"Sometimes," Kira repeated, "you haven't been cruel to me like Jason's parents have. I know I complain about things. But I can tell the difference in how he has been treated. Jason was pretending to be all tough about it, but he's not all that good at hiding how he feels. I heard some real hurt."

Mari wrinkled her face in revulsion. "How can parents do that to a child?"

Alain gazed at Kira. "The boy Jason only wanted to get back at his mother? He did not have any other motivation?"

"He said something about it not being right, about wanting to help. But he wouldn't talk much about that." Kira made a face. "It was like he expected me to make fun of him for it. Just like he expected me to insult him. It was sort of sad. I hope he's all right."

Her mother glanced at Kira. "You care what happens to him?"

Kira felt suddenly awkward and uncomfortable . "Yes. A little. What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing's wrong with that. From the way you described him the boy doesn't seem like he has a lot of friends."

"I'm not his friend," Kira muttered.

"I didn't say you were. I just think it's nice that you care about him."

"Mother! I don't care about him! Not that way!"

Mari held her hands up in a calming gesture. "I'm not implying anything. I just wanted your impression of him."

"He's a teenage boy," Kira said. "He doesn't seem to like himself, so how could I like him? I don't care whether I ever seen him again. Maybe he'll be all right when he gets older. But he's not my responsibility. I don't have any interest in trying to fix everything that's wrong with him."

Neither of her parents managed to completely hide their relief at her words, which irritated Kira enough that she spent most of the rest of the trip staring out her window and saying little.

* * *

Master Mechanic Mari, once "of Caer Lyn" and now simply "of Dematr," stood in her home looking out of a south-facing window toward the distant shoreline. She had wanted a place closer to the water, but that would have also been close to assassins trying to reach her or her family by sea. Queen Sien had been understanding of Mari's desires to hear the ocean, but also insistent on the need for safety, and Tiae did after all supply most of the troops that guarded Mari's home. Besides which, Sien was one of the few people on Dematr who could be more stubborn than Mari.

"You are there again," Alain said.

Smiling sadly and apologetically, she turned her head to see him. "I'm always there. Part of me will never leave Dorcastle. But, yes, standing here, looking out at the water, I remember that talk we had on the sixth wall."