"We've just been hearing of a big fight in Kelsi a few days past. Dark Mages and other scum. There was a fight in the streets at night, with gunshots, and more gun battles along the sea-facing wall, on the waters of the harbor, and the nearby coast."

Alain felt fear. "What else is known?"

"The criminals who were rounded up wouldn't talk, but with the help of a Mage the interrogators were fairly certain the incident did involve your daughter. I just this morning received the report from my counterpart in Kelsi."

"But what of our daughter and the boy Jason?"

The official shook his head. "No trace of them. Except that a boat owner claimed he was hijacked by a boy and a girl that night, and his boat was later found farther down the coast, abandoned."

Mari stared to the west. "We haven't heard any far-talker messages from anyone claiming to have the boy or my daughter. Have you?"

"No, Lady," another official said. "You know that the reward sheets dropped by the Urth ship are…vague on whether or not the boy and your daughter need to be found alive."

"Yes," Mari said, her voice almost as emotionless as that of a Mage. "We have noticed that."

"But still no one has tried to claim the reward," the official added hastily.

"Meaning they are not dead," Alain said.

"That is my assumption."

The police official spoke again. "Kelsi has been turned upside down since the fight. If the boy and your daughter were being held there, it seems unlikely that no one would have found them. And if your daughter had been found by any of your friends in Kelsi—and you have many, many friends in Kelsi as you do in all the Free Cities—the word would have come to me by quiet means so that I could inform you if I met you."

"Thank you," Mari said. "That is reassuring. Alain? Where would they have gone from Kelsi? Kira knows we have friends in Alexdria. General Flyn among them."

"Kira also knows that Alexdria can be reached only through a few mountain passes," Alain said. "They would be easily trapped there. You said the boat was found abandoned along the coast? In which direction from the city?"

"West, Sir Mage. A search was made there and inland as far as the entrance to the pass toward Ihris. On foot, they couldn't have out-paced the searchers."

"I am beginning to suspect," Alain said, "that it is a serious mistake to underestimate our daughter."

"But, Sir Mage, unless they flew…" The officials exchanged glances.

"Yes. Unless. Mari, I think we should go to Ihris."

"We'll need new Rocs. Mage Saburo and Mage Alber are worn out."

"I am certain some Mages who create Rocs are available for hire at the former Mage Guild Hall," another official offered.