Mage Alera, one of her parents' oldest friends, stood up and turned to face Kira as she and Jason stumbled to a halt. Older than Kira's parents, Alera had been trained by the old Mage Guild using the brutal methods of the elders, then treated with disdain by those elders because of her special skill.

Her face was almost impassive as she looked at Kira, and Alera didn't say anything as they approached. Mages weren't much for social niceties.

"This one asks a great favor," Kira said as she tried to catch her breath again. "A great favor from Lady Mage Alera."

A trace of a smile flitted across Alera's face. "This one sees that one Kira. You ask…help?"

"Yes. Really big help. For this one, and that one," Kira said, pointing to Jason.

"That one needs Swift?"

"This one needs Swift. There is no mightier Roc than Swift."

"Where?" Alera asked.

"Somewhere near Ihris. Or at least over the pass. We have to get out of here as fast as possible. I don't know why you're here—"

"This one sought…family."

"Oh!" Kira said. "I hope it went better this time."

"This one thinks it did." Mage Alera looked dispassionately at Kira, then at Jason. "Both of you over the pass? Swift can do this."

Kira caught the trace of pride in Alera's voice. "Yes. This one has missed Swift."

"Swift has been resting. This one will call Swift."

"Thank you, Mage Alera!" Kira turned an exultant smile on Jason. "We're all right! Mage Alera will take us over the pass!"

Jason stared at Kira, then at Alera as the Mage walked a short distance away. "How? Is she going to carry us?"

"No, Swift is going to carry us."

"Who is Swift?"

A huge bird, somewhat like a hawk but immensely larger, suddenly appeared standing near Mage Alera.

"That's Swift," Kira said.

Jason gaped at the Roc. "Where did it come from?"

"Mage Alera made it. Mages who can create Rocs always make the same one, and the Rocs somehow remember. Even though they go away each time the spell is exhausted, the Rocs remember their Mage and things that have happened."

"It's a giant bird," Jason said, still looking stunned.

"Not really," Kira said. "It's the illusion of a giant bird."

"So it's a machine of some kind that looks like a bird?" Jason asked.

"No, it's not a machine or device," Kira said. "It's a bird."

"But not a real bird. How does it fly if it's an illusion?"

"It doesn't," Kira said. "The illusion of a bird creates the illusion of flight."

"It's not real," Jason said, "and it doesn't really fly."

"Right."

"So it can't take it us away from here."

"Of course it can," Kira said.

Jason gave her a baffled look. "How does the illusion of a bird creating the illusion of flight allow us to go from one spot to another on the actual surface of a world?"