by T. A. White
"What does that mean?" Kira asked over the crowd's roar as Graydon leaped, catching hold of one of the ropes dangling from an overhanging branch, before using its momentum to swing his body in an arc before releasing it. He landed on top of a drone. He hammered a vicious punch into its metal body, puncturing it. He withdrew his fist, wires clasped in it. He leapt from the crashing drone, landing on one of the bridges before racing across it and swinging down.
The woman finally shifted her attention from the arena, and glanced up. Her eyes widened at the sight of Kira. "You're the person everyone's been talking about. The lost child raised by the humans."
Kira frowned, not exactly surprised the woman knew of her, but wishing her circumstances weren't known by quite so many strangers.
"I'm Eta," she said happily. "I'm so glad I'm getting to meet you. The rest of my squad will be so jealous."
"Why?" Kira asked.
"Because you're a mystery, and your survival gives hope for others who lost their children during the Sorrowing," the woman stuttered.
Kira fell silent, fiddling with the cuffs of her sleeves.
Eta visibly shook off her awe, returning to the previous topic. "They'll compete to see who reaches the other side the fastest while doing the most destruction to the drones."
Kira turned to see Graydon make an impossible leap, snatching one of the drones out of the air and hurling it at another. The two crashed with a harsh crunch and dropped into the water.
Eta sighed, the sound happy and admiring. "The commander is winning. Not that I'm surprised. He's one of the best. Roderick just challenged him because he’s an ass."
Kira made a noncommittal sound, not wanting to distract the chatty woman.
As they watched, Graydon swarmed up a wall and across one of the bridges, while Roderick struggled to evade the three drones locked on him.
For defense, Roderick carried a long wooden staff, using it to deflect their fire.
Not very well, she noted when several beams hit his leg and torso.
Pain reflected on his face even as he pressed forward.
Graydon reached the final platform easily, crossing the line amid groans of dismay from those in green and cheers of victory from those wearing black.
Graydon raised one arm in response, looking around the arena. His gray, stormy eyes found Kira's and then moved beyond her. When he realized she was alone, the smile faded from his face, leaving the hunter staring back at her.
"Ah, crap," Kira muttered.
She thought about retreating, fading into the trees and making her escape before he could reach her. She'd been on the opposite side of enough dressing-downs to know this wouldn’t be pretty.
She sighed and stiffened her spine. Running would only prolong things and make them worse. Besides, the last time she’d run from one of the Tuann hadn't exactly worked out for her.
"He's coming this way," her new friend muttered, sounding torn between two extremes—excitement and nervousness.
"Unfortunately," Kira muttered.
"You don't understand. To be considered for his detail would be the greatest of honors," Eta said.
Kira was sure it would be. If the prowess he'd demonstrated was anything to go by, she should assume his warriors were as well-trained as he was.
He stalked around the obstacle course as another group prepared to enter. He stopped in front of her, his expression carefully controlled.
"Is there a reason your oshota is not with you?" he asked in a tone that made it clear he thought her an idiot.
"Perhaps because I did not want him with me, and so he is not," Kira returned politely.
Eta drew in a sharp breath, before pressing her lips together, hard, as her gaze darted between the two.
Kira ignored her, too focused on winning the battle of wills with the commander.
Graydon visibly struggled with patience. "I don't care what you want. Finn's job is to keep you alive. Let him do it."
"Somehow, I've managed to survive all these years without your or anyone else's protection."
"That was around humans," he scoffed. "The Tuann would eat you alive."
Kira's eyes narrowed. Oh, would they now? She was half-tempted to show him the error of his thinking.
"I didn't know your kind were cannibals," Kira said, retaining her polite façade. "Thank you for warning me."
Graydon made a sound like a growl. "You're deliberately misunderstanding."
"Only because you are being so damned condescending."
There was a muffled snort from Isla behind Graydon. Another of Graydon’s oshota, she looked fierce in her synth armor. Noor, beside her, was better at controlling his amusement, though Kira caught the glint of humor in his eyes.
"What's the holdup?" Roderick asked from Graydon's side. He frowned when he spotted Kira. "Where is your guard?"
Kira glanced at Graydon. "It's like you guys only know how to ask one thing."
His lips twitched, showing a brief spot of humor before he squashed it again. "The azala was telling me how guards were unnecessary for someone of her ability level."
That hadn't exactly been what she'd said, but close enough. She didn't react to the statement beyond a slight narrowing of the eyes.
Roderick's guffaw made it clear how ridiculous he found the notion. When he finally sobered, he jerked his chin at Eta. "Escort her to the Citadel."
Eta snapped to attention, stepping forward and reaching for Kira's arm. Kira let her take it, conscious of Graydon's regard as she said lightly, "I wasn't aware I was to be a prisoner."
"You're not," Roderick said. "This is for your own protection. My Overlord has impressed upon me how important your safety is. We don't want anything to happen to you while you're wandering around. Your protection should never have been assigned to the half-blood in the first place. One of my soldiers would be a better choice."
Kira recognized the insult implicit in a term like half-blood. She wondered if Roderick realized that when he insulted Finn, he was also implying an insult against her lineage too.
"He's very arrogant," she told Graydon.
"Indeed."
Especially for someone who had allowed an incursion into his security perimeter.
"I'm enjoying my walk," she informed Roderick. "I’ll return once I'm done."
One thing she'd learned from interacting with Finn was that when she was direct and firm with her wishes, he was hesitant to force her to do otherwise. She was curious to see if the same held true for others among the Luatha.
Roderick’s face darkened.
"Between your people and mine, I'm sure the Overlord would agree Kira has adequate protection here," Graydon said in a neutral voice.
Roderick's expression soured before a shout from the obstacle course distracted him. "Since you've decided to stay, perhaps you can demonstrate your prowess in battle."
Kira should have seen that coming. From the carefully guarded look on the other oshota's faces, she sensed a trap.
Unfortunately, she didn’t see a graceful way to refuse. Even then, she hesitated to accept the challenge. Jace hadn't been entirely wrong last night when he accused her of being out of shape. Her body ached with the demands she'd already placed on it.
"Sounds fun," Kira said, feeling like it would be anything but.
"Excellent. I'll inform them you're next," Roderick said.
The carefully neutral expression on Graydon's face remained in place as Roderick stalked off. After a respectful nod, Eta trotted after him.
"That was unwise," Graydon murmured.
"I didn't have a lot of choice. If I'd refused, he would have used it an excuse to send me to my room like a child."
"Instead, he's going to use this experience to humiliate you and damage your credibility with Luatha," Graydon said. "They may be more known for their craftsmen and master artists than their warriors, but they are Tuann. They respect strength."
"Thanks, I hadn't figured any of that out for myself," Kira said tartl
y.
She watched the current group on the course as they fought for each foot of progress. They worked as a team, their wooden staffs spinning as they defended themselves. Each covering the other as the next person surged forward.
It wasn't until the midsection that they got into trouble, the drones pinning them down with laser fire.
A flash of translucent white settled around them in a cone-like shape, anchored by one man as he spun his staff around him. Seconds later another man burst forward, his sword cutting through the air as a thin ribbon of light sliced from it, cutting a drone in half.
Kira jolted forward. "What was that?"
"The reason this isn't going to be as easy as you think," Graydon said. "We call it the ki. Roughly translated, it means soul's breath. The en-blades help them manifest their ki to manipulate. Until you learn to use it, you will be at a serious disadvantage should you be challenged to personal combat."
Kira didn't comment, staring across the water as one of the combatants used their ki to create a hole in the drones' defenses.
"Tell me about this soul's breath," she said. "Could you teach me?"
"I could teach you the basic concepts given enough time, but to truly learn you would need to study what your people have to teach you," he said.
"Why?"
"While the ability to manipulate the ki is common to every Tuann, its manifestation varies greatly. Each House has spent generations perfecting its techniques and then passing them down. I couldn’t teach you the Luathan's techniques simply because I don't know them," Graydon said.
Kira looked from the obstacle course up at him, her forehead furrowed in thought.
"What about other techniques?" she asked.
"Each House guards their techniques zealously for their own safety. Giving them to outsiders is tantamount to treason," he said. "Even if I did, it would do you little good. Most of the higher-level techniques are bred into your blood. If you don't hold the talent, then it doesn't matter how much you study, you won't be able to use them."
"And all Tuann have this ability?" Kira asked.
Graydon hesitated. "To a degree."
"He means there are some things we can't tell you until we're more confident of your loyalty," Liara said in a strong voice from behind Kira.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Liara stood, her hands behind her back and her expression serene.
"Overlord,” Graydon said in greeting.
Liara's attention shifted to him, her gaze lacking warmth. "Lord Graydon, you're here at our sufferance. Sharing Tuann secrets with outsiders is forbidden. I believe the emperor is the one who suggested the policy of keeping the existence of the soul's breath from the humans."
Graydon inclined his head. "Your rebuke is wise."
Kira snorted, not buying his humble routine. He'd known exactly what he was doing.
"Here I was thinking you welcomed me with open arms," Kira said lightly, wishing the other woman had come a little later.
Frustration at the interruption ran through her. In response, Kira shifted and fought to keep her emotions in check.
She'd been so close to learning something real, something of vital importance to her.
Because she suspected she knew what the ki was and had used it before. Only her use tended toward more widescale destruction—not a simple shield or pretty blade of light. Helpful during war, but a danger out of it.
When she used this ki, soul's breath, or whatever it was, she wielded it with none of the grace or subtlety exhibited by the Luatha below. Instead, it was like a volcano, scalding hot and destructive.
Her former team hadn't called her the Phoenix for nothing.
Liara gave Kira a soft look. "As much as I wish to share all of our secrets with you, our people have not stood against our enemies for so long without taking certain precautions. There are some things not in our interest to reveal."
Especially when she suspected Kira would turn around and give the information to the Consortium.
Fair enough. Kira had secrets of her own—such as the fact their soul's breath wasn't the secret it should have been. Kira blew that one wide open. Himoto and several highly placed military officials were aware of her capabilities. Had even made use of them on more than one occasion.
"I fear, cousin, there are some things I will never learn then," Kira said with fake disappointment. Her expression sobered. "You may not like them, but the humans are my choice. They will always have my loyalty. If you can't accept that, I suggest ending this now."
Movement from the forest caught Kira's attention. Raider and Finn moved through the trees at a fast clip.
As they neared, Kira saw Raider's furious expression, his face sporting fresh bruises and a cut on his cheek. Finn stalked at his side looking no happier. Unlike Raider, he showed few signs of their disagreement anywhere on him.
The slight tightening of the skin around Liara's eyes and mouth said she saw them too and didn't approve. Her bright eyes came back to Kira's. "We do welcome you, but I have a duty to all those I've pledged to protect. I can't afford to place my trust wrong."
To her credit, she seemed apologetic about that.
Kira gave a shrug. "You'd be an idiot if you didn't have some reservations."
Liara inclined her head, the corners of her lips tilting up.
"Just like I'd be an idiot to place my trust in you," Kira continued, wiping off the ease that had been forming on Liara's face.
"You're family. We don't intend you any harm," Liara said, the words stilted.
A rusty laugh escaped Kira, her expression sympathetic but firm. "We're not family. You're several decades too late for that. We're strangers who happen to share blood. Maybe we can be more, maybe we can't. Only time will tell."
Kira paused, her expression hardening. "Our relationship would be much easier if you drop this ridiculous claim and stop treating me like I'm a child."
Liara's expression remained set, her eyes stricken. "That isn't an option. My station requires I ensure your protection and those who've pledged loyalty to our House."
Kira sighed. She hadn't thought it would work, but she'd needed to give it a try.
The Tuann seemed obsessed with the concept of protection and duty, dedicating their entire society to its altar. They'd turned their values into a noose and wrapped it so tight around their necks they were going to eventually strangle themselves.
It was like a giant, never-ending circle. The overlord protected her people and was protected in turn.
Oaths and honor defined their lives. Break one or step out of their pattern and you were thrown away.
In a way, it reminded Kira of the code of bushido, the way of the samurai from feudal Japan. The samurai had understood being a warrior was about more than your prowess on the battlefield or how skilled you were with your sword. The measure of your worth was in the people you protected, and how you treated them and they you.
They believed in honor, respect, courageous heroism, righteousness, benevolence; all markers she saw in the Tuann to some degree. A few things were different, but the underlying principles remained the same.
It didn't give Kira a lot of hope for herself of ever fitting in. She was a tiger among wolves. A survivor, ready and willing to do what was necessary. It didn’t always leave a lot of room for such luxurious notions as honor. Their way of thinking and acting weren't hers. She doubted they'd ever be.
If Liara knew the real Kira, she'd waste little time in kicking her off the planet. If she didn’t finish what the assassin started first.
That left Kira trying to win her freedom without showing too much of her more ruthless self.
“What if I was too weak to ever be an asset to the House?” Kira challenged
Liara shook her head. “Everyone has a purpose, whether it be big or small. Either way, we would protect you, even onto death.”
“And if I was so strong, I could fend off a hundred enemies?” Kira tested.
“We would use your s
kills to protect others,” Liara said simply.
So, she was damned if she revealed the depth of what she was capable of, and damned if she didn't.
“Doesn't give me much incentive to trust you either way,” Kira concluded.
Liara inclined her head. "I can see how it might seem that way. Unfortunately, the House test will reveal the depths of your soul one way or another."
"House test?" Kira asked.
"The ruma ah. It's a series of tests all Tuann seeking to join a House undergo. When you reach the point where you can pledge your loyalty, you experience this as well," Graydon supplied. "I wouldn't waste time trying to fool it into thinking you're weaker than you are. The test will figure out your potential no matter how you fight it."
Kira didn't like the sound of that. Her expression was pensive as her thoughts turned inward. She wished she knew more about what was expected of her. There were things she'd like to keep hidden, partly because of her past, partly because she didn't want to face the questions their revelation would inevitably bring.
While the Tuann seemed to have many things in common with her, there was the ever-present worry her time in the compound had changed or damaged her in some way. The experiments they'd performed on her and others had been brutal. It wasn't outside the realm of possibility she'd been changed as a result.
The Tuann, for all their stiff-necked insistence on family, weren't likely to be accepting of too many oddities.
She released the breath she was holding. It was pointless to agonize. If she couldn't figure out a way to rig the test, Jin would.
Graydon turned his attention to Finn. "Would you like to explain how you let your charge wander around without you?"
A threat threaded through Graydon's voice as he fixed Finn with a hard stare.
Finn opened his mouth.
"No," Kira said.
She shook her head at him. She didn't want him explaining. She didn't want the cause of the incident brought up, discussed, and dissected.
There was a chance those symbols had been normal. There was also a chance they weren’t.
Finn's mouth clicked shut and his expression went neutral.
