Rules of Redemption (The Firebird Chronicles Book 1)

by T. A. White

  It was tempting to lash out. Oh, so tempting. She could practically taste the satisfaction it would bring, to teach these people the error of underestimating her. However, to do so would be foolhardy and shortsighted.

  Instead, she gave him her sweetest smile. Graydon's lips twitched before he quelled his amusement, hiding it as if it had never been. She wasn't the only one beginning to recognize the subtle hints in the other’s expressions.

  "I'm far from everything I've ever known. Surely, you wouldn't deprive me of my companions. They give me such comfort," Kira said. It was a shameless play for sympathy, meant to force them to think “poor, little, lost child.”

  Graydon, ironically, had been the one to give her this idea with his pacifier comment.

  Her ploy worked as Roderick dismissed her, turning to Graydon. Amila and another of Graydon's soldiers exchanged glances, a small trace of humor glinting in their eyes. They knew what she'd done and approved.

  "We'll take her from here," Roderick stated brusquely. "You may report to the emperor we've done our duty."

  Kira was a little impressed with the man's balls. Graydon wasn't the sort you dismissed. He did the dismissing, not the other way around. Roderick had stomped all over that. He was either secure in his abilities or just plain stupid. Jury was out on which it was.

  "I'm afraid we won't be departing yet," Graydon said with a smile devoid of warmth or humor. It was raw, holding all the savagery of a warrior. It said he'd be happy to do this dance with Roderick because he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, he'd come out the winner in the end. "Until Kira is formally claimed, she remains under the emperor's protection."

  Roderick straightened, his frown fierce.

  A shuttle roared into sight above. It hovered over the wide field they stood on before lowering and touching down softly.

  "How many of your oshota are you expecting us to House?" Roderick asked, his eyebrows lowered in displeasure.

  "Only those present. However, several humans traveled with us," Graydon said before Roderick could relax. "They wanted to ensure their friend was settled and to provide a reminder of home in this difficult time."

  Kira fought her smile as Graydon made the same argument Kira had moments before, insinuating the child would be extremely troubled so far from the comforts and people of home. It seemed she wasn't the only one who found Roderick obnoxious.

  She never would have guessed how irritated Graydon had been with the Curs’ presence if she hadn't seen his expression when they first came on board.

  The lines on Roderick's face deepened, ire showing as he spat several sentences in his native language. Graydon responded in kind.

  Kira wished she knew what was being said.

  "You getting anything interesting?" Kira asked Jin, still in Japanese.

  On her end, she was catching every other word. She'd made an effort to study the Tuann language during the journey from O'Riley to Ta Da'an. She'd made some progress given she was a quick learner with a knack for languages. To date, she could speak four and read six if you counted binary code.

  Jin was even better than Kira at picking up new languages. A fact she attributed to his processing power and people ignoring him because they thought he was only a machine.

  "Something about how the humans shouldn't be here. He had no right to bring them into their House," Jin said. He paused for a moment. "He's now saying the Luatha will hold Graydon responsible if anything should happen."

  "I'd like to know why they hate humans so much," Kira said, not taking her eyes from the two men.

  Himoto had explained some of the reasons for the strained relations, but that couldn't be all of it. There had to be more to the story.

  Another question she should have asked Himoto before accepting this assignment.

  Kira fell silent, becoming aware of the Luatha looking her over, their thoughts and conclusions hard to read on their inexpressive faces.

  "Fine, you win. I don't care what you do with the humans as long as they don't get in our way," Roderick spat. He stabbed a finger at Kira. "She will stay with us. The humans stay with you."

  Graydon spared Kira a glance before giving Roderick an abrupt nod.

  Roderick grimaced, looking no happier about winning the skirmish before barking several abrupt words at his people. He stalked away.

  Graydon waited until Kira stopped next to him, keeping an eye on their not so thrilled escort. His expression remained carefully neutral, though if Kira had to hazard a guess, he wasn't entirely happy with the turn of events.

  "Charming bunch you're saddling me with," she said.

  Graydon made a small sound of agreement. "They're the oshota for Luatha House. The safety of their House and all those who fall under it are their first priority. You and your friends challenge their purpose."

  "Me? A child? I am a threat?" Kira touched her chest in feigned shock. She dropped the pretenses, turning serious. "How insecure."

  "Even a child can kill, given the right circumstances," Graydon said mildly.

  The emotion left Kira's face. "Yes, yes they can."

  She had firsthand experience with that fact. She was just surprised Graydon understood.

  His gaze was sharp and piercing, a question lingering in his eyes. Like the smart man he was, he stayed silent, not voicing it. Now wasn't the time or place.

  "And as you made so clear from our first meeting, you're not exactly a child," Graydon said wryly.

  Kira's sidelong look was sly.

  "You would be smart to let them think what they will," Graydon said, raising both eyebrows.

  Kira's paused, understanding the warning.

  "That's a mighty fine cape he had. Very spiffy," she said, changing the subject. She gave Graydon a once over, taking in the defined muscles even his armor couldn't fully hide. "Why don't you have one like that?"

  Graydon's lip curled. "His cape is ridiculous. An opponent can grab it and strangle him with it. No other weapons necessary."

  Kira tried to choke back the laugh trying to escape. She was fighting a losing battle, his incredulous expression at her comment too funny to resist.

  Graydon watched her with a frown, his jaw ticking.

  Kira managed to compose herself, saying with a semi-straight face, "But you would look so dashing."

  "All the girls would worship at your feet," Jin assured him.

  Graydon's face turned slightly disgusted as he shook his head. He strode off, saying over his shoulder, "Come. Roderick won't be patient long."

  "I would like to see him in a cape as well," Amila murmured in an undertone to Kira.

  Kira sputtered, losing the battle against her mirth.

  A woman took the opportunity to approach. She wore a simple dress and her hair was bound in an unadorned tail down her back. She was the only one on the field besides Kira not wearing synth armor.

  "Lady, my name is Ayela. I've been assigned to carry your things," she said in accented standard. Her smile was polite as she bowed her head diffidently.

  "You're off the hook then," Jin said, sounding bored.

  Confusion shown on Ayela's face.

  "I'm sorry, but I don't have anything for you to carry," Kira explained.

  Ayela's mouth opened in a small O. "How could your people send you so far with nothing? That is barbarous."

  Kira's smile grew forced at the accusation implied there. "I chose to come like this."

  Ayela blinked, aware she’d slipped somewhere. "I'm sorry, lady. I meant no offense."

  Kira buried her emotions. "None taken. If you'll excuse me, I don't want to fall behind."

  "Oh, but—I'm supposed to escort you." Ayela's protest fell on deaf ears as Kira strode away.

  "Will all of your people think of humans as barbarians?" Kira asked Amila as they followed the path Graydon had taken.

  Amila hesitated. Her silence confirmed Kira’s suspicion.

  Kira frowned. If they thought of humans as less than themselves, the same sentiment would fil
ter to Kira since she had spent considerable time among them.

  "Not many will be so bold as to do so to your face," Amila admitted. "Strange, that one of her station would be so rude."

  Kira didn't comment as she caught up to Graydon and the others.

  At the edge of the clearing, she paused, giving the second shuttle a long look where it waited, not having disgorged its passengers yet.

  "Leave them," Graydon ordered, instantly setting Kira's back up again.

  She sent him a hard look. Not this again.

  He rolled his eyes. "You need to do this without them. Meeting the Overlord of House Luatha is an important opportunity, one best accomplished without their polarizing presence."

  Kira hesitated, part of her wanting to cling to the familiarity of Jace and the others’ presence. The rest of her understood what Graydon was saying. Until she understood more of what fueled the dislike in the Tuann toward humans, she would be best served perceived as a neutral party. Staying on the Luathan's good side would increase the chance of her attaining her twin goals.

  Still, something bothered her about the request. It was like being asked to forget the things and people who defined her—to put them aside because they no longer served her purpose. He was asking her to bury the pieces of her history that had shaped who she’d become.

  Humans, whatever they might mean to the Tuann, had saved her. At her lowest moments, they'd found her, given her warmth and companionship. Not just once, but many times. She'd sacrificed more than Graydon would ever know for humanity's cause, for their very survival.

  She might have distanced herself from them, but it didn't mean she'd forgotten. Nor did she plan to leave them behind because it was convenient.

  Graydon waited patiently as she worked through her possible responses, making no move to hurry her along. He gave her the time to come to her own conclusion even when the Luatha stirred, impatient.

  His understanding was what decided her.

  She inclined her head. For now, she'd follow his lead.

  It was a trust she didn't bestow easily or lightly.

  Approval moved across Graydon's face before he looked away, already issuing orders. Two of his people stepped aside to wait as the Curs disembarked, while the rest of the oshota flanked Graydon and Kira as they followed Roderick.

  The Luathan warriors fell in behind Graydon's people, unobtrusively surrounding them. For their protection or the Luathan's, was hard to tell.

  The green synth armor did a good job of blending into the trees as they moved through the forest. Only the cape Graydon had called ridiculous, stood out like a sore thumb.

  They stepped onto a dirt road filled with several odd-looking vehicles. They appeared to have been lifted from a mad scientist's fantasy-filled dreams, wheel-less and attached to a creature that was a cross between a woolly mammoth and a bison—its fur shaggy and long. Only its ears, snout, and horns peeked out from under the furry length.

  "Whoa, that's not something you see every day," Jin said, making a circuit of the beast.

  "Jin," Kira cautioned when several of the Luatha looked over, their gazes ranging from mildly suspicious to hostile.

  "What? I call it like I see it."

  Kira shook her head in dismay, even if privately she agreed.

  One of the beasts gave a low coughing sound as it dipped its head and lipped at some grass at its feet. Its partner rubbed one horn against a foreleg before stamping the leg down again.

  "They're ooros," Graydon said. "They're mostly harmless."

  "Mostly?" Kira asked.

  She'd have preferred entirely. The creature outweighed her by several hundred pounds, dwarfing her in size. It looked like some prehistoric grazing animal, only more dangerous. If it decided to take a sudden dislike to her, it would be difficult bringing it down without a weapon.

  "They were once used for warfare," Graydon continued with a faint smile. "Don't disturb it during feeding time or mess with its young, and you'll be fine."

  Well, that should be easy. Kira didn't plan on ever being around them again if she could help it.

  "What are those?" Kira asked, nodding toward where a creature nearly as tall as the ooros stood. Several Luathans were fiddling with saddles as they prepared to mount.

  The horse creatures had long, slender limbs similar to a horse's, but their manes and tails were much thicker and coarser, similar to a Friesian, a breed of horse from old Earth. These creatures were more primal and rugged looking than any horse Kira had ever seen—something that might have evolved in an alternate primeval version of Earth in an environment ten times more dangerous.

  Around its chest and below the knee, its coat was thick, coarse and hairy like the ooros. A set of four white horns jutted from its head, two pointing straight up while the other two curved forward.

  Along the edge of its mane, white symbols appeared, almost glowing, even in bright daylight.

  The horse creature pranced in place, dangerous and beautiful. Kira itched to touch, to stroke, and pet it. She would have given anything for a ride on one of these proud, terrifying creatures.

  A snort above Kira's head sent her stomach flopping as she froze in place. Jin's ominous silence warned her of the danger she was in. Somehow, one of the alien horses had gotten close without her knowledge.

  She didn't move as a soft muzzle pushed aside her hair, the creature snuffling along her neck. She remained still despite the ticklish sensation, her face calm while inside hyper-alertness beat at her.

  Graydon had tensed beside her, his face expressionless even as his tightly coiled body warned of how precarious her situation was.

  Adrenaline surged through Kira.

  "What do I do?" Kira mouthed at Graydon.

  "Don't move," he mouthed back.

  She had visions of being impaled by the creature's massive horns or being stomped to death under the lethal-looking hooves. How ironic would it be for her to come through a war, only to be killed because an alien horse decided it didn't like her scent.

  One of the Luathan warriors advanced cautiously as his gaze moved from Kira to the giant monster standing over her.

  He said several soft words in his own language, a loving croon in his voice.

  The alien horse snorted and dipped its head, dropping its muzzle over Kira's shoulder. His head was heavy, the lethal horns inches from her face.

  "Sarath is asking to be petted," the Luathan warrior said.

  Kira gave him a dark glower. She didn't care what the damn creature wanted. He could ask for affection from his own people and leave her alone.

  "He likes when you scratch his neck and jaw," the warrior offered.

  Kira sighed. She really didn't want this. Given the monster showed no sign of moving away, she was left with no choice. Kira reached up and gave a small scratch along the jaw.

  The monster made a happy sound and moved closer, jostling Kira. She tensed again but settled when the creature did nothing more.

  "Just like that," the man said.

  With nothing else to do but satisfy the horse's wishes, Kira continued petting him, making sure her movements were slow and nonthreatening. To her surprise, the alien horse's jaw was soft under her hand, like warm velvet.

  The horse lifted its head and then sneezed all over the side of her face and hand.

  There was a strangled noise from the warrior as Kira remained motionless as the big monster trotted away, its horse-like tail partially raised in satisfaction. Her glare could have lit the damn thing on fire. For a long moment, she fantasized about going after the horse, teaching it a thing or two about manners.

  "You'd better run," she muttered at him. If that creature came near her again, she wasn't going to be responsible for what she did.

  "I'm so sorry. Sarath does that to the people he likes," the warrior said, not sounding apologetic enough, given the laughter she could hear in his voice.

  He handed her a handkerchief before moving off to corral his wayward mount.


  "Thanks for the help," Kira told Graydon as she wiped at the snot on her face and hand. She grimaced as she pulled a hunk of hair forward. She'd need a shower to get it all off.

  "I'm not stupid enough to get between an etair and something it finds interesting," Graydon said, looking entirely too amused at the disgust on Kira's face. "You should be honored. The etair are fickle beasts. That he let you pet him, a stranger to his House, confirms your lineage."

  Kira paused in what she was doing, her forehead wrinkling. "How?"

  Graydon gestured to the carriage. After a long moment of hesitation, Kira reluctantly moved toward it and settled herself carefully in the seat, not trusting the ooros pulling the carriage.

  Graydon folded in beside her, his large shoulders taking up the majority of the space.

  Jin hovered outside while the rest of Graydon's people took up positions around the carriage.

  Graydon leaned over and conferred with Liont. "I think it’d be best if your people stay here or on the ship until I've had a chance to talk to the Luathan Overlord."

  Liont's face got tight, but his nod was resigned. He reached up and shook Graydon's hand. “We’ll await your instructions.”

  He and the rest stepped away. Liont knelt in front of Joule whose expression and posture hinted at nerves. Joule’s shoulders were stiff, but the boy’s nod was firm. “I won’t let you or the rest down.”

  Joule took Ziva’s hand and walked her to the carriage, helping her into the seat behind Kira before climbing up himself, his face an expressionless mask. His eyes were pools of despair as they met Kira’s.

  She didn’t know what to say to him. In the end, she said nothing.

  Graydon settled back, returning to their conversation of before. “The etair were bred to act as mounts for their House's soldiers. They're fiercely loyal and are trained from birth to recognize those of the House's bloodline. If Sarath had seen you as a threat, the encounter would have gone very differently. That he didn't will reinforce your claim to this House and raise your esteem," Graydon explained.

  Kira looked around with a frown, noticing the truth in his statement. There was a noticeable lessening in the hostile glances being aimed her way. Several of the Luatha were more willing to meet her gaze, giving her a respectful nod before looking away.