She shook her head. "I don't know. I'm not sure of anything right now. Is that all right? But I might kiss you again sometime. If that's all right."

"Any time you want to kiss me is fine with me!"

Kira's laughter was interrupted by the arrival of the first mate, a large bruise visible on one side of her forehead.

"That's enough cuddling, you lovebirds. I hope you're not expecting easy treatment for saving my life," she added with a sharp look at Kira.

"Not from you," Kira said, smiling. "You don't do easy."

"Maybe you are as smart as the captain says. You might make a decent second mate," the first mate said. "Supervise the foremast. I'll take the main." She raised her voice to yell to the rest of the crew. "Everyone on your feet! The wind is slackening! Make sail! And give a hand for the ship's new second mate!"

* * *

Kira and the first mate leaned on the railing as The Son of Taris approached the harbor of Kelsi. The sun shone brightly on the waves, sparking golden glints from the water, while the breeze played with their hair and filled the sails of the ship. It was as if the angry sea they had fought a few days before had never been, and for a few moments, there was no call for work. "Are you sure you wish to leave us?" the first mate asked her. "The captain would be pleased to have you stay on with the crew. The boy, too. You'd likely be safer from whatever it is you're running from."

"Thank you," Kira said, smiling at the passing water. "But having us aboard wouldn't make you safer. Every time we pulled into port you'd face danger on our account. No, we have to land at Kelsi. There's something we must do."

"To safeguard that thing from the Urth ship?" The first mate gave her a speculative look. "You seem happier around him than when you came aboard."

"He's been showing me a lot of good character, don't you think?"

"Oh, aye. I myself have always been partial to those that save my life. Would your parents approve of all this, Kara? His and yours?"

"Yes," Kira said. "I am certain that my parents approve of what I'm doing. His parents…don't have a say in the matter."

"Well enough. Your mother served the daughter during the war, you said. What about your father?"

"Yes. He served the daughter as well."

"Were either of them at Dorcastle? On the last wall?"

No matter what other differences between people existed, Kira had always been aware of the most basic one her world knew. There were those who had helped hold the last wall, and there was everyone else.

Kira inhaled deeply as she thought of how to answer that. Not wanting to lie to the first mate, she finally told the truth. "Both of them."