"It's in the air?" Mari turned in the saddle, apparently looking back down the road but raising her eyes just enough to sweep the area that Alain had indicated. "I can't see anything," she said, sitting forward again. "Are you sure?"

"My foresight has warned of it twice," Alain said. "Somewhat like the same feeling when someone is aiming a weapon at you."

"Oh. Great. Actually, that is great. It must be something from the Urth ship, keeping an eye on us. We still have their attention."

"There is a sense of danger," Alain emphasized.

"From the device itself? As if it were a weapon?" Mari paused in thought. "Or if it carried a weapon. Could you stop it with your heat spell?"

Alain shook his head. "I cannot tell exactly where it is, and I must see where to place the heat."

"Then we have to keep moving and keep acting as though we're sneaking our way to Tiaesun. We should walk the horses for a while." Mari winced as she dismounted. "I wish we could have taken the train, but that wouldn't have looked sneaky."

"Trains are not safe," Alain said, dismounting as well.

"Yes, they are. For most people." Mari bit her lip. "How long will they wait, Alain? Talese Groveen didn't strike me as a patient woman, and you said she was worried that Jason would realize what was on the thing he took and tell us about it."

"They were certain that their devices would find him and Kira, with the help of the 'crowd.' When it becomes apparent that is not happening, they will become frustrated and try something else."

"And something else is likely to involve open threats and weapons," Mari said. He saw her touch the place on her jacket under which her own weapon rested. "I hope diplomacy works, but I've got a bad feeling."

"Let us hope that Kira can remain hidden from them, and from any others who would harm her," Alain said.

* * *

Kira wasn't sure how long they had been in the baggage compartment. The coach jolted along the road, the air inside the compartment stuffy and hot, assorted bags and boxes making it impossible to stretch out or get comfortable. The coach had made several stops. Twice during those stops Mari had heard someone asking questions of the passengers in the coach, who they were and where they were going. But no one came back to the baggage except Tom the driver, who pretended not to see Kira and Jason as he took out some bags and put in new ones.

The coach lurched to a halt once more, she heard the passengers leaving, and then Tom coming back to open the baggage compartment again. For the first time the driver looked at her, jogging his head to indicate she should get out. "End of the line," he whispered.