She was about to shoot back an angry response when she remembered that she had said the same thing to Jason. And she knew that her mother's heated tone was because in her reckless response Kira had flippantly mentioned Dorcastle. "I'm sorry," she muttered. "I shouldn't have brought up…that place."

Her mother had that look she got sometimes, as if she was gazing on the faces of everyone who had died in the siege of Dorcastle. "I know you didn't mean it, Kira. You brought it up, though. Why?"

"There's so much…you can't talk about."

"What do you want to know?" her mother asked, startling Kira. "I'll try to answer this time. Do you want to go inside while we talk?"

Aunt Bev must have spoken to her. Her mother was trying to reach out. Kira hesitated. "No. I like being out here. Can you tell me more about what she was like? Sergeant Kira. All you've ever told me is she was a great person."

Mari inhaled slowly and deeply before answering. "She was older than me, and taller, and she was the best shot in the Bakre Confederation. She had an older brother who was a sailor, and she hoped to find a man for herself someday and have a family. I knew her for four days before she died on the third wall. She…she took a crossbow bolt in the forehead and died instantly."

Kira shivered again, feeling cold. "Why did you name me after her?"

"I know I told you this, but it may have been a long time ago. I named you after her because I wanted you to be as brave and as strong as she was, and even though I couldn't save her I wanted her name to live on in you."

"Thank you. For finally telling me." Kira avoided looking at her mother, knowing how sad she probably was. "I know I'm difficult sometimes but I don't want to disappoint you. Ever."

"You have never disappointed me and you never will."

Her mother sounded as if she believed that. Kira wondered if she would ever be able to believe it herself.

* * *

After the tension of the night before, the next day proved to be a letdown. Nothing happened except for her parents having more meetings, and sending and receiving more messages. Instead of working on her studies, Kira spent a lot of time staring out her window, replaying in her mind what her mother had said last night. She also kept worrying about Jason, concerned that she had prodded him into doing something that would get him into trouble and make his life even more unhappy. His life wasn't her responsibility, but that didn't mean she had any right to mess it up even more than it already was.