothing."