by T. A. White
There was a reserve there, but not as deep as before.
Strange people to allow such a small thing to affect their actions, Kira thought.
Graydon stretched out beside her, his powerful body taking up a large amount of space as he relaxed. Kira frowned at him as she moved to accommodate his sprawl. It was on the tip of her tongue to tease him given how he resembled a redolent lord, come to survey his holdings. She bit the comment back. She was already getting too comfortable with him. Best to keep her distance.
Their road wound through the forest, the trees around them ancient and tall as they stood sentinel over the travelers. Their branches interlocked, twining together to create a canopy where no sunlight could pass, leaving the ground underneath cool and shaded.
Earth no longer had forests like these anymore. What humans hadn't destroyed in the centuries before spaceflight, had been ravaged during the war with the Tsavitee. Some of the planets settled by humans possessed vegetation resembling forest, but nothing that came close to what they currently traveled under.
This was something else. The world smelled clean and fresh, a welcome change from the processed stuff on her ship. She could smell dirt and growing things. The air tasted sweet on her tongue.
She closed her eyes, ignoring those around her and let herself feel. The everpresent knot in the pit of her stomach loosened as the peace of this place soaked into her soul.
A humming filled her ears, vibrating through her bones. The sensation was similar to when the Mea'Ave offered itself up, only gentler, these voices patient and wise.
Kira's eyes popped open as she looked around. Her lips parted in surprise and wonder.
"Do you hear that?" she asked Jin in a hushed voice.
"Hear what?"
She didn't answer, busy pinpointing the origin of the sound. She thought it was coming from the trees.
The sensation was indescribable, soothing her and leaving her feeling more herself than she had in years.
Graydon's gaze was contemplative when she looked up at him. He didn't say anything as he closed his eyes and leaned back, a soft smile on his face. That smile made Kira pause. It turned him from the autocratic ass she was used to into someone real.
She settled in and enjoyed the ride. There was plenty of time for her questions later.
They came out of the trees on a hill overlooking the land below. The scenery was beautiful and fierce, a patchwork quilt of farmland—tame, but with a hint of the wild too. In the distance, a large collection of towers stood, sprawling out in a dizzying array of lines as their walls glimmered in the afternoon sun.
Kira found herself leaning forward, curious, despite her reservations.
Three spires reached up to the sky from within, smaller towers and buildings framing them. It looked nothing like a human city, delicate and impossibly fragile while still managing to project a sense of strength. Momentous and wondrous in a way that made you feel small inside.
"The Citadel of Light, said to be the most beautiful gem of the Houses. It's been the seat of House Luatha's power for over five thousand years," Graydon said, watching the sparkling monument through veiled eyes.
Kira sat back. "It doesn't look very defensible."
Graydon's gaze shifted to Kira, a hint of wry humor on his face. "Don't let the Luathan's obsession with beauty fool you. They’ve managed to hold their position of dominance for many years. Just because something is pretty doesn't mean it won't bite."
Kira watched him, carefully dissecting his words. "Consider me warned."
The rest of the journey passed quietly and soon they were pulling up into a gravel courtyard.
The Citadel was no less impressive close up. If anything, it seemed like something straight out of a fairytale, complete with singing animals and dangerous beasts.
Its walls defied gravity, the swooping lines seemingly impossible as they held up the weight of the structure. Arches seemed to be a main theme, each as delicate and intricate as a snowflake.
If light and air had a physical embodiment, the Citadel would meet the requirements.
The place was meant to intimidate and impress, its history written in every line, stamped on every stained glass and lovingly crafted carving. It shouted “This is us. Our history spans thousands of years. You have no hope of competing with our greatness.”
It wasn't just a building, it was a work of art, carved over centuries, perhaps millennia, by the hands of hundreds of master craftsmen. Pride shone in every detail.
Despite its beauty, it left Kira feeling chilled, with the undeniable impression she didn't belong. That much was obvious. She didn't think it would be any different for the rest of the Curs either.
Judging by the forbidding expressions on the group awaiting them on the stairs in front of the Citadel's doors, they thought so, too.
The Luathans stood straight and proud, their bearing regal as they watched Kira and the rest approach. There was no sign of friendliness. Nothing to indicate they were looking forward to recovering a lost member of the flock. No. They wanted to throw Kira out and bar her from ever returning.
Her lips curved up in a private smile. That was fine with her.
Graydon disembarked first before holding out a hand to Kira. He arched an eyebrow at her when she didn't immediately take it, as if daring her to reject it. "If you want them to underestimate you, you need to play the part."
Kira didn't react outwardly to the statement. She shouldn't be surprised he'd guessed her plan. She liked it less that he was right.
Her instincts told her to present a strong front, to give these people no reason to think her weak. Reason, and years of experience warned it was better to keep them guessing about her true strength. If they saw her as someone weak and in need of protection, it would make manipulating them easier.
Still, it galled to accept Graydon’s help. More so, since he was the one to land her in this mess in the first place.
His expression said he knew exactly what she was thinking. He arched an eyebrow as if saying, “Turn down my help. I dare you.”
Never one to back down, Kira took his hand, alighting from the carriage as she looked up at the group on the stairs.
All of a sudden, she was grateful for Graydon's support in the presence of so many cold gazes being aimed her way.
His hand squeezed hers as he turned and presented her to the rest.
"Overlord of the Luatha, your hospitality is appreciated," Graydon said with the slightest of head inclines.
The woman in the middle didn't speak for several interminable seconds. She was younger than Kira had imagined. Not much older than Kira and beautiful in the way of all Tuann. Her skin was creamy and pale, her hair long and golden like the rest. It was bound in a long, complicated braid down her back.
Unlike the building behind her, she was a vivid palette of colors, her lips red and her eyes a vivid lilac, clad in the green synth armor of her House, an ornate long cape draping around her. It looked like someone had distilled the color of golden sunlight into the fabric as it stretched behind her, pooling on the stairs.
It was even more impractical for battle than Roderick's. Kira could think of a dozen different ways to use that cape against the woman. Not to mention, although the armor itself looked delicate, Kira knew it would be difficult to move in.
Despite that, it was clear she was the one in charge. Authority was stamped on her young face.
She and Kira stared at each other for several silent seconds. The woman's face was expressionless, her thoughts hidden.
Kira waited, holding her breath. Now that she was standing here, she couldn't exactly define what she was feeling—excitement, nervousness, and a host of other emotions. Despite not wanting to be dragged all the way here, she couldn't lie. She was curious about these people whose blood ran through her veins. All the half-forgotten wishes of her childhood pressed to the forefront.
A small movement in the windows above caught her attention. She was unsurprised to find
several curious faces peering at her.
The sight grounded her, chasing away some of the nerves, allowing her to focus. She took in the rest of those assembled behind their Overlord. Among them was an older man and woman with the slightest signs of age in their faces and hair, the first indicators of aging Kira had seen among the Luatha. Arrayed below them on either side of the steps were a dozen warriors.
It finally dawned on Kira what she was seeing. This was a show of force. A position of strength meant to impress upon her, her place within the house. It said “Don't even think of fucking with us. Step out of line and we will end you.”
The barely sprouted hope she’d been nursing died. She stuffed it deep inside. This wasn't some storybook reunion.
Whoever these people might have once been to her, they were no longer. You couldn't change the past. Wishing and dreaming wouldn't rewrite history. Her fate had been written with blood and pain long ago. Her path no longer lay with these people.
She straightened her shoulders. Easy acceptance was cheap anyway. This was better.
She studied them as Roderick mounted the stairs. She did have to wonder why they'd felt the need to go through all the trouble of such posturing for little old her—especially when they assumed her weak, ignorant, and helpless.
She glanced at Graydon out of the corner of her eye. Maybe this display of force wasn't for her after all.
Roderick stopped next to the woman, leaning near to murmur in her ear. Her expression didn't flicker, remaining hard and closed off as she stared at Kira and the rest.
"Let's see this mark," the leader said, her voice carrying.
With her peripheral vision, Kira saw the Curs arrive, the ooros slow as they lumbered forward.
She didn't turn to acknowledge them, knowing this moment was important.
Beside her, Graydon had tensed, his face tight, the faintest trace of fury deepening the furrows on his forehead. Kira shot him a questioning look. He hesitated before his chin dipped in a small nod.
Kira sighed. Might as well get this over with. They'd already come all this way because of this damn thing, all she had to do was play the game a little longer.
The courtyard was silent as Kira made her way toward the three at the top.
Kira stopped two steps below the Overlord and rolled up her sleeve. She hesitated before turning her arm for them all to see.
The woman held her gaze for several seconds before her eyes flicked downward. They widened slightly at the sight of the mark but otherwise remained expressionless.
There was a small tsking sound from the older woman.
Kira remained with her arm outstretched for several long seconds, giving them more than enough time to look their fill. When she'd judged they'd had long enough, she let her sleeve drop to cover the mark and waited.
"She bears the mark of the Luatha," the older woman grudgingly admitted.
She and the man beside her looked like they'd bitten into something sour.
"A branch House?" Came from one of the people arranged behind them.
The leader finally stirred. "No, she is from the main family."
"Liara," the older woman cautioned.
Liara’s head moved a fraction at the unmistakable chiding in the woman's tone but didn't react otherwise.
There was tension in their ranks, it seemed. Kira made note of it in case she had need of the information later.
Liara may have been the leader, but it wasn't a position she held without challenge. The older woman must have felt secure in her station to risk chastising the head of Luatha’s house in front of strangers.
Kira contained her own tsking sound.
It was one thing to air such grievances in private, but another to do so in front of potential enemies. Unwise.
It was the first breach in their façade, offering Kira insight into their inner dynamics.
"The tests will reveal the truth soon enough, Alma," Liara said.
"Wait until then," Alma urged. "There is a possibility we're wrong. As the seneschal, it’s my duty to protect our interests."
"Say the word and I can be on my way. You’ll never see me again,” Kira assured them with a small smile.
Alma opened her mouth, falling silent when Liara lifted a hand, an unmistakable gesture for quiet.
"That’s not possible. You're clearly of Luathan descent. I will not dishonor my House by turning away one of its blood," Liara said, her expression serene and composed, yet her lilac eyes were piercing, as she met Kira’s gaze. "Especially not for one who is cousin."
CHAPTER ELEVEN
A hushed shock filled the air.
After several surprised seconds while Kira blinked dumbly at Liara, she asked, "What sort of cousin?"
“Cousin” was a broad term. It didn't necessarily mean they were closely related.
Liara's mask cracked for the first time, the smallest glimmer of an emotion Kira couldn't place, flickering before it was hidden again. "You’re the daughter of my mother's sister."
“Ah, that sort of cousin,” Kira said blandly.
For some reason, Kira had assumed these people were loosely related to her in a distant sort of way—not people who shared a direct bloodline with her. Not individuals who may have actually known her parents at some point.
It should have occurred to her. It was an obvious conclusion, but she felt completely taken off guard.
Questions brewed in her mind, but Kira hesitated to voice them. It felt like she’d be giving too much power to these people, here, in this moment, to ask anything. She’d wait for a better opportunity, one where she didn’t feel like a poor relation begging for crumbs.
Liara didn't address Kira's ridiculous statement, instead turning her attention to Graydon. "You've delivered a child we thought lost to us. We thank you; it’s a debt we can never repay. You may be assured she and those of our branch House will be looked after. We won't keep you any longer. I'm sure the emperor will appreciate your presence once again."
It was a clear dismissal.
"Thank you, Overlord. However, I'm afraid we won't be on our way just yet."
"Oh?" she said sharply.
Graydon's smile was aggressive, daring those assembled to try to thwart him.
"The children’s futures are not set. Until they and their household are pledged to you, or the oldest has won the mantle of Overlord, I have an obligation to them. I will see it carried out, " Graydon said, the pleasantness of his voice at odds with the steely resolve in his face.
"Of course, they will be absorbed into one of our branch Houses," Alma argued.
"No, we won't. Joule's going to take the adva ka and become the head of our House!" Ziva shouted.
The woman's eyes got wide as she sputtered.
The man looked at Graydon. "What have you been filling their heads with?"
Graydon started to answer.
Ziva got there first. "We're not going to let you take our House. We're House Maxiim. We’ll always be Maxiim. Kira's going to help train Joule."
Kira choked in surprise as all eyes turned her way. That wasn't exactly what she'd said.
Graydon seemed amused at the predicament she found herself in. Alma’s mouth snapped shut and her spine straightened as she stared at the three. That was easy for him. He was no longer on the firing line.
"You'll see. Joule will become Overlord and we'll stay House Maxiim," Ziva proclaimed.
"Quiet, child," Alma snapped. "You should be grateful we're taking you in at all."
"Seneschal," Liara said in soft rebuke.
Alma bit her tongue, but her narrowed eyes gave away her thoughts. If she'd had her way, she would have had plenty more to say on that subject.
Liara turned on her heel and strode off, the rest of those on the steps following. Roderick and a squad of his men were left behind.
"We will show you to your quarters," Roderick said with a dour expression.
Kira waited for the rest to catch up with her on the stairs. Graydon was
the first to reach her.
"Your attempt to procure your release was nice and subtle. I commend you," he said.
"It wasn’t good enough," Kira said as they walked up the stairs together into the Citadel.
"The House won't give up their claim so easily," he told her. "If you want freedom from their influence, you'll have to take it."
She gave him a dark look. It was good advice, but it left the question of why he’d offered it. He'd made it clear where he thought she belonged, and it wasn't with humans.
Kira turned slightly to make sure Jace and the rest of his team were following. They brought up the rear, not bothering to hide their gawking as they looked around at their surroundings.
She saw Blue subtly aiming a small device at the carvings near her. A camera probably. It confirmed one of her suspicions. Jace and the rest weren't here just for her and the ships Himoto wanted. They were here to gather intelligence.
The Consortium might desperately want the ships, but Kira suspected they were just the start. Their primary goal lay in a different direction—to learn all they could about the Tuann and what they were capable of.
Oh, Himoto would gladly accept any ships she could negotiate for on his behalf, but he was also desperate to understand what made the Tuann’s technology so superior.
"They're certainly not the most welcoming of hosts.” Jin aimed his eye at Kira. "I'm beginning to see a resemblance."
Kira stuck her tongue out at him as Graydon made a sound of agreement. "The first meeting could have gone better.”
"Oh, I don't know. It's not the worst greeting Kira's ever gotten," Jace drawled from behind her.
He'd caught up sometime in the past few minutes.
"True. There was no bloodshed, and everyone is still breathing," Jin added.
The Luathans around them paused, peering at Kira with suspicion. She smiled sweetly at them. They didn't seem to know how to interpret her expression, eventually returning to treating her and the rest with disinterest.
She found it interesting none of Graydon's warriors reacted to the statement beyond signs of amusement.
