"Yes! He did that, too! And he didn't even mention it afterwards."
Mari studied Jason again. "So, you fixed him, Kira?"
"No!" Kira said. "He did it. I provided encouragement and, uh, recommendations, but Jason did all of the changing."
"I don't doubt it," her mother replied. "Remember me telling you that no one can bring out anything in another person that isn't already inside somewhere? Jason had to have that better person inside. But don't play down how important the motivation you provided was in making that happen." She looked Jason over once more. "The big question is, what do you want, Jason?"
"What?" Jason asked. "I mean, excuse me?"
"What do you want?" Mari repeated.
"You're really asking me?"
"Is that so unusual?"
"Yes," Jason said, his face working with emotion. "No one in charge ever asks me what I want. I just get told."
Kira's mother lowered her head and rubbed her forehead, then looked back up at him. "I'm sorry. But we will not do that. Alain and I want to know what you want."
Jason smiled at Kira. "I want, more than anything, to stay on this planet. Not to go back to Earth, but to stay here."
"Because of Kira?" Mari asked. "She doesn't know how she feels, Jason. Sometimes that means those feelings will deepen, but it might also mean she might decide you make a good friend and nothing more, or even less. That's how hearts are."
"I know," Jason said, dejected. "But even if that happens, this world is where I want to be. It's the first place I ever felt happy. It's the first place I ever got to be something, the first place I ever thought I could be something."
Mari sighed. "Are the laws on Urth the same as here? That until you are eighteen years old you are under the control of your parents?"
Jason sagged again. "Yes. Unless you get a court order of emancipation and the only source of that is a very, very long way from here. I tried getting one a couple of years ago, but Mom and Dad's lawyers killed it. They don't want me, but they don't want me free of them, either."
Tense with worry, Kira saw her mother and father exchange a glance. Her father nodded.
Mari faced Jason again. "Jason, even if our daughter didn't have as-of-yet unspecified feelings for you, we'd still owe you a debt. You warned us of the attempts to cheat us and harm this world, and you risked yourself to discover a serious danger to both this world and Urth, and then to prevent that danger. I promise you that my husband and I will do everything that we can to help you stay on this world. Unfortunately, I can't promise that we'll succeed. Your mother's ship has immense power."
"I don't want anyone hurt because of me," Jason said. "Especially not Kira's parents. Kira is the greatest person I've ever met. I know she's too good for me, but—"
"Did Kira tell you that she was too good for you?" Mari asked before Kira could say anything.
"No. She'd never do that."
"She'd never think that," Kira said. "Even when I didn't like you, I didn't think I was better than you. I may have been driving my parents crazy for the last several years, but I do listen to them."
"And I will not let you forget that you admitted to that," her mother said. Mari ran one hand through her hair, frowning in thought. "Alain? Any ideas?"
"We can return the item and continue to hide Jason," Alain said. "If he means as little to the Talese woman as he says, she may take the device and leave rather than continue to search."
"I don't think that will work," Jason said, shaking his head. "My mom may not care about me, but she never wants to lose. If I'm the trophy in a game, she wants the trophy, even if she'll toss it in the closet once she has it. Besides, those drones are close. I can't avoid being detected by them if we leave here, and even if we stay they'll find me soon."
"Mother," Kira said. "Please. I know what life has been for you. Everyone needing something important to them, and hoping you can help. I won't blame you if you can't help Jason. But there must be something we can do."
"Maybe," Mari said. She looked at Kira's father. "Alain, if we use the right illusion, we might be able to pull this off. We need to talk." Kira's mother pulled out her far-talker. "Let's call the Urth ship and announce that we've found Jason and the item he took. If we seem to be meekly surrendering, it might help put them off guard."
Jason spoke nervously. "They've got weapons. They might just—"
"We have shown them that using their weapons is not wise," Alain said.
"You did?" Jason shook his head in amazement. "Lady Mari, Sir Mage, thank you for not being mad at me about Kira. I'll never forget a single moment I spent with her. Even if there's not another day, I still–"
"Don't say that," Kira insisted. "As long as we're together, hope remains."
Her mother stared at her. "I wish you hadn't put it that way, dearest. I'll explain later."
* * *
The far-talker call made, they exited the hotel, finding a large force of police holding back crowds as well as a full troop of cavalry. "That's her!" someone yelled.
Kira looked, expecting as usual to see people pointing at her mother. But they were pointing at her. The police officer and his partner who had been the first to be attacked by the dragon were among them. Others chimed in, insisting that Kira was the one.
A colonel in cavalry uniform, his cuirass and helm gleaming, stepped forward and saluted Mari and Alain. "The city of Ihris is honored by your visit, Lady Mari, and yours, Sir Master of Mages. I have to inquire if you have any knowledge of a recent event in this city. There is a dead dragon a few streets away from here, and the witnesses claim that it was slain by a young woman resembling you, Lady Mari. Slain in a hand-to-hand struggle."
"Hand-to-claw," Kira said, embarrassed by all the attention.
"We have her coat, found in an alley," one of the police said, holding up the badly ripped garment.
"Oh, yeah," Kira said. "Mother, I ruined my coat. I forgot to mention that."
The colonel blinked at her. "It's true?"
Mari smiled. "Kira, open the coat you now wear."
The last thing Kira wanted to do was display the damage the dragon had done, but she reluctantly pulled open the coat, revealing the bloodstained vertical slashes in her shirt.
The silence that fell over the crowd unnerved Kira. Then cheers sounded, causing Kira to look around, confused.
The colonel nodded and saluted her, smiling. "Forgive me for doubting, Lady Kira. If anyone could slay a dragon fighting hand-to-hand, or hand-to-claw, it would surely be the daughter of the daughter herself. You have the thanks of our city for your fearless action. If not for you swiftly slaying the monster, it might have killed and injured many before being subdued."
"I'm just Kira," she insisted. "Not Lady Kira. And I wasn't fearless. I was actually pretty scared."
"All the more credit to you for fighting despite that fear, Lady Kira," the colonel said with another smile. "I see that in addition to her other gifts, you have inherited your mother's modesty."
It struck her like a blow, then. They were looking at her. Everyone was looking at her. Lady Mari and Master of Mages Alain were standing not much more than a lance length away from her, but everyone was looking at her and calling her Lady Kira. Not because of who her mother was, but because of what she had done.
Her father said the world everyone saw was an illusion, one that could be changed by those with the skills to do so. As she recently had in a minor way. But the changes Mages made to the world illusion were temporary, fading away as if they had never been when the power that fed them died.
But Kira's world had just changed, she realized, and would not return to where it had been. The shadow that had dimmed her life had lifted. Maybe it had never really been there. Maybe she had seen only the illusion of that shadow and let it dim her life. But it was gone.
She blinked in the sunlight, staring at the world about her.
"Colonel," Mari said, "may I ask the loan of four mounts? We need to meet the ship from Urt
h in an area south of the city."
"Certainly, Lady. We would be honored to assist you. And further honored if you would allow this troop of cavalry to escort you to your meeting."
"The honor would be ours to have such soldiers acting as our escort," Mari said with a smile.
As they were waiting for the four horses to be brought to them, Kira turned to her father. "Petr is here. At the market outside the walls."
"We will have to visit once our other tasks are done," Alain said. "Petr helped you reach the city?"
"Of course he did. He's a really great person." Kira paused. "Do you remember when I complained that Mother wouldn't let me be my own person?"
"I recall hearing that many times," Alain said, looking at her with a trace of a smile.
"I guess I did complain a bit. It wasn't the same thing, Jason," she added to him. "Anyway, Father, you and Mother would always ask me who I wanted to be, and I didn't know. But now I think I do."
"Then I am happy for you. As is your mother, who never tried to make you be anything," Kira's father added.
"I had to realize that for myself," Kira said. "Oh, Mother. I'm sorry."
"For what?" Mari asked.
"A lot of things."
"Me, too. New day?"
Kira grinned, recognizing the reference to her mother's campaign to overthrow the Great Guilds, to allow change in a world where change had once been forbidden, to bring a new day to the world of Dematr. "Yes. New day. For us."
* * *
It was well they had the cavalry escort, since the crowds lining the streets to cheer the daughter, the Master of Mages, and to Kira's continuing amazement the dragon-slaying daughter of the daughter, would have otherwise blocked their progress completely.
Finally through the gate of the city, they rode out toward the wide plain to the south, Mari and Alain side-by-side in the lead, Jason and Kira riding together behind them, the cavalry led by their colonel following. Several of the Urth drones flew at a distance to either side and behind, keeping watch on their progress. Kira could see her parents talking to each other intently as they rode, keeping their conversation shielded from the drones.
"What do you think they're saying?" Jason asked nervously.
"They're planning," Kira said, trying to sound confident.
"Do you really think they can do anything to help?"
"Jason, I've been told by many people that the only thing more dangerous than my parents when they're caught by surprise is my mother and father when they've had time to plan." She reached out toward him. "Will you promise me something? If the worst happens, if you must return to Urth, please don't go back to being the boy I met the first time. Try to remain the guy you are now, no matter what they do to try to change you back."
He reached out as well, touching her hand with his. "I'll do my best. I promise."
"And do not forget me," Kira added. "Not ever."
"No one could possibly forget you," Jason said, smiling through his worries.
A bright spot appeared in the sky, swiftly growing to become the silver shape of the ship from Urth. Kira watched it glide across the sky until it reached a spot a few hundred lances ahead of them, then settle onto the pasture.
Mari turned in her saddle. "You and your troop wait here, Colonel. Could you have someone hold our mounts? Thank you. Dismount, family. That includes you, Jason."
Handing off her reins to a soldier, Kira followed with Jason as her mother and father walked toward the ship from Urth. When they were less than ten lances distant from the ship, Kira's mother halted them.
"Alain, stand over there," Mari directed. "Kira, beside your father. Jason, right here between Kira and me." Four people facing the menacing bulk of the ship from Urth. It felt unnaturally quiet. The wind sweeping across the field held a cold edge brought down from the north that tempered the heat of the noon sun.
Talese Groveen came out, walking like a conqueror. She stopped in front of them, extending an imperious hand. "I am happy to see that you have seen reason and the futility of your opposition to me."
Mari reached out to Jason, who gave her the Invictus Drive. She then tossed it lightly to Talese, who caught it.
Talese examined the drive, tapping the surface and studying the results, before turning a thin-lipped look of triumph on Jason. "Your brainless, ill-considered actions have once again resulted in nothing but failure for you and embarrassment for me."
Jason gave her a level look in reply instead of a sullen frown. "I guess so," he said in a neutral voice.
She frowned at him, thrown off by his reaction to her disdain. "Get in the ship. We're leaving."
"Mom, I want to stay here," Jason said, not moving.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Mom, please let me stay. I'm happy here. Happier than I've ever been."
"I'm sure, now that you've found yourself a plaything desperate enough to—"
"Don't talk about Kira like that!"
Mari spoke before Talese Groveen, startled by Jason's defiance, could say anything else. "My husband and I are willing to accept responsibility for Jason. We would ensure that he is well treated, protected, educated, and set on a path for a successful adult life. We ask that you grant us guardianship of him."
Talese Groveen laughed. "You think I'd actually consider that? For even one moment? Jason is my child. I will not give him away, no matter how much he or anyone else begs for it. Now, get in the ship!" she ordered Jason, turning away from Mari.
"Wait," Kira's mother said, using the sort of voice that even emperors and presidents paid attention to. "There's something that you've wanted ever since the first day you arrived. If you get that, will you reconsider?"
Talese Groveen paused, turning back to study Mari through narrowed eyes. "What exactly are you speaking of?"
"A sample of my genetic material, along with my approval for you to use it as you see fit."
"Mother!" Kira gasped. "You can't give that up!"
"Lady Mari!" Jason said, shaking his head frantically. "No!"
Mari held up a hand, palm out, to quiet them. "Well, Talese Groveen? If I agree to those things, can Jason stay here?"
"Agreeing to total control of your genetic material by Universal Life Systems?" Talese Groveen asked. "In accordance with the provisions in the ULS waiver we have already prepared?"
"Yes. If we get this over with before I change my mind."
"I have no desire to linger here," Talese Groveen informed her, smiling. "We have a deal." One of her fingers moved before her. "Doctor Sino! Come out here and bring your med bag!"
"Lady Mari," Jason begged. "Don't. I'm not worth this."
"Yes, you are, Jason," Mari said, giving him a glance. "Even if you weren't Kira's friend, you'd be worth it. The freedom of any person would be worth it."
"But she's not going to keep the deal! As soon as she has your stuff she'll try to haul me off anyway!"
Mari smiled at him. "Jason, sometimes you have to trust in people."
Kira saw the derisive look in Talese Groveen's eyes, but said nothing. She had seen that sort of smile from her mother before. It meant that somebody was about to learn what happened when they underestimated Lady Mari.
Only a few more moments elapsed before a woman strode out of the opening in the side of the ship, a bag slung over one shoulder. "What's the deal?" she asked Talese Groveen, displaying what Kira thought was just enough disdain for Jason's mother to get away with.
"Get a sample from her and a statement of unconditional release," Talese Groveen ordered, pointing at Mari.
But before the woman could approach Mari, Alain spoke. "As the partner of Lady Mari, I have a say in this. It is important that we are clear on the bargain being agreed to. You, Talese Groveen, will grant us custody of this boy Jason?"
"Yes! If there's nothing else, we need to get moving."
"This will be done in exchange for Mari giving you a sample and her agreement that you can use it?"
"Yes!"
/> "This sample is valuable, we have been told," Alain observed, his voice Mage-calm. "To restate, you have agreed to sell your son to us in exchange for the value represented by the sample from Lady Mari."
For a long moment, the only sound was once again that of the wind sighing through the grass.
"Is that not correct?" Alain said. "Is that not what this transaction represents?"
Kira, noticing that Talese Groveen appeared torn between fear and anger, finally understood. "Urth has laws against selling people. Jason told us that! And you were about to sell your son to us! You had agreed to sell him to us!"
Jason grinned. "I can't wait to get back to Earth and tell the authorities about it. They'll scan me while I testify and they'll know I'm telling the truth. What's the mandatory minimum jail sentence for human trafficking? Is it a life sentence?"
Talese Groveen finally found her voice. "What do you want?" she asked Alain as if every word was being dragged out of her.
"Let your son decide whether or not to stay here," Alain said.
"In exchange for?"
"It would be improper, as well as illegal by the laws of Urth, to put a price on your son," Alain said.
"I can't testify against you back on Earth if I'm here," Jason said. "Just let me stay. If I go back, I will testify. About that, and about a lot of other things."
"We will take good care of him," Mari repeated.
"You haven't won!" Talese Groveen snapped at her. "You can have him! He's never been anything but a useless burden. And you can keep your genes! I have something far more valuable." She held up the Invictus Drive, then spun on one heel, pausing to look at the other woman who had come out of the ship. "Give him a clearance physical and sign him out!" Talese Groveen paused again. "Take your time and do it right. Make sure there's a clean statement of a desire to stay here. Be sure to repeat it for him."
Having issued those orders, Talese Groveen stomped back to the ship and disappeared inside.
"Sure," the woman called to Talese Groveen's back. She walked up to Jason. "Hmmm. That's strange."
"What's strange?" Jason asked. He had been grinning in amazement, but the smile faded as he looked at the doctor.