Her father and other Mages had taught her a lot about meditation. Kira used that now, trying to block out the world, seeking the calm, strong center within her where her spirit rested. Even though a thousand things sought to distract her, she closed her eyes and methodically blocked out thoughts and feelings, narrowing her world to that center within her. She had no idea how much time was passing, and blocked any worries about that as well.

When Kira slowly opened her eyes, the only thing in the world was that table and the drive on it. No. The illusion of a drive, resting on the illusion of a table. Neither really existed. They were illusions created by the minds of people to give order to the universe. This building, this world, were nothing.

Nothing. Illusion.

Something shifted within her. Kira wasn't sure what, and didn't want the distraction of trying to figure out. Her eyes stayed on the oddly shaped rock on the table. The illusion of a rock. Kira felt power within her, and power outside, power that came from the world itself. Her mind took hold of that power as she focused on the rock. She would change that illusion, lay upon it a smaller illusion that part of the rock was not there. Never had been there. The rock was not that odd shape. One side wasn't there.

She felt the power flow through her and fix upon the illusion of a rock, and suddenly part of it was gone.

Someone gasped behind her, but Kira kept her attention focused only on the rock.

Chapter 16

Alain had directed Mage Tania to land her Roc in a square inside Ihris. The Roc carrying Mari landed beside them. He felt an inexplicable urgency that canceled out his and Mari's concerns to remain little noticed until they knew what was happening in Ihris.

The nearest police officers came running up, saluting as they saw who had stepped down from the Rocs. "We're at your service, Lady Mari."

"Let your superiors know we're in the city. My husband and I need to move quickly, so let us pass."

"Did you come because of the dragon?"

"A dragon?" Alain asked.

"One appeared in the southeastern district a very short time ago, Sir Mage. But the latest report said it had been slain." The officers exchanged glances. "By you, Lady."

"I just got here," Mari said, then her eyes widened as she stared at Alain. "Someone who looked like me. Kira. She slew a dragon?"

"In hand-to-hand combat, Lady," the officer said as it not expecting to be believed.

"We need to go. Thank you."

The police stood aside as Alain strode rapidly down a street, Mari keeping up. "Where are we going, Alain? Do you think Kira is all right?"

"I have a sense I must go this way," he said, trying to keep his emotions under control. His daughter, facing a dragon. "Hand-to-hand."