Kira's legs finally gave out. She dropped down into the high grass, Jason sitting beside her. The weight of the pistol under her coat reminded her of what she had done, of what she might have to do again. "I guess sometimes the way Urth sees things might be a lot easier. Just another form of life."

He shook his head. "It shouldn't be easier, should it?"

"No. It shouldn't." Kira covered her face with her hands. "I'll be all right, Jason. It's just really hard to talk about."

It's just really hard to talk about. How many times had her mother said something like that? And how many times had Kira pressed her anyway, demanding to know why her mother wouldn't share important things with her? If those things hurt, wouldn't talking make it better? And why couldn't Mari talk to her own daughter about them? I made it about me. Mother was hurting so bad inside and couldn't tell me why and I made it about me.

I have to survive this. I have to see her again. So I can tell her how sorry I am.

She inhaled deeply again. "We need to keep moving."

"Kira, if we try to get up, both of us are going to turn into jelly."

She made an attempt to rise and realized that Jason was right. "We'll rest a little while. Then we'll move again."

Kira didn't remember falling asleep. When she awoke, the sun was high in the sky. Jason lay beside her, still dead to the world.

She struggled up, worried about how much time must have passed.

There were riders visible down the slope toward the city. They were riding this way, spread out in a search line.

And beyond them, gliding in over the sea from the south, were some of the flying things that Jason called drones.

* * *

Lady Mage Asha was one of Alain's closest friends, and close to Mari as well. She had been like an aunt to Kira since Kira was a baby. Foresight often required an emotional connection to another, so it was not surprising when Alain and Mari received a message from Asha saying that she had seen a vision of them going aboard a ship in the harbor of Marida. The name of the ship hadn't been fully visible, but ended with the word "Taris."

And the vision had held a sense of urgency.

* * *

"Get up!" Kira shook Jason. "They're looking for us!"

Jason stumbled to his feet, looking around, still dizzy from sleep. "Who's looking for us?"

"Everybody!"

The road to the pass should still lie north of them, and even though they would be more likely to see and be seen by other people on the road, anyone heading toward the pass but avoiding the road would attract a lot more attention. Walking overland was also harder than using the road, and neither she nor Jason could afford to keep pushing themselves more than they absolutely had to.