Kira sat huddled in the boat next to Jason, who was watching the oars being worked. She stayed quiet, trying to understand why she kept telling Jason things that she had rarely or ever shared with anyone else. What was it about him? She shook her thoughts, recentering them on the city ahead. They couldn't linger in Kelsi. It was far too likely that people were figuring out that she and Jason had sailed from Dorcastle, which meant every other port would be the focus of searches for them. How quickly could they leave? It was already afternoon, and some cities still sealed their gates at night. Kelsi, worried about smuggling and Imperial plots, was surely one of them.

The boat came alongside the pier, Kira and Jason jumping out to help tie up. The first mate nodded to them. "Get out of here, you two, before the customs officials starting wondering who you are."

"Thanks," Kira said. "I'll miss you, too." She waved to the other sailors, who grinned and waved their farewells, then walked rapidly down the pier with Jason beside her.

"What's the plan?" Jason asked.

"There isn't a train out of Kelsi—" Kira began.

"Thank you!" Jason said.

She glared at him. "As I was saying, the rail line to Ihris is still being built. We'll need to find another way to get there."

"Why are we going to Ihris?"

"That area has enough people to hide among, enough open space to make sure no one sees enough of you to know how different you are, and some relatives of mine who can help us if we need that. But our first priority is getting out of Kelsi before the gates shut for the night. I don't want to spend any longer here than we have to."

Jason looked around. "I don't see any drones. The search must not have expanded out this far yet."

"I don't see any of those pictures of you, either, but for all we know they could show up tomorrow." Kira pointed inland. "We can stop for something to eat, and some trail food, but we need to get through the city before sunset."

As they went through the city, getting only the occasional and apparently casual glance from others, Kira watched the lowering sun anxiously, trying to time their departure close to sunset but not too close. She veered into a market square, looking for food stalls, and got them quick meals. "These are really good," Kira told Jason, offering him some of the pastries stuffed with meat and gravy. "They have them in Alexdria, too."

"That's north of here?"

"Yes." Kira pointed into the mountains. "In a high mountain valley. It's really beautiful. Maybe we can go there sometime."

"Huh?" Jason eyed her. "You mean, you and me? On a trip? For fun?"

"Yeah, why not?" Kira smiled at him. "We are friends, right?"

"Right," Jason said, concentrating on his food.