Graydon acknowledged Finn's presence at the cross section of hallways. "She's resting."
Graydon didn't want her disturbed. To maintain the delicate balance with her primus, Kira needed sleep and fuel. Access to a planet's Mea'Ave would be best. If they were on Ta Sa'Riel, she'd be put into a deep slumber and taken to a nexus, a place where the planet's soul and its surface intersected. Where reality could bend until it felt like you could reach out and grasp the Mea'Ave itself.
"Is there something else?" Graydon asked when Raider stayed quiet.
The human was acting unusual. Almost as if he was uncomfortable.
"Wren told me a little about what it means to fade." Raider's hands clenched and then relaxed.
How very kind of Wren. Though, it didn't seem to have the effect Kira's seon'yer no doubt hoped.
Raider avoided Graydon's eyes. "I should ask her to sit this one out."
"That would be the honorable thing."
But he knew—and Graydon knew—that Raider didn't always follow the righteous path.
"I'm not going to do that," Raider said.
No, Graydon hadn't imagined he would. Not with Elena in danger. A father would do a lot for his offspring. As they should. No sacrifice was too great when it came to your young. The fact Raider understood that was a point in his favor.
That still didn't lessen Graydon's rage.
"Kira wouldn't listen anyway," Raider ground out as Graydon swept past him.
Graydon stopped, amazed at the human's audacity. "We both know it wouldn't have mattered. You would have asked this of her regardless."
In Raider's desperation, he'd latched onto Kira as his best chance of getting his daughter back. Even if Kira were the type to walk away, he would have found a way to justify pulling her back in.
"I'm a selfish man, human. Three hundred years. That's how long I’ve waited for someone like Kira. If you think I'll lose her now that I've just found her, you're a fool. This will not be a suicide mission no matter what you or Kira have planned. She will walk away from this."
Jin. Elena. Even Elise. Graydon would save them if he could. He'd do everything in his power to get them out of there. But he wouldn't sacrifice Kira to do it. She'd done enough of that on her own.
"I'll hold you to that," Raider said softly as Graydon walked away.
Graydon didn't respond as he passed Finn with a nod to make his way over to where Talon leaned against the wall, munching on a piece of fruit. It was a virt, a staple of space travel for centuries because of how well it kept and the number of essential nutrients it provided.
The fruit was also a favorite among their people. Its sweet taste contained a hint of sour.
"I'm surprised Finn managed to convince you to leave your bar," Graydon said.
Talon took a giant bite out of the virt, juice squirting onto his hand. He licked it off. "I have my reasons."
"They must be rather important. If I recall, you swore you'd never pick up an en-blade again."
Talon had been a contemporary of Graydon's parents. He'd been the one to inform him of their deaths.
When Graydon was aiming to become an oshota himself, Talon offered some much needed advice. He’d always thought it a shame how the other man had exiled himself to that bar and refused to let anyone drag him out of it.
Talon nodded at Raider's departure. "I'll return to you the words you gave him. You're here to make sure your woman survives. I've got someone I want to protect as well."
Finn. Of course.
The two had always been close. Long before they were oshota, they were friends. Even serving the same sword, the Overlord of House Roake. They'd maintained their friendship even after his death when they went their separate ways.
"You could also argue I owe a debt to her father," Talon added.
"Does Kira know?"
"She does."
"I'm surprised she allowed you on her ship."
The subject of her father and what others owed him was a bit taboo for her. Graydon couldn't tell if that was because she felt herself unworthy of being the recipient of the loyalty he'd inspired or if it was due to guilt over how he’d died.
"Let's just say we reached an understanding," Talon said with a mysterious little smile.
Graydon doubted that. If he knew his coli, she probably thought keeping Talon close would allow her to prevent him from doing anything too stupid. There was no way she'd know that Talon once had a reputation that rivaled hers for being a loose cannon.
Watching these two lock horns was going to be entertaining.
Talon pushed off the wall. "This should be quite the experience. After so long tending my quiet bar, I find myself looking forward to a little action."
"Quiet. Right," Graydon murmured as Talon sauntered away.
A jeha didn't change its spots. Talon's 'quiet' bar was nothing more than a front. So much information flowed in and out of that place that it was a wonder all the major Houses didn't realize that it was Roake's intelligence hub.
Talon might look like he was out of the game, when in fact he'd simply assumed a new role.
Why else would Finn ask a person who hadn't picked up an en-blade in almost a century to watch his back?
Elena - Tsavitee Planet
"Follow," the general grunted, stalking off.
Elena glared after him. The least he could do was wait until she was done freeing herself. But no. There he went. Just expecting her to scurry after him like a dog brought to heel.
Elena hurried, uncaring of the cuts and bruises such an action left as she ripped the bolas free. She sprung to her feet, stashing the bolas in one of her pockets as she hurried after the general like the good little pet he was expecting.
"Where are we going?" Elena asked in Tuann, catching up to the general.
The general sent her a probing glance. "You understand Tsavitee."
Belatedly, Elena realized he'd given his order in Tsavitee. The same language he was now speaking.
Elena caught her stumble, lifting her chin in a bluff. "I'm not stupid. I've been in there for days. That's plenty of time to listen and learn. It's not like your language is that hard."
It was, actually. Very hard. It had taken Elena months learning all the dialects and intricacies that came from a language influenced by dozens of species of different origin.
The general didn't know that though.
His lip curled. "Arrogant."
"Only if I didn't have the skills to back it up."
The general eyed Elena. "Now you sound like that woman."
Elena took note of their path as she followed her captor. Three turns. No. Four. It was left. Right. Right. And left again.
The structure was more massive than Elena had predicted. Every bit as complex as Roake's fortress. She'd have to pay careful attention if she hoped to make use of this information later.
"Who?" she asked, ticking another turn off in her mind.
"Her."
Elena frowned as she realized who he was talking about. "You mean Kira."
The name felt awkward on her tongue without the title of aunt in front of it. Too short. Not nearly majestic enough to encompass all that her auntie was.
The general grunted in agreement.
Elena beamed. "I'll take that as a compliment."