Sien nodded. "Camber still has great influence with the Emperor, but the Emperor grows old, and numerous princes and princesses in the Imperial household grow ever more bold as they maneuver for power and status as successor. Some of them may attempt to take some action if they think Kira is within their reach. And for all the respect Camber holds for you and Alain, his loyalty is to the emperor and the empire."

"I know," Mari said. "The empire has been chafing at the restraints on its actions almost since the signing of the peace accords after the war with the Great Guilds. Until the ship from Urth arrived, my biggest worry was that the empire would push too far and finally trigger a large-scale conflict. For now I'll do what I can to prevent the Imperial household from trying anything relating to Kira. Second, Alain and I are certain that the people on the Urth ship are keeping track of where we are. One of those drone things always seems to be nearby. So sometime after midnight Alain and I are going to get some horses and sneak out of Pacta, riding south to Tiaesun."

The queen's eyebrows rose. "The unpleasant Talese Groveen will be certain that you are going there to aid and protect Kira and the boy."

"Thus keeping her attention focused on the south."

"Can you be certain that Kira went north?"

"It's what I would have done," Mari said. "There are more routes north and more places to hide among people. She and Jason can't afford to hide out by themselves until they're so far from here that two people alone in the countryside wouldn't immediately draw the attention of the ship from Urth. Alain, let's go talk to Camber. It's going to be a long night. I hope Kira gets a better night's sleep than we will."

* * *

The idea of waking up in the country to the singing of birds, the rising sun shining a glowing welcome to the day, had appealed to Kira when she was a little girl. The reality—waking up stiff and sore from the hard ground and yesterday's exertions, insects buzzing around so loudly that the birds could barely be heard, morning dew chilling her while the sun glared into her eyes and as yet provided little warmth—wasn't nearly as fun.

Especially when the person she woke up with was a tired, sore, grumbling-under-his-breath Jason.

"Your feet are swollen," Kira said as she helped him get his boots on.

"Yeah," Jason said, gritting his teeth.

Kira had never realized that one word could carry such depths of accusation. She felt sympathy but knew she couldn't afford to give in to it. "We have to keep moving."