"Fortunately, most of those pictures aren't very good," Mari said. "And they all have the Mage Mark showing in my hair," she added, touching the white streak over one temple. "Kira doesn't have that."

He could tell that Mari was trying to build up her confidence, but still felt he had to say one thing more. "She does have the boy from Urth with her."

Mari sighed heavily, rubbing her hand over her face. "Yeah. Jason. Not the most impressive boy we've ever seen. But he has to have something in him, Alain. He took the risk of warning us, and now he's risked himself by trying to hide that information."

"He takes risks," Alain said. "He knows nothing of our world."

She eyed him, then surprised him with a smile. "And he's a boy. That's what you're really worried about, isn't it?"

Alain shook his head, feeling misjudged. "I am concerned about how he may act."

"With our daughter." Mari stood up and embraced Alain, who was still feeling defensive. "The fate of two worlds hangs in the balance, and you're worried about our daughter being out there with a boy her age. Alain, talk to Bev. Kira knows how to handle herself. If Jason tries anything, Kira will tie him into a knot and kick him so high he'll hit the moon."

"I thought you would be more worried," Alain said.

"I am." She looked at him and he could see it in her eyes. "But not about Jason, because I trust my daughter. I'm terrified of what else might happen. Which means that you and I are going to do our best to help Kira in any way we can. If that turns out to mean trying to find her and help her directly, we'll do that. But for now let's try to keep the attention of the people from Urth and those from our own world focused on us, here."

She stepped back and looked toward Pacta Servanda. "Those things called drones that Jason told Kira about. Those must be what have been seen the last couple of days flying around Pacta. Alli saw one and said it looked like it was moving in some sort of search pattern. I wish I knew what they're looking for. We've never been able to answer some of the puzzles about that town."

"I wish that I had seen the device the Urth boy carried," Alain said.

"Jason said it couldn't be destroyed. Kira would have known if he was lying about that."

"He also told Kira that Mage skills might be able to get through the defenses used by the people of Urth," Alain said. "Is that also true of the thing that Jason stole?"

"Or would even trying to find out set off some alarm on the thing?" Mari asked in return. "Could we afford to risk that, knowing that if we failed, the Urth people would be able to regain it?"