The waves were a moving mosaic, an impressionistic mirror for the city of Demeter against a green hillside. She flew the shuttle in low over the bay, circling around for a landing. The thrusters whipped up a fine spray around the platform as she touched down, like a fan of droplets from a swan alighting on a lake. For a moment she could imagine she was on just another engagement among the commercial towers of the city financial and administrative district at the base of the foothills.

Inara glimpsed her reflection in the viewscreen over the controls. She contemplated Mal's parting gift resting next to the almost-hidden star burst scar over her heart, then the empty shuttle behind her. Hard to believe only a month ago she was recovering from a bullet wound, preparing to leave. Time to be on her way again.

She tucked the chain down her white dress and pulled the blue chiffon of her stole closer around her shoulders, then slid the airlock aside, gazing out over the harbor and breathing the unprocessed air. Clouds were blossoming in the distance, promising rain for the city later. The crew of Serenity and the badlands around Eavesdown Docks to the south would probably see only a harsh windstorm. Two different worlds , she mused, caught between them.

A light voice broke through her reverie. "Inara? Are you all right?"

She pushed aside her wistful thoughts for the sake of her guild sisters. "Sheydra," she smiled. Her friend returned the gesture and helped her down from the shuttle.

"You didn't answer my question," she admonished. The priestess of the abandoned Burnet training house was blonde, beautiful, gentle, and refined, showing off her excellent taste in an aquamarine dress. Her wisdom to matched her years and she was keenly observant. When Inara had worked with her as a teacher, Sheydra teased her mercilessly about the spirit of adventure and pirate lovers. "Do you miss him yet?"

Oh no, she was blushing already . This didn'