Being caught seemed to make Ven shy, even though he was let go again. No more paper appeared, and certainly Aqua did not see him. After a long time, reluctantly, she began folding paper cranes again, with her father's paper. It was a betrayal, but not as much as stopping would be.

As it happened, she didn't see much of Terra, either. Like her father, he seemed to be busy with something most of the time. She couldn't imagine what. He was a guard. Wasn't his job was to stand still, and look at things?

If she was in the garden long enough, though, he would usually come. Aqua assumed he was making sure she did not meet Ven there. "Cranes again," he said one day, as she laid one beside her on a bench, to rattle in the slight breeze.

"A clerk was nice enough to give me the paper," Aqua said stiffly.

"I know," Terra said. "He told me." And if no clerk told him, but Aqua made more cranes anyway, Terra would know that, too.

"At least while this ridiculous caution continues, I know Ven has not been hung by the wrists," Aqua said, giving him her coldest look. "I really must thank you for that, Triari."

"Centurion," Terra corrected. "The recent unrest makes opportunities."

"Why, congratulations," she said, with bitterly perfect manners. She began another crane and hoped Terra would go away.

"Is that what you wish for?" Terra asked. "That the little thief not be hung?"

"That is certainly none of your business." Not to mention, a wish told would not come true, and in any case she did not know what she wished. "How do you know I wish for anything?"

Terra nodded at the paper she was folding. "The Chasers travel widely. One of them told me the story." Was there a story about the paper cranes? Ven hadn't mentioned it. Perhaps he didn't know it. Aqua did not ask Terra.

"You should become a Chaser, then," Aqua simpered. "Travel to distant places sounds marvelous." The further away from her, the better.

He looked away. "My request was denied. His Imperial Majesty is. . . nervous. He wishes to keep a man he trusts in command of the palace guard."

"How ironic."

He glared at her. "I swore to protect you, your Highness. You may not like how I do my duty, but you must believe my oath is good." His tone was odd. She raised an eyebrow at him. "And I would protect you even without my oath," he added.

"So would Ven."

"He lied to you, Highness. Everyone in that rancid rat-pit lies as soon as they speak."

Calling someone of Terra's class a liar was grounds for a duel, but of course Ven was poor enough to be insulted freely. And how could something Ven had never said be a lie? Aqua lost her temper. "I trust you with my life every day, Centurion Terra. But your reciprocal trust in my judgment seems lacking. Or do you think you have a hope if you threaten every other boy I meet with execution?"

Terra's chin came up. "Boys throw themselves at false hopes, your Highness. A man knows what is possible and what is not." Aqua thought of Ven, and his wishes, and the light, and did not know what to say. "I'm expected in a meeting," Terra said. "Good day, Highness."