Chapter 11
Eleven
Kira
Fyr ambushed Kira and Veer as soon as they were back inside. “Where is he taking you? You said we’d talk.”
“Later.”
Fyr’s expression was savage as he prowled beside her, paying no attention to the way Veer or the rest of the oshota stiffened. “You keep saying that. I want to see my brother.”
Kira gestured the oshota back before giving Fyr her full attention. “That’s not possible. Like I’ve already told you, he’s not here.”
Aeron, the “brother”, he was referring to, had remained with Admiral Jace Skarsdale and the rest of his fleet after the battle. Knowing he had nowhere to go except back to a prison cell if he returned to Ta Sa’Riel, Kira hadn’t objected.
Surprisingly, neither had Jace.
As a rule, humans had little love for generals, who were known for their deviousness and indestructibility in battle. During the war, commanders had learned to expect three times the number of casualties for any battle that involved a general.
Kira would have thought the prejudice against their kind too great to chance keeping one around for long.
Apparently, Aeron’s actions during the battle over the Tsavitee planet had changed that. Whatever Jace had seen or experienced, it was enough for him to take responsibility for the general.
It probably didn’t hurt that Aeron offered a window into their culture. In the right hands, the knowledge he possessed was invaluable.
Jace aimed to be those hands.
Fyr curled a lip to bare one fang. “How do I know you’re not lying?”
“Okay. That’s it. I think we’re done.”
Kira twisted on her heel and strode toward the exit.
Fyr circled around to block her.
“Don’t even think about it,” Kira snapped at the oshota as they bristled. Their faces became stony masks as they eyed the general with sudden hostility. She grabbed Fyr’s arm and pulled him out of the way. “What is wrong with you? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Fyr shrugged out of her hold, looking flustered. It was an expression she’d never thought she’d see on the face of a general. “No. I’m sorry. I just—I’m not used to it.”
“Used to what?”
“Being alone in enemy territory.”
His admission hit Kira in the gut. For the first time, she realized how young he actually was. Just a little older than Elena, in fact.
Damn it.
Now she felt guilty for pushing him aside. She never would have done that if he’d been anything but a general.
“Aeron isn’t on planet,” Kira explained. “He remained behind with the Consortium’s forces.”
“Why would he do that?”
“He thought he had a better chance of doing good there, rather than being locked in a cell here. If you hadn’t noticed, the Tuann aren’t exactly trusting of your kind,” Kira said.
Fyr sent the oshota a resentful look. “Yes, I’ve noticed.”
“Is that all you wanted to know? Where Aeron is?” Kira asked.
Seeing the suspicious way Fyr was looking at Veer and sensing there was more he wanted to say, Kira gestured for the oshota to give them room.
The decision proved right when Fyr relaxed as soon as the oshota was no longer in hearing range. “I’d like to join Aeron. Wherever he is.”
Kira didn’t even have to think about her answer. “No.”
“Why not?”
Because he was a child.
Kira couldn’t say that though.
In some ways, his experiences were very close to her and Jin’s. The way he’d grown up didn’t allow for innocence.
All the more reason to protect him now.
Not that he would accept that as a valid excuse. Kira certainly wouldn’t have.
Himoto had delayed her entry into the military by four years by throwing her into one of their academies. She didn’t have that luxury with Fyr.
She went with logic instead.
“If the Osiri catch wind of your survival, what do you think will happen to your former creche mates?”
The fight went out of Fyr as his shoulders slumped. “Does that mean I have to live in hiding forever?”
“Not forever. Just a little while. Give it enough time for memories to fade.”
And for him to grow up a little.
Fyr’s disappointment was written all over his face as Kira turned to go.
“If my brothers encounter you without knowing the truth, they’ll try to avenge me,” Fyr warned.
“That’s my problem. Not yours.”
She’d known the risks when she decided on this course of action.
Fyr’s expression was surprisingly hard to read as he studied her.
“Is that everything? Can I go now?” Kira asked.
She really didn’t have more time to spare.
“Babylon,” Fyr said suddenly.
Kira let her confusion show on her face.
“They’ll understand what it means,” he explained.
Kira watched the general walk away as she contemplated the meaning behind what was obviously a code. She found it interesting that they’d chosen an old human word. If her history lessons served, it was the name of an ancient Mesopotamian city. It also played a role in the bible.
“Heir,” Veer urged, interrupting her train of thought.
Kira shook off her curiosity. “Coming.”
Harlow was sitting behind his desk reading reports when Kira walked in. “You took your sweet time.”
“Sorry about that. I had a few things to take care of.”
Kira glanced at Finn and Talon. “What are you two doing here?”
Talon lounged in his chair with a reckless ease. By contrast, Finn was much more rigid, his back straight as he gazed straight in front of him.
“Sword,” Talon greeted.
Finn inclined his chin.
“I called them,” Harlow said.
He looked up and nodded as Quillon and Raider entered.
“Are you having a party?” Kira asked with a certain bite to her tone.
Harlow ignored it. “Before we go further, I asked Quillon for his assessment regarding your current condition.”
Kira folded her arms across her chest as her stance turned combative. “By all means. This should be good.”
The healer didn’t even flinch as he reported to Harlow. “Although the heir is in much better condition than when she first arrived on the planet, I found a few points of concern during my exam this morning.”
Harlow steepled his fingers in front of him. “Go on.”
“Overall, her ki veins are healing, but there are one or two alterations that were not there before her battle with the Osiri.”
This was Kira’s first time hearing that.
“Should I be worried?” Harlow asked
Quillon’s hesitation showed uncertainty. “It’s too soon to tell. From the heir and other witness accounts, the alteration could be due to the interference from the lu-ong and the lenacht. Without further study, I can’t be sure.”
“What else?” Harlow demanded when Quillon trailed off.
“In addition to the disrupter they placed on her, they implanted an etav.”
The rage that splashed the room was immediate and blistering.
Kira fought the urge to take a step back. Talon and Finn stiffened as they went on high alert, reacting to their Overlord’s anger.
“They dared,” Harlow rumbled, his voice deepening to a dangerous register.
“It’s been deactivated and removed but the fact that it was used is a gross breach of etiquette. I plan to lodge a complaint against the inquisitor’s order,” Quillon explained.
“Do we know if Amaris was part of this or did they act alone?” Harlow demanded.
“Does that matter?” Kira asked.
She was missing something, but she didn’t know what. This happened every once in a while, because she hadn’t grown up among the Tuann. There were things that they understood on an intrinsic level.
This was one of those times.
“I’m sure you’ve noticed Lady Amaris’s resemblance to your friend.”
“I did.”
It had been kind of hard to miss.
“Then you must have guessed the relationship between the two.”
Kira nodded.
“Therein lies the complication. Although Torvald and Amaris have been companions for longer than I’ve been alive, it’s a relationship that technically shouldn’t exist.”
“Why?” Raider asked.
“It’s difficult to explain to someone who didn’t grow up among us. The best I can do is say that Lady Amaris is considered a special existence. Something of a holy figure.”
“You mean like Loudon,” Kira said suddenly, referencing the Tuann who’d played an instrumental role in betraying their House during the Sorrowing. A time when so many children were stolen from across the Tuann empire.
“He was an insect compared to her,” Harlow snapped.
Loudon’s betrayal had hit him the hardest. Understandable, since the man had been an old friend. His oshota once upon a time.
Harlow composed himself. “Using a human example, that man would have been a low ranking priest.”
“Oh, I know what you’re saying. She’s a pope,” Raider explained.
Kira shook her head. “I’m still lost. Remember—I’m not as versed in religion as you.”
Humanity’s belief in the divine was as diverse as it had always been. On some planets, like the one where Raider was born, religion had flourished. On others, it had faded to a forgotten note in the history books.
“Think admiral versus an ensign,” Raider explained.
“You’re implying Amaris is the equivalent of an admiral. Do I have that right?” Kira asked.
Raider gave a shrug. “Close enough. Except there is only one.”
Kira looked back at Harlow. “Why is it a problem if Amaris and the emperor are together?”
She’d think their union would be a cause for celebration.
“The Tuann are a war-like race. We were created to be aggressive and territorial. Over the millennia, we’ve learned to temper ourselves but there are throwbacks.” Harlow nodded at Kira. “You could consider those able to access their primus as one of them.”
“What does this have to do with Amaris?”
Rather than answer, Harlow asked a question of his own. “When in her presence, did you notice anything unusual?”
Now that Kira thought about it, she had. She’d thought it was her imagination until now.
“In simple terms, Amaris is able to suppress some of a Tuann’s natural attributes,” Harlow explained.
“Like my primus,” Kira realized.
No wonder it had been so quiet.
“Among other things,” Harlow said. “If she wanted to, she could cut off your access to the Mea’Ave—and ultimately, your ki.”