by T. A. White
"Both of our parents lost children during the Sorrowing," Blake informed her. "We've grown up under the shadow of their loss. You could say we let that affect our actions."
Kira thought she understood a little better now. It would be difficult to lose a child under any circumstance. The effects of it would spill into your everyday life for a long time after. These two had likely grown up being compared, on purpose or not, to their siblings. It would likely have made them competitive and out to prove something.
Then came Kira. A reminder of the very people they had probably resented and wished for their entire lives.
Kira rubbed her chin, catching Blue and Raider paying careful attention. She scowled at them. Neither hid their eavesdropping.
Kira shook her head in resignation and looked at Rheya. "There's nothing to forgive. You did what they asked and found a battle you thought illustrated your point. I probably overreacted. I have a reputation for that."
Rheya’s expression turned uncertain but hopeful. "Thank you."
"Why weren't your names called?" Kira asked. The two were obviously qualified. Their skills set them apart from the rest.
"We've already passed the trial," Blake supplied.
"Then why are you participating in this training?" Raider asked.
He shrugged. "We're waiting for our apprenticeship to be announced. Until then, the Overlord insists we continue improving our skills."
"Also, this is a rare chance," Rheya said. "Wren and Maida are here to prepare you for the uhva na, but they’re also here to look everyone over and decide who they want as an apprentice. An apprenticeship with either one would be considered a coup."
Devon strode past them with his head held high; his posture almost brittle. There was a raucous laugh from Aeron and the other initiates. Joule looked unhappy as they made a gesture at Devon's back.
"What's that about?" Kira asked.
"I'm not sure," Rheya supplied. "If I had to guess, it’s because Dethos is a small House who is under Danai's umbrella. As a child of Danai, Devon is likely being targeted for his affiliation with them."
Raider whistled as they watched the rest.
Devon's transformation to primus probably didn't help matters. The rest were jealous and afraid and had latched onto this new information as an excuse.
"They're fools," Blake said, heat in his tone. "Devon would already be gone if the Overlord considered him a threat. Their actions only reflect on them at this point."
"What happens if he decides to leave?" Blue asked.
"He won't," Rheya assured them. "Finding another House to join for training would be difficult at this stage."
Aeron, Kira was coming to realize, was much different than she'd first assumed. That smiling face he’d presented in the beginning was a façade—a clever one, meant to lure the unwary into trusting him. Now, she saw his true colors. Kira was beginning to see he shared many qualities of a bully. He bore watching.
For the moment, she put Devon and Aeron out of her mind as she waved at Joule, catching his attention. As concerning as the other two were, they weren’t her problem.
Joule's face lit up, and he started toward her.
"Look at the orphan, running to the mad heir’s side. I wonder what that says about you?" Aeron said in a voice he no doubt intended to be heard only by Joule.
Unfortunately for him, Jin didn't miss much—and what he knew, Kira knew as well.
A wall slammed over Joule's expression as his pace slowed, his back ramrod straight. His hands clenched at his side. He kept walking toward Kira, his jaw tight, unable to hide the anger shaking him.
His struggle to ignore the other boy was almost painful to watch.
Blake murmured something to Rheya, and she nodded, not looking any happier.
"Remember what we discussed before," Kira called. "I care little for the opinion of blowhards who haven't even earned the blade they wield. Nor should you."
There was an infinitesimal loosening around Joule's shoulders, and his stride smoothed out, so he was walking instead of stomping.
"Real subtle, Kira." Jin's voice echoed in her comms. "Didn't you tell the boy not to pick fights? Then why are you always starting them?"
Because she had a habit of winning her fights.
The cold, calculating look in Aeron's eyes caught Kira's attention. The emotions seemed out of place in the younger boy.
He blinked, the coldness vanishing, but not before Kira's suspicions were aroused. Aeron's gaze dropped to Joule. This time, he didn't bother trying to hide what he said. "I'd be more careful picking your friends, orphan. You never know when you might take a knife in the back that was meant for them."
Kira stepped forward, unable to keep herself from reacting to the not so subtle threat.
"Kira," Raider rumbled. "Not worth it."
Kira wavered. It went against her instincts to leave a dangerous foe standing. The only thing keeping her from acting was the thought that if she intervened now, Joule would be the one to bear the brunt of the consequences. She needed to be smart.
For now, that meant letting the younger man think he'd won.
Aeron walked away without looking back, the initiates he'd surrounded himself with looking confused as to what just happened.
Joule joined Kira, watching him go. "You're better at this than me. I don't know how you can let their remarks pass by when you've proven yourself equal to even the Emperor's Face."
"Don't let her fool you," Blue cautioned. "She got in more than her fair share of fights when she was coming up in the ranks."
Kira thought about protesting but shrugged instead. Blue was right. She had. She'd been younger than everyone else, at least in appearance. Sometimes the only way to establish dominance was by beating it into people.
Joule stared at her in consternation. "What happened to being the person who didn't care what others thought?"
"I don't. Now."
Once, though, she'd very much cared what her fellow soldiers thought. However, she'd never let that control her. You give people the power they wielded over you.
She'd learned very early not to set too much stock in what others thought unless it got in the way of doing her job. When people failed to obey her orders because they thought she was inexperienced, she'd felt obliged to teach them otherwise.
Joule's expression remained unconvinced.
"The one thing you learn if you survive long enough is what to give head space to and what to ignore." Kira looked away. "That boy thinks he's hot shit, but he's only started on his path. There are much more dangerous things out there than him."
"Also, he sounds like a tiny, yappy dog trying to threaten a wolf," Raider said. "It's cute and all, but we know who will come out the winner in that scenario."
*
Graydon made his way toward Roake's Nexus, knowing Harlow would already be there.
The Overlord had called a war council, and there was no better place than the Nexus for a meeting. It was the battle center of the House. All data flowed through it. There, Harlow could tap directly into the Mea'Ave, boosting his capabilities.
Graydon knew that this thing with the lu-ong disturbed Harlow as much as it did him. The implications were disastrous. Worse, Kira's question about the link between the Tsavitee and the Tuann’s old enemy had gotten him thinking.
Graydon stopped in front of a smooth section of stone, barely taking notice of the four oshota standing guard on either side. The camouflage Roake was known for using in their synth armor, and adding to with ki manipulation, made them impossible to see except to those like Graydon who could use ki to sense another's presence.
Graydon held his palm to the wall, flexing his ki and rearranging the molecules of the door. He stepped through the opening into a room bustling with activity.
Graydon wasn't the first to arrive. The rest of the council, with a few exceptions, were already there.
Caius stood to one side, his hologram folding its arms. "So glad you could fina
lly join us."
Graydon ignored him, moving toward where Harlow studied a display. The settings for the security of the oceans surrounding the lu-ong’s nesting waters scrolled through thin air.
"How is my niece?" Harlow asked, not taking his eyes off the information.
"Better than she has any right to be," Graydon said. "That stunt would probably have killed most."
"What happened?" Caius asked.
Makon was the one to explain as Graydon took in the settings. Nothing seemed amiss, which made events all the more concerning.
Caius whistled. "Brazen thing."
"It was reckless," Loudon said, having entered sometime in the last few minutes.
"You can't argue with her results," Maida said. "Had that child died, it could have had repercussions for all of us."
She didn't have to expand on what those would be. All those present, understood how close they'd skated to danger today. The lu-ong were powerful. They were the reason the Tuann had survived their old enemy. A massive debt was owed to them.
They would have forgiven Graydon for killing a mad member of their kind, as had nearly happened on Ta Da’an. It was rare a lu-ong lost itself in madness—usually only when they were ready to end their very long lives. But if his actions had resulted in an offspring’s death? No.
The lu-ong would have sought revenge for that.
"That is no reason to allow her favoritism," Loudon argued.
"It's been decided. Kira will take part in the trial," Harlow said, his tone inviting no argument.
Loudon shifted his attention to Wren. "You agree with me that she's not ready."
The rest of them fell silent at Loudon's continued stubbornness. Not many would continue to defy the Overlord when he'd made his position clear. That Loudon could was a privilege stemming from their past.
Graydon suspected Loudon was running out of rope if the struggle for control he could see on Harlow's face was anything to judge by.
Wren stirred, reluctantly. "Physically. Tactically. She is equal to any of my best."
Caius perked up with interest at the high praise.
"But not in ki," Loudon argued.
"For now," Wren allowed.
"This is settled," Harlow ground out. "There will be no more discussion."
Loudon jerked back, staring at the Overlord like he didn't recognize him anymore. Realization shifted to horror. "You plan to make her Overlord."
Harlow's unrelenting stare was as good as an admission. Caius dropped his arms, straightening with alarm. He wasn't the only one.
"How could you consider this? There are years of tests and training that are needed before something like this can be decided. You’re not the only one who has to approve her ascendance," Loudon said, sounding betrayed.
"She can communicate with the lu-ong." Harlow's words had the effect of a bomb, ending all protest before it began.
The ability was nearly essential for any who hoped to inherit the Overlord of Roake’s position.
A heaviness filled the air as the rest processed that statement. Graydon was unruffled. He'd been expecting something like this.
Wren, Silas, and Makon looked equally unsurprised.
Contemplation moved over Caius's face as he tapped his chin with a finger. For now, he was holding his opinion in reserve.
Graydon couldn't help but think Loudon had been willfully blind. Anyone who knew Harlow would guess this was the only logical outcome. That Loudon didn't, meant he didn't know the Overlord as well as he thought.
"You would leave our fate to a child's impulsive hands?" Loudon asked.
Harlow's face softened. "You act like I plan to resign tomorrow. It'll likely be centuries before Kira is ready to accept the mantle of leadership. She is still very much invested in the humans and has a lot of growing to do."
Loudon's head bent as he stared at the ground.
Harlow's gaze moved over the rest. "You know I only accepted the position of Overlord to protect the House my brother died for. It was always meant to be temporary until another could rise to replace me."
Quiet filled the room, a range of emotion flitting across their expressions at this admission.
Graydon didn't say anything in defense of Kira. This was her battle to fight. Right now, some of them saw her as a fragile and breakable doll. They'd soon find out otherwise. Roake was nothing if not clear-sighted. Once she'd earned her place among them, they would hold onto the brilliance that was her with both hands.
Harlow waited a beat before returning to the previous topic. "Now, I want to know how a second-rate House like Dethos slipped through our defenses."
Maida tapped several floating icons. "We still don't know. The moment they crossed into our waters, we should have been notified, but there's nothing."
Caius was the one to say it. "There’s a traitor among us."
That seemed to break through Loudon's thoughts as he looked up. "We don't know that."
"It gets worse," Graydon said, his arms crossing over his massive chest. "Kira has indicated there's a connection between our enemy of old and the Tsavitee."
"Impossible," Loudon scoffed. "They're extinct."
"My conversations with her and current events have led me to believe otherwise," Graydon said.
Harlow nodded. "I'm inclined to agree. It fits something I've long suspected."
Harlow paused as he met each of their eyes. "Caius is right. There is a traitor among us. This person worked with our enemy to orchestrate the Sorrowing, and they entered our defense codes so Dethos could slip past unremarked."
"None of us would work with them," Loudon said in a subdued voice. "There has to be another explanation."
"They knew too much about how to breach our security," Harlow said. "That knowledge could only have come from one place."
"Us," Caius supplied.
Harlow dipped his chin in agreement. "Us."
It was also likely the traitor was in the highest echelons of their House.
Graydon stirred. "The emperor has been apprised of the situation. His forces are on standby. They will step in if necessary."
Hopefully, it wouldn't come to that.
Harlow shook his head. "We can't count on him. In many ways, his hands are tied, and what he can do is limited. If there is a traitor in my House, it stands to reason there are traitors in other Houses. Ours wasn't the only one affected by the Sorrowing. He will not be able to hunt them down without risking losing support from the Overlords."
"And yet if we do not find a way to stop this, our enemy of old may come out the winner in this millennia-long game," Graydon said.
That wasn't an option.
"Kira seems to be at the crux of this," Silas said. "The generals at Ta Da'an seemed to recognize her. She spoke their language. I find it interesting they almost seemed to fear her. They ran instead of fighting when they lost control. That's not like them."
Graydon agreed. "Of us all, she probably knows this newest evolution of our enemy best."
Caius shifted. "You have such faith in her. Are you sure your judgment isn't clouded, Little Storm?"
Graydon fixed him with a neutral stare. Not many would dare make such an insinuation. But this was family; sometimes you made allowances. "I have never let my personal feelings affect my judgment. Perhaps your considerable age has blinded you to reality."
Of course, making allowances didn't mean being stepped on.
Graydon had earned his place. Caius would remember that or Graydon would remind him with fist or blade.
"My, how the Storm has grown."
Graydon inclined in a half bow. "I was taught by the best."
Since Caius had been one of those teachers, there was no way he could argue.
Harlow watched the Nexus for several seconds before nodding once. "We will watch and wait. If there is a new plot by the enemy of old, we need to see what it is. The sacrifices of those who have gone before will not be forgotten."
The others nodded. "Never for
gotten."
"Dismissed," Harlow ordered.
Graydon lingered as the others filed out. Only when they were gone did Harlow release a sigh and shake his head. "What is it you're not telling me?"
"Many things. You'll have to be more specific."
Once, the look Harlow leveled on Graydon would have been intimidating. Graydon would have spilled everything to his pseudo father. Unfortunately for Harlow, that time had gone.
"Don't play games with me, Little Storm." Anger flashed in Harlow's eyes. There and gone in a second. "I'm the one who taught you the rules."
"I remember," Graydon said with a lazy amusement. "You should know by now how committed I am to our people. I don't play favorites, and I don't bow to anyone's demands. Even yours."
"That's what scares me," Harlow said. "Will you sacrifice her too?"
Graydon's nostrils flared as he kept himself from striking out at the man who'd partially raised him. "I won't have to. We both know she'll do it before I can stop her."
Harlow's expression stilled. "It seems we're at an impasse. Perhaps tomorrow while we wait to see if she passes the trial, we can settle this matter with sparring. It'll be like it used to be."
Graydon's chuckle was dark. "I thought you'd never ask."
TWENTY-FOUR
Kira fiddled with the high collar of her jacket, still unsatisfied as she frowned at the reflection in the mirror. The outfit she'd found on her bed last night with a message instructing her to wear it for the trial resembled her old cadet's uniform—if her old uniform one had been considerably nicer and tailormade for her.
Like most things of Roake design, the jacket and pants weren't given to frills. Straight lines and simple details made the fit surprisingly flattering.
Even Kira had to admit she looked striking in the colors of Roake—black coupled with accents of deep blue and silver.
The best part of the uniform was the addition of a thermal regulator, allowing the fabric to warm around her body—keeping her at a perfect temperature. The uniform would provide better protection against the elements than her previous clothes.
Too bad she hadn't been wearing it for her dip in the ocean. It would have made for a much less chilly ride home.