"Well, this is awkward," Mari said. She holstered her weapon as Kira did the same. "Your father detected a spell. From you. It ceased, but by then we were close enough for him to sense your Mage presence. We thought you were in danger."

"We are," Kira said, putting away her own weapon. "The Urth ship knows that we're near here. Mother, that device from the Urth ship! We broke it. No, we fixed it. Actually, we broke it so we could fix it."

Her mother shook her head. "You sound more like your father every day. The data on that drive that posed a danger has been destroyed?"

"That's what I said!"

Before Kira could say anything else, her mother grabbed her and wrapped her in a fervent hug. "All that matters is that you're all right," Mari whispered to her. "I was so worried."

Kira returned the hug, feeling better than she had in a long time, tears welling in her eyes. "Me, too."

Mari drew back a bit, looking at where Kira's coat sagged open a bit. "Is that blood?"

"Just a little. All right, more than a little. But the cuts were all shallow and they've stopped bleeding, I think. The dragon was trying to kill me!" Kira said.

"The dragon." Mari looked at Alain. "The police told us about a dragon being slain in the city by a woman who looked like me who killed it fighting hand-to-hand. We thought that was a wild exaggeration fed by rumors, or that you'd been badly hurt."

Kira shrugged, then winced because the gesture tugged at the cuts. "I wasn't hurt much. I guess fighting hand-to-hand was what it was. More like hand-to-claw, though."

Her mother shook her head at Kira. "You're not badly hurt?"

"No. Didn't I say that?"

"You fought a dragon hand-to-hand and killed it." Kira's mother surprised her with a smile full of pride. "I never did that, you know."

"You never—?" Kira stared at Mari. "I did something that my mother has never done?"

"That's right." Mari's smile broadened. "Of course, I still have you on numbers, five to one."

"Right now, maybe!" Kira said, laughing. "I have time to catch up!"

Her mother's smile stayed, but took on a wistful tinge. "I never told you, but your namesake was also a dragon slayer. Sergeant Kira killed one the day before she died."

"She did?" Kira wiped away sudden tears. "I hope she's proud of me."

"I'm sure she is, Kira."

Her father interrupted. "Kira, your presence has grown."