Preparing himself to cast spells if needed, Alain followed Mari outside to where the egg-shaped transport waited.

It had come to rest on the lawn before the house, the morning sun striking an iridescent sheen on its silvery surface just like that of the big ship from Urth. There was a smug sense of arrogance to the way it sat before the house, implicitly proclaiming the right to go anywhere it pleased.

Alain wondered if a Mage spell would affect that smooth material as it would anything else. He thought the people from Urth were very confident in their sense of superiority and their devices, but he had dealt with that before. The Mechanics on Dematr had been the same way. If necessary, these people from Urth would be surprised by Mage abilities just as those Mechanics had been.

Mari paused on the porch, waiting for a reaction, then walked toward the egg. As they approached, the egg opened one side to reveal a furious Talese Groveen. "Where is my son?" she demanded.

Mari gave the Urth woman a puzzled frown. "Why are you asking us?"

"My child attempted to wipe the transport's memory, but enough tracking data was recovered to show he came here."

"Of course he came here," Mari said. "The night before last. You knew of that."

"He was here last night as well!"

Mari shook her head. "He's not here."

"Have you checked your daughter's bed?" Talese Groveen snapped.

Mari's brow lowered in warning. "I don't care for your tone or your accusations. You are a guest on our world, so we have been willing to excuse your behavior, but I will not tolerate insults aimed at my family."

"Your world?" Groveen laughed scornfully. "You think because these barbarians worship you that you can ignore the laws of civilized societies. There is theft involved here and kidnapping and—"

"Theft?" Alain asked, using his blandest voice that didn't go all the way to emotionless Mage tones. "What was stolen?"

Talese Groveen hesitated. "Private property."

"Did you know that Mages can tell when someone speaks falsehoods to them?"

Talese Groveen glared at him. "I'm sure such assertions are not admissible in any court of law. My son has been kidnapped. A valuable item has been stolen. We expect full cooperation in recovering both my son and the item."

"We'll notify Queen Sien," Mari said.

"He came here! I demand that you immediately produce my son and the item stolen from our ship."

"As I already told you," Mari said, her voice growing colder, "he is not here. We don't know where he is. Nor do we have any item stolen from your ship."

"Where is your daughter?" Talese Groveen demanded, her eyes narrowing.

"That's none of your business," Mari replied, returning glare for glare. "If you have problems, you deal with me."