Did her mother and father know? Had they kept from her that the world would be expecting Kira to inherit the role of the daughter? No. No. No. I can't do it. Nobody can. Except her.

If I wasn't already trying to hide I'd be doing that now. Hide somewhere where no one can find Jason or me.

* * *

They met a couple of other wagons as the day wore on, the drivers nodding or waving in greeting as they went by. The driver of the last wagon that approached them from Denkerk called out as they passed, though. "Main road is backed up a bit! The militia is checking everyone coming through!"

"That'll slow me down," the driver said. He glanced at the setting sun and then at Kira. "Is there any chance you and your step-brother would like to step down and walk from here? If you cut across those fields you'll come into Denkerk soon enough."

"Yes, thank you!" Kira said, leaning back to see that Jason had woken and was sitting up.

The driver brought the wagon to a halt as she and Jason climbed down. "You two stay out of trouble, hear?"

"We'll try," Kira said. "Tell your sister that the daughter will take time to see any veteran of her army who visits Pacta Servanda. She always makes time for that."

"Is that so? Who should I say told me?"

"A girl you gave a ride to heading north toward Denkerk," Kira said. She and Jason watched as the driver flicked the reins again and the wagon rolled slowly onward toward the main highway.

The rest had done wonders for Jason, who walked steadily and didn't complain as they crossed the fields, the sun setting behind their left shoulders. "Why did he help us?" Jason finally asked.

"I guess he could tell we were all right. Mother and Father always told me to treat people right," Kira replied. "They said if you do that then people will treat you right. Most people, anyway."

Jason grimaced, looking over at her. "You don't act like a princess, you know that?"

"Excuse me?"

"I thought when I met you, this girl is the daughter of the most powerful people on the planet. She's going to be so full of herself. But you aren't."

"How could living with my mother and father make me think I was a big deal?" Kira said with a laugh. "Did you hear what he said about Denkerk? They're already checking traffic."

"Should we go around Denkerk?"

"Walking is a very slow way to travel," Kira said. "And we need food. Trail mix isn't enough for the kind of travel we've been doing."

Jason felt his stomach. "I'm not going to argue that. Ok— All right. We've met a helpful non-player character and are entering a new area. I hope there aren't any monsters lurking in it."

"Denkerk? Why would you think Denkerk had monsters?"