Chapter 11 #2
Since the Tuann’s ki was like a finite resource replenished from the Mea’Ave, Kira could see how such a thing could be a cause for fear. She, personally, had never fallen into the trap of relying entirely on her soul’s breath, but she had a feeling other Tuann weren’t so smart.
To her, ki was a tool. A convenient one but a tool nonetheless. No different from the wave board she used to ride into battle or the rifle she carried at her side.
“We refer to people like her as the Mea’Ave’s voice,” Harlow explained.
“I still don’t understand why their relationship is considered taboo,” Kira complained.
“The Overlords will never let Torvald consolidate that kind of power under his rule. Normally, he and Amaris would have never been able to develop that kind of relationship, but the two grew up together. As I’m sure you’ve already seen, Torvald is a stubborn bastard.
Despite opposition from within his own camp and without, he prevented their separation.
The caveat is that she can never serve as his empress.
Outwardly, Jin and Devon are considered motherless.
In reality, those in power know their parentage but don’t acknowledge it. ”
So, what Harlow was telling her was that Jin’s parents were essentially star-crossed lovers.
Jin was going to flip with excitement when he found out. The situation was straight out of one of those trashy soap operas he’d gotten her addicted to.
“Amaris cannot give the impression of siding with Torvald without upsetting the power balance,” Harlow said.
“But she can make moves in the dark,” Kira guessed.
Harlow’s smile was that of a proud uncle whose niece had finally shown some intelligence.
“If Amaris had a hand in the etav’s use, it would drastically rewrite the board.
Either she is targeting you using the inquisitors or someone is attempting to take advantage of this chance to advance their agenda. ”
“And if she’s targeting me?” Kira asked.
“We have much bigger problems than we previously thought.” Harlow attempted a reassuring smile. “But that’s a concern for a different time. Right now, I called you here for something else.”
The tap, tap, tap of Harlow’s fingers drumming on the desk were loud as he considered Kira. She straightened as he seemed to come to a decision.
Harlow folded his hands in front of him. “Quillon just cleared you for duty.”
Kira glanced at the healer and then back at her uncle.
“I didn’t mention this to the emperor or his Face, but I may have some idea of Caius’s last known location.”
Raider straightened, suddenly looking impressed. “You lied to your emperor?”
“It wasn’t so much a lie as it was an omission.” Harlow ignored Raider’s low whistle to focus on Kira. “You’re to take a team and investigate.”
“If the emperor finds out, we’ll be in trouble,” Kira said.
“Then I guess you just have to make sure he doesn’t find out.”
“Wow, you two really are uncle and niece. That sounds exactly like something you would say,” Raider told Kira.
“Based on the information Talon procured during your sojourn to the Tsavitee planet, I sent Caius on an investigation.” Harlow set a coin on the desk and triggered the information inside.
One by one, stars appeared until a map of a section of the galaxy formed.
“We discovered the presence of several world gates that shouldn’t exist. That don’t exist on any of our maps. One such gate was found here.”
The map zoomed in on a particular planet.
It looked a lot like Earth, Ta Sa’Riel, and other inhabitable planets. It possessed a bluish lavender ocean and continents.
What Kira found of particular interest was its proximity to the section of space that the perpetrators had fled to.
Raider squinted. “Wait—isn’t that Consortium territory?”
“It’s the border between their territory and unexplored space,” Kira confirmed, staring at Harlow. “You sent Caius there?”
He should have sent her.
“He fell out of contact shortly after letting us know about an enclave of wanderers in the vicinity.”
“How long ago was this?”
“Three weeks.”
The enemy had a decent head start then.
“I assume Roake is being watched. How are we getting off planet?” Kira asked.
“Before he went offline, he verified the world gate was functional.”
Raider let out a heartfelt groan. “Don’t tell me.”
“Yes, you will be leaving via Roake’s world gate,” Harlow announced with a tiny smirk at Raider’s reaction. “A few of Caius’s pod will meet you there.”
“When?” Kira asked.
“Dawn.”
That left the rest of the day and the night to prepare.
“Caius is your mission. Nothing else,” Harlow ordered, making sure there was no room for misunderstanding. “Remember—you’re Roake’s heir now. Everything you do reflects on us.”
“I like how you use that title as a bludgeon. Especially since I never agreed to the position in the first place,” Kira drawled.
Harlow’s grin tugged at the scar on his cheek. “You must not hate it too much. You’re still here.”
Yes, she was.
Kira didn’t know what that said about her.
“If that’s everything.” Kira let her words trail off.
“Not quite. There’s one last thing.”
Harlow’s gaze moved to Raider in clear demand.
“Well—I’m guessing that’s my cue.” Raider slapped his hands onto the armrests of his chair and lifted himself to standing. “Phoenix, I’ll be there bright and early tomorrow. Locked and loaded and ready to go.”
“Raider—”
“I know what you want to say but don’t. Elise and I have already had the conversation. As difficult as the idea of leaving her and my daughter behind in all this—especially so soon after just being reunited—there are some things that have to be done.”
“I wouldn’t think any less of you if you remained behind with them,” Kira said.
This wasn’t Raider’s fight. Not really. He had no obligation to see it through.
“You say that like we’re not a package deal. Sorry, Nixxy. We tried that once and it didn’t exactly work out well for either of us. From now on, your fights are my fights and vice versa.”
“That’s awfully sentimental,” Kira teased. “Never thought I’d hear the like out of your mouth.”
“To be honest, neither did I,” Raider admitted before sobering. “Roake’s fate affects my family’s. For us to stay safe, your House has to stand strong. I don’t mind being a contributing factor.”
“We appreciate that,” Harlow rumbled.
Kira glanced at Finn. “Can you believe this? The man’s become a philosopher.”
“I do find it rather surprising,” Finn said.
Raider rolled his eyes at the oshota. “At least I voice my opinion unlike a certain someone.”
“Finn does too,” Kira corrected. “It’s just usually along the lines of calling me an idiot.”
“Only because you so often are,” Finn murmured.
Raider’s snicker was quiet as he sauntered to the door. “I’ll let you get back to your super-secret business. I want to see Elena before our departure anyways.”
Harlow watched Raider leave, waiting until the door was closed behind him before speaking. “There are some who would have viewed my dismissal as an insult.”
“He’s military. He’s familiar with need-to-know and top secret,” Kira said.
Harlow clasped his hands on the desk, turning his attention to Kira. “I’d like to borrow Talon.”
Kira’s gaze darted from her uncle to her oshota in confusion. “Why are you asking me?”
Talon was sitting right there.
“As his sword, it’s your decision.”
On some level, Kira knew that was how it worked. It wasn’t so different from the military. While the top brass could—and did—reallocate personnel on a whim, they usually ran it by the person’s chain-of-command first.
“Talon, what do you want to do?” Kira asked.
Talon levered himself out of his seat and stretched lazily. “I hear a certain sector of Consortium territory has interesting sights this time of year. Think I’ll take a little stroll. See what I can find.”
Kira glanced at Harlow. “Is that the answer you hoped for?”
“It’ll do.”
With a chuckle, Talon strolled out of the room. Finn nodded respectfully at Kira and Harlow before following.
“What will you be doing while we’re gone?” Kira asked her uncle.
“Me?” Harlow gave her a slow, savage smile. “I’ll be preparing Roake for war.”
Graydon
Against the backdrop of space, Ta Sa’Riel was a beautiful, glowing gem as its sun sent rays of light to play among the clouds, turning them into a sea of fire.
“I was surprised when Asanth accepted Roake’s deal. The two Houses aren’t exactly on friendly terms,” Solal commented as he joined Graydon on the upper balcony overlooking the conservatory.
There were three on this ship. This was the largest.
Below was a garden paradise. Tall trees framing the glass walls and ceiling of the conservatory, their verdant green contrasting sharply with the slice of the universe that could be glimpsed just beyond.
“Asanth lost a lot of children during the Sorrowing,” Graydon explained as he glanced at the Tuann, who was admiring the choko tree below.
Graydon hadn’t expected Asanth to send their interim lord, but maybe he should have.
After the ambush on its Overlord, the House was closing ranks. They would want someone they trusted implicitly on this mission. The fact he’d been appointed the interim lord while Castor was still healing spoke volumes about Rhett’s place in the House.
A brute by some standards. A devious adversary by others. Rhett was one of the few who’d fallen from a House’s hallowed ranks to that of a wanderer’s only to claw his way back to his former position.
It made for an interesting case study. Graydon wished he knew the full story.
Just then, Rhett turned his head to stare at something that Graydon couldn’t see from this angle.
A moment later, Alexander strode into view.
He paused at the sight of Asanth’s interim lord before giving a polite nod.
The short conversation that followed was interesting. Even if Graydon was too far away to hear what was being said.
“Asanth is smarter than Luatha,” Graydon commented idly.