"That's how games always go," Jason said, grinning to show it was some sort of joke.

Kira shook her head, pointing to where lights were coming on ahead in Denkerk as night fell.

By the time they reached the town it was dark enough to provide plenty of shadows for Kira to lead them through. She followed lights, noise, and the smell of food to the large inn and coach stop on the north side of town.

A dimly lit courtyard boasted a well with a small, hand-operated pump. A bored-looking child seated next to a pile of bottles looked up as they approached, pointed to a bottle and wagged two fingers. Kira brought out four Tiae brass pennies, then held up two fingers as she showed them to the child. A quick nod and the child filled a couple of the bottles with water from a bucket under the pump. Kira traded the coins for the bottles before leading Jason to where a large tree loomed. During the day the tree would shade the courtyard. At night, it offered welcome and deeper shadow to mask them from the sight of others.

Kira settled down next to the trunk as she and Jason drank and rested. "There should be a window selling food for the road," Kira whispered to Jason. "We'll—"

She broke off as three figures strode into the courtyard, confronting a woman who had been walking toward the pump.

"You're the mistress here?" one of the three demanded.

"What of it?" she replied. "Do you have a complaint?"

"We're looking for someone."

Kira shrank back into shadow, gesturing to Jason to stay silent.

"You and half the countryside, it seems," the woman answered.

"We'll share the reward with you if you can tell us anything. Have you seen them?"

"What reward would be worth betraying the daughter herself?"

Another of the three spoke with exaggerated kindliness. "We want to help her! We're on your side and the side of the daughter."

"Are you now? Doesn't matter," the woman answered. "Haven't seen her or the boy."

"Watch for them, and you'll be well rewarded."

"Sure. I'll do that."

Kira tried to hold herself immobile in the shadows as the three walked briskly out of the courtyard. She'd barely begun to breathe again when the woman turned and walked toward the tree where Kira and Jason sat.

The woman raised a hooded lantern in one hand and opened it just enough for weak light to illuminate Kira. After a moment, the light was hooded again. "Come on," the woman urged.

Kira scrambled to her feet, gesturing to Jason to follow as the woman wended through more shadows before stopping at a closed door in the back of the main building. The woman produced a key ring, selected one, and opened the door, ushering Kira and Jason inside before joining them and relocking the door behind her.