Kira didn't ask any more questions, thinking her mother's answer couldn't be true, that no one could be scared and do the things her mother had done.

Mari also didn't say anything else until Kira's father entered the coach. "Is everything all right, Alain?"

"Perhaps." He sat down, frowning slightly. "Before I received Kira's warning, I did demonstrate a small spell at the request of some of the Urth people. All I did was create the illusion of mild heat above my hand. I did not agree to anything, even though they did ask for approval for something. I only demonstrated."

"Hopefully that's all right. Kira, did you actually say the Urth people were planning on making thousands of girls who were…me?"

"Hundreds of thousands," Kira said.

"Truly a frightening idea," her father said.

To Kira's surprise, her mother started laughing. "Yes, it is. I'm not exactly an easy person and I wasn't easy growing up. Think of all those poor mothers!" Mari sobered, still looking slightly dazed. "But I'm more worried about something else. What exactly did that boy tell you about Mages, Kira?"

She concentrated, trying to remember the words. "He said some of the people on the ship from Urth were very interested in Mages. He didn't know why, but he thought it was important enough to bring up while warning me about the genetic things."

Her father looked closely at Kira. "Was there something else?"

"No, I…" Kira paused. "When Jason mentioned the Mage thing, I felt an odd sort of tingle. It was weird."

"A tingle? As if something was trying to get your attention?"

"Yes." Kira stared at her father. "How did you know?"

"Foresight, in its simplest form." Alain looked at Mari. "The talent has emerged in Kira. It tells us the interest of the Urth people in Mages is what we have been warned against."

"Foresight." Looking distressed, Mari leaned forward to hold Kira's chin and gaze into her eyes. "So your Mage talents are getting stronger. Are you having any problems with Mechanic tasks?"

"No." Upset at her mother's reaction, Kira leaned back and away. "I'm fine."

"Can you—"

"I'm fine!"

Mari sat back as well and gave Kira's father an exasperated look.

Alain leaned forward slightly, his eyes on Kira. "I was once taught to forget that the idea of help even existed. I was once badly punished for helping another in need."

Kira gritted her teeth. "I know."

"Just as you would help those you love, do not reject help when it is offered by those who love you."

"This one understands," Kira mumbled, using the traditional Mage response in part to admit to her father that she knew he was right and in part to provoke her mother a little for making such a big deal out of things. "I'm sorry. But I'm fine."