"His Mage talents. Somehow he was able to give her body the means to heal its injuries almost instantly, and new blood and everything. Enough that Mother was able to survive. But it almost killed him. Aunt Asha told me that she was afraid that my father would die. Well, she wasn't afraid, because Aunt Asha is a Mage, but she was really worried."

"So that's not just a story?" Jason asked. "It's true?"

"It's true," Kira said. "Father almost gave his life to save my mother."

"Huh." Jason looked down, appearing depressed. "What's it like having parents like that? You must never have any fights or arguments."

"Sure we do," Kira said. "Mother and I…we don't agree on some things."

She was spared from elaborating on her family fights when the woman returned, carrying a bag. "Here's more food for your travels, and a canteen as well. Stay quiet and follow me."

Outside again, the woman led them to a quiet, dark spot where a large coach sat while a fresh set of horses were hitched on. She took them to the back, where the baggage compartment jutted out, and urged Kira and Jason to climb in next to the boxes and bags. "Stay quiet in here. Tom, he's the driver, will take you all the way to Danalee and not say a word. He's a good man."

Kira reached to grasp her hand before the woman could seal the compartment. "What's your name, so I can tell my mother who helped me?"

The woman smiled shyly. "Izbelle. Izbelle of Denkerk."

"Thank you, Izbelle."

The compartment cover came down and locked. Kira squirmed into a corner that wasn't too uncomfortable, feeling both cramped in the confined space and depressed.

Izbelle hadn't helped her because she was Kira. Izbelle had helped her because Kira's mother had freed the world from the Great Guilds. Once again, Kira was living on the gratitude of others for what her mother had done. Because people looked at her, and saw her mother.

Jason took that moment to say exactly the wrong thing. "They really do worship your mother on this planet, don't they?"

Kira's reply was as sharp as she could make a whisper. "No one worships her! She earned everything she gets, and I don't need that rubbed into my face all of the time!"

She later thought that Jason displayed an impressive amount of wisdom by not saying another word for the next few hours.

* * *

Alain kept his right hand shielded in front of his body as he gestured behind them, above and to one side. "Something there follows us." He did not know what it was, but he did not want whatever it was to see him pointing at it.