"Yeah. Right." Kira leaned back, sighing, too tired to think clearly. "He's just saying that because of my mother. It doesn't really mean anything. People are always saying nice things to me because of her, because they think I must be like her."

"Kira, he has no idea who your mother is."

It took a moment to sink in, then Kira fixed a shocked look on Jason. "He doesn't. He doesn't know who my mother is."

Jason nodded. "And he thinks you did a good job. A real good job."

"Jason, this is the first time in my entire life that I know someone is saying something nice to me because of me and not because of who my mother is." She felt tears starting and blinked furiously, wiping her eyes with one soggy sleeve, flinching as the salt on the cloth stung her eyes.

"Why are you crying?" Jason asked, worried.

"Never mind. I'm fine." She breathed deeply several times and took control of herself. Jason was right. She had gone up that mast, and those other sailors hadn't followed because she was Lady Mari's daughter. They'd seen something in her, Kira, that made them listen to her, made them follow her. Something Kira had never believed she possessed. And she had been scared, more scared than she had ever been, but somehow she had done what was needed. It seemed impossible, but there were the captain's words, and the ship still floated. What did it mean? If she wasn't who she had always thought, a small figure lost in the shadow of the daughter, who was she?

She looked over at Jason, who was haggard with tiredness but gazing into the distance again. Who was he? Not the guy she had thought when they first met. He was smart. He'd shown himself to be kind. He respected her. And yesterday he had proven his bravery. Kira had a flashback of herself going over the side of the ship, helpless against the force of the wave, Jason appearing over the gunwale, his hand reaching to grasp hers in a grip of iron that did not relax until he had pulled her back aboard to safety.

And he had said nothing today about that, about risking his own life to save hers. Had not asked for thanks or praise. Had not expected any reward.

Kira reached out to grasp Jason's chin and turn his face toward her. He was still looking at her in surprise when she kissed him, tasting the sea salt on his lips mingling with that on her own.

When she pulled back, the expression on Jason's face made her laugh. "What? Didn't you like it?" Kira teased, feeling breathless.

"Yeah," Jason finally managed to say, "I liked it. I liked it a lot."

"Good. So did I."

Jason rubbed his face as if trying to convince himself that he was awake. "What does it mean, Kira?"