by T. A. White
Light coalesced in the center of the arches until the air rippled.
"The path has stabilized," a Luathan tech called.
Finn appeared at her shoulder, looking at the arches with a complicated expression on his face.
"We will leave after Silas steps through," he said.
"You're coming with us?" That surprised her. With the level of barely concealed tension between Liara and those from Roake, she hadn't thought they'd let any of Liara's people into their House.
His eyes lowered to meet hers. "I'm originally from House Roake. Where you go; I will follow."
Her eyes widened. She twisted to find Graydon and glared. He met her gaze calmly.
Tricky bastard. He'd planned this from the beginning. He'd appointed Finn as her oshota specifically so he would stay with her even when House Roake claimed her.
Would any of this have been possible if she hadn't negotiated her freedom from Liara? Did he anticipate that too?
His eyes smiled at her before he stepped through the doorway after Silas.
Raider paused beside her. "I think you might have a problem with that one. He's nearly as tricky as you."
Kira slid a sidelong look at him. Raider's snicker was quiet as she marched toward the gate. "I definitely would have preferred any of the other three over you," she muttered.
FOUR
Kira braced for pain, expecting the world to wrench sideways before dissolving around her. The pain was noticeably absent as she stepped through the world gate with as much ease as she'd step through any doorway.
That was where the similarities ended. Going from Ta Da'an to Ta Sa’Riel was like stepping from a warm pool into a hot sauna. The Mea'Ave at the planet's core surged, reaching up in an embrace that spoke of welcome and joy while at the same time overwhelming every one of Kira's senses.
This Mea'Ave wasn't like the one on Ta Da'an. It was ancient and powerful.
Processing the immenseness of it all was impossible. Knowledge hovered out of reach, threatening to submerge her mind under its weight.
Kira's mental defenses snapped into place, useless against the entity.
It was like being strapped to the underside of a hoverboard while re-entering atmo and getting hit with the bulk of the turbulence. It was intense and scary. Exhilarating and humbling all at once.
Kira made an inarticulate gurgle as she stumbled, suddenly breathless. Graydon was there in the next moment to steady her, his hands comforting as he kept her upright.
"Breathe. Just breathe." His chest rumbled beneath her ear as she fought to stay standing. "It's the planet welcoming you. Remember what we did last time."
The Mea'Ave at the planet's core rolled over like an eager puppy as it reached out to her, pouring through her senses. Kira was prepared, letting its energy flow through her before returning the energy to the planet in a clumsy attempt that nevertheless relieved the worst of the pressure.
Her legs threatened to give out before she steeled herself. She would not embarrass herself in front of these people. She refused to start off with a mark against her.
Gradually, the giant pressure sitting on her chest loosened and her ribs expanded, allowing her to suck in a grateful breath of air.
This was different than last time. More intense.
"This planet is older," Kira guessed with her eyes still closed. She didn't know when they had slipped shut.
Graydon made an approving sound. "Yes."
Kira opened her eyes as the Mea'Ave subsided, taking in her surroundings. She stood on a wide circular ledge, deep grooves creating lines running its width, meeting and bisecting it in places.
Before her, an endless ocean of turbulent gray stretched, its waves crashing far below, bringing with it the smell of salt and brine.
Behind her was the gate that connected this planet to Luatha's. Runes were written on its side as Silas stood in front of it, his hands upraised, and his forehead furrowed in concentration.
Teleportation. Or something so close to it that it didn't matter.
The Tuann had secrets humans never would have guessed. Technology her former people had only ever dreamed about in fiction.
Kira was surprised to see the gate was located midway down a tall cliff, ledges and staircases carved into the rock, leading both to the land above and to the ocean below.
Gone was the airy lightness and delicate architecture of the Citadel of Light. It was replaced by a world of grays and blacks, austere in a way that called to the depths of her soul.
To survive here, you'd have to be strong. Both mentally and physically.
It was simple, but there was beauty in simplicity.
The air contained a bite to it, fall giving way to winter.
She shivered slightly, the clothes Liara had given her—simple pants and a lightweight tunic—did nothing to keep her warm. The small pack of clothes that had been a gift from Liara during her time on Ta Da’an held none suitable for the climate.
The gate spat out several more people. Among them, Graydon's oshota.
Solal inhaled, tipping his face up to the sky and then exhaling. Kira knew that look, had seen it on countless soldier's faces. Solal had the look of someone coming home for the first time in a long time.
"You live here," Kira realized.
Graydon leveled a thoughtful gaze on her head. "Correct. How did you know?"
Kira nodded at where his oshota gathered, staring around them with happy expressions. "They're home."
Graydon smiled. "This is the capital planet. Almost all Houses have a presence here, including Roake."
"Luatha?" Kira asked.
Graydon made a small sound of assent.
"Why didn't they bring me here?" Kira asked, puzzled.
"Ta Da'an is their stronghold. Having you there guaranteed privacy," Graydon said.
Which had the added benefit of keeping her far from Roake's influence. Of course, it also restricted her access to the Tuann in case she presented a safety threat.
That made her wonder why hadn't Roake done something similar and taken her to one of the other planets?
"This is the Tuann's home world," Kira said, slowly looking around.
Graydon shook his head. "Our original world has been lost to us since ancient times. Ta Sa’Riel is one of the planets we sought sanctuary on when we fled our first world. The emperor calls this his home, which is why it’s the capital."
"This doesn't look like House Roake," Kira observed.
"Of course not," Quillon said, stopping beside her. "Having the gate located in the fortress would present a great strategic weakness. An enemy could send a force through the gate and attack from the inside. House Roake would never risk itself in that fashion."
The mindset told her everything she needed to know about these new people. Paranoid. Militarily minded. Obsessed with security.
She'd be impressed if those same accusations hadn't been lobbed at her more than once.
Raider staggered out of the gate, looking slightly white. His face had that pinched look Kira always associated with fear.
"I don't like this form of travel," Raider said through gritted teeth.
Kira grinned. "What's wrong? You don't like breaking the laws of physics?"
"No, I don't." Raider cast a sharp look at the gate. For a moment, Kira caught a glimpse of the feral side Raider hid well. The one that made him so effective against the Tsavitee.
"If I can't kill Shandry, I don't think Roake would be happy about you blowing up their gate," Kira said lightly.
Raider bared his teeth at her but didn't respond. She smothered her laugh.
Blue bounded out of the gate seconds later, her eyes bright and enthusiastic. She spun in a circle, nearly toppling the Tuann stepping through after her. She darted toward Silas, questions pouring out of her.
"How does it work? I mean, I know the theory, but how really? Do you need two points connected via the gate to travel, or can you go anywhere?" She didn't give him a chance to answer,
already peering closely at the gate runes while muttering to herself.
"Great. It's going to be a nightmare trying to keep her focused," Raider griped. He sent a look at Kira.
She shook her head. "Don't look at me. I'm not her commanding officer anymore."
Raider grinned, his expression sly. "Actually, that's not quite right."
Kira stiffened, her focus sharpening. "What are you talking about?"
"You never finished submitting your exit papers." Raider inspected his nails. "That means you're still a captain of the Space Force and as such, hold the highest rank of any here."
Kira's eyes widened. "Ah, damn."
Raider leaned forward, his smile gloating. "Welcome back to the fold, Boss."
Kira's eyes narrowed. She'd miscalculated. Raider was a chief petty officer; she was a captain. As the highest-ranking officer, it left her in charge. Somehow, she'd forgotten that, her interactions with Jace and the Curs on Ta Da’an lulling her into believing she existed outside the rank structure.
If the military could issue orders to her, it meant she still had rank. With rank came responsibility. And leadership.
All things Kira had no interest in anymore. She had no intention of allowing herself to get sucked back into the trap of being responsible for others.
"Corral your subordinate, Chief," Kira said through gritted teeth.
Raider's smile widened, and he snapped a salute. "Sir, yes, sir."
Kira growled as he stalked toward the other Cur. She didn't like this. She didn't like it one bit. If Jin was here, he'd have had some funny quip to annoy her out of her snit.
"Blue, leave it alone. I'm not getting arrested for you again," Raider said.
Whispers pulled Kira from her frustration of being maneuvered into a role she'd had no intention of taking up again. She glanced around, finally noticing Graydon and his people weren't the only ones present. Over a dozen Tuann milled around the edges of the ledge. They were a variety of ages, some not much older than Joule, others Kira's age or more.
They were dressed in a variety of styles, from simplistic to luxurious. Some were clad in a plain, lightweight armor, their vital spots covered but not much else. Not oshota, Kira guessed. Their armor lacked the slick sophistication of Graydon's warriors.
Bags were set at their feet. Travelers?
Kira's gaze caught on one who had a look of distaste on his face as he studied Raider and Blue. He was young. A human would have guessed around twenty-two or twenty-three. His face still held the unrefined edges of youth, and his build was slim but muscular. One day he'd fill out, rivaling Graydon for size and height.
He caught Kira looking at him, and his expression smoothed out, arrogance descending.
She raised an eyebrow, impressed in spite of herself. Not many could pull off that look so easily. He must have imbibed the trait with his mother's milk, or else he was taking lessons from Graydon.
Next to him was a boy, similar in age, his expression open and curious as he took in the platform and the ocean below. His hair was a curly mop on his head, and his limbs had a coltishness about them that said he'd yet to fill out. His clothing was less refined than the first Tuann, but it contained a quality that was unmistakable even at this distance.
Seeing Kira studying him, he waved and smiled. His companion murmured something. The boy's hand dropped as they exchanged several words, not even the other's rebuke seemed to dull his bright cheeriness.
"What are humans doing here?" one of those behind the two boys asked.
"They should go home," was the not so quiet response.
Kira observed the group, not exactly surprised at their reception. The Tuann had made their thoughts on humans clear more than once, by both word and deed. This lot was only echoing things she already knew, cementing the fact Jace had made a smart call sending Raider and Blue here.
Hate and prejudice flourished in ignorance. It was easier to believe a stereotype when you never had anyone to compare to your misconceptions. It was harder when you had a living, breathing person challenging them.
The headache that had started from the moment she stepped onto the planet surged, piercing in its intensity until it felt like someone was jabbing a red-hot poker behind her eyes.
"Are you all right?" Finn asked.
"Fine." Kira dismissed his question with barely a thought. "Who are they?"
Finn's frown deepened, but he didn't press. "They look like hopefuls, seeking to become initiates in Roake's House. A call went out yesterday announcing a trial for those interested in gaining an apprenticeship within Roake’s ranks."
Startled, Kira took the newcomers in. "Like Joule?"
Finn inclined his head. "They’ll likely be his peers. All from different Houses and backgrounds. Alliances and connections will be formed and broken over the next few weeks as they seek to advance their training."
Good to know. Kira left the strangers behind as she headed to where Graydon waited. Raider had finally corralled Blue and managed to herd her toward them.
With a sense of resignation, Kira took in the stairs and nearly groaned. Going up those was going to be a bitch and a half.
Graydon stepped close, bending slightly so only she could hear. "Show no fear. They take getting used to, but once you earn their regard, there are none more loyal."
Puzzlement settled on Kira's face. She saw the reason for the warning seconds later when a man stepped into view, seemingly appearing out of the rock. Kira jolted, adrenaline sending the throb of her headache to piercing levels. Her hand dropped to a weapon that wasn't there.
She growled at the lack even as Raider swore, dropping into a defensive crouch.
Blue yipped, her hands moving to her pockets.
Graydon and his people remained unmoving. Their postures were relaxed, their expressions calm. A friend then.
Kira reached out, grabbing Blue's hand before she could withdraw the device Kira suspected she had on her. If she knew Blue, it wouldn't look like a weapon, but it would hurt a person like one.
"Wait," she urged.
More than one perceptive gaze caught her action.
Blue grumbled, even as she subsided.
"Commander, it's good to see you again," the man in front said as he bowed his head.
Graydon nodded back. "As it is you, Makon."
The stranger examined those standing on the wide platform. His eyes met Kira's for a brief second, flickering before his expression smoothed into neutral lines.
Like most of the Tuann Kira had met, he seemed ageless. Neither old nor young. No beginning or end, just years stretching infinitely behind and ahead of him.
It made it impossible to guess his age. He could be Graydon's contemporary or his senior by centuries for all Kira could tell.
Authority was written on every line of his face. Despite that, he managed to seem almost serene. Reassuring even. He had the type of presence that made you want to confide and trust in him, like he'd listen to your woes and offer wise counsel.
His skin was the color of night, his hair cut close to his skull, exposing pointed ears. The golden amber of his gaze swept over the rest of those present.
He was tall with broad shoulders and a long, slim build of someone built for speed rather than power. Kira was willing to bet the enemy never saw him coming. He'd make a pretty good assassin, especially with that trick of appearing out of thin air.
Other Tuann appeared one by one on the ledges above.
The Tuann she’d mistaken as travelers stirred with unease at the evidence that they weren't alone and probably hadn't been for quite some time.
Camouflage. It had to be. It was some of the best Kira had ever seen, making the user indistinguishable from the rock.
Every one of the Tuann above wore the deep blue-black of House Roake's synth armor. More than one set of eyes lingered on Kira before taking in the rest of those assembled.
One man, in particular, drew her eye. He was tall, broad-shouldered, even more muscular than
Graydon. He had the fierce countenance of a warrior who had seen and survived many battles. His hair was half pulled away from his face, a shade nearly identical to the wine red of her own. A vertical scar ran over one eye and down one cheek. Whoever had given him that scar had missed taking his eye by millimeters.
His stare was intense. Penetrating. A trim beard shadowed his jaw and above his lip.
This was a grizzled veteran, powerful and formidable. He was a tank, able to level any obstacle in his way. His hands were clasped behind his back, and his expression inscrutable as he took her in.
The man had a superb poker face. Better even than Liara.
Unlike Luatha, Roake didn't posture. They simply intimidated.
"I am the marshal of House Roake; I welcome you on our Overlord's behalf," Makon said.
Kira's gaze rose to meet the man above who had still not looked away from her. The Overlord she was willing to bet.
"You are our treasured guests and will be treated as such. Yet trespass against us, and you will die," the marshal said in that slow, controlled tone.
Raider let out a small scoff. "Quite a greeting you've got there."
Kira agreed.
What kind of host welcomed you in one sentence, then threatened you in the next? A dangerous one. Someone who didn't intend to give second chances.
Makon's smile was brief, barely touching his eyes. "We've learned it’s best to be blunt. It cuts down on misunderstandings."
Raider grunted and cocked his head. "If you say so."
"Many of those present have answered our call in the hopes of being accepted for an apprenticeship that will prepare them for the adva ka and what comes after," the marshal continued as if Raider hadn't spoken. "But first you must pass the uhva na, the Trial of the Broken. Over the next few weeks, we will observe you. We will test you in many ways. Some will be obvious; others will not.”
Makon’s gaze moved over those assembled. “Those we deem worthy will be chosen for the trial. If they succeed, they will be paired with a seon’yer who will prepare them for the next phase. We wish you luck. The path you've chosen is not an easy one."
That was quite the speech. A real confidence booster.
"To begin, you must ascend. As is the case in most things, there is more than one path," Makon said.