He was a handsome man, secure in his position with just a trace of arrogance and superiority stamped on his features. His blond hair shone in the sun, furthering the impression he was some unattainable prince.
Kira disliked him on sight.
A short but intense conversation took place between the two men as their people faced each other, each group filled with the same imperturbable resolve as they looked over the other.
"It's like watching lawmen and cowboys square off for the gunfight at the O.K. Corral," Jin said in fascination.
Kira snickered. "Which is which do you think?"
Jin was silent as he studied the two groups. "Graydon and his people are the lawmen, obviously. They'd be the ones to win."
Kira tilted her head. She had to agree. There was something in the way he and his people held themselves, loose but ready. If anything happened, they were prepared to meet it head-on.
She was surprised by how tense each group was. They were all Tuann, Graydon a representative of their emperor. Why the stare-off?
"When in another House's territory, it's customary to negotiate the terms of your stay before proceeding," Amila said softly, guessing the direction of Kira's thoughts.
"You're the emperor's people," Kira said. "Why would you need to ask permission?"
Amila looked at Kira, her gaze warm. "Would your leaders step foot in your home without permission?"
Jin snorted. "If they could guarantee she wouldn't kill them? Yes."
Amila's forehead wrinkled as if she was trying to judge the truth of Jin's statement. Kira could have saved her the trouble and told her Jin wasn't joking. The Consortium was ruled by families who had been in power for decades. Yes, representatives were picked by voters, but somehow only the rich ever managed to get elected.
Oh, they'd have some reason for the intrusion, like a threat to galactic security or something like that, but the result would be the same—her rights trampled in the interests of others.
Amila continued her instruction, ignoring Jin's comment. "Each House is a power in its own right. Forcing our way in is possible, but unwise, and will only lead to strife down the road. Graydon prefers to save such measures for when they are absolutely necessary."
Jin snickered. "Perhaps you could learn a thing or two from them, Kira."
She swatted at her friend, unsurprised when he dodged.
The antics drew the notice of the Luatha. The man talking to Graydon paused, looking Kira up and down, his thoughts impenetrable.
"This her, then?" he asked.
"It is," Graydon said.
"Are you sure she's Luatha? She looks nothing like us."
There was some truth in that statement. Every person in green synth armor was tall with varying shades of honey-blond hair, where Kira was short with hair the deep burgundy color of red wine. Theirs was stick-straight, falling in smooth sheets down their backs, while hers was an out of control tentacle monster that hadn't seen a comb in days.
The speaker was tall and thin, his build lanky. Tiny braids held his hair from his face, exposing sharply pointed ears and highlighting his sharp features.
About the only thing Kira had in common with these people were her eyes. Almost every person in green had eyes of varying shades of lilac, some light and faded, others so intense a purple it was hard to believe they were real.
The weird eyes, at least, seemed to be a House trait.
There was suspicion and a faint touch of hostility in the pinched features of the speaker. The same tightness was reflected in the faces of those arranged behind them.
It made Kira want to revisit her fantasy of stealing the shuttle and making a great escape. The nerves from earlier disappeared, leaving her ready for a fight.
Her face carefully blank, she studied them as carefully as they studied her. Somehow, she didn't think these were people overjoyed to have found their lost child. No, they looked more like they'd like to show her to the nearest ship and blast her off planet.
Her lips curved up the slightest bit. This might be even easier than she'd assumed.
"She wears your mark," Graydon said in a ruthlessly polite voice.
Kira shifted slightly as she detected the faintest edge of frustration in Graydon. It was unexpected, given their short acquaintance. Graydon wasn't the type to show his emotions easily.
Maybe it was a lingering result of the bond they'd briefly shared? It couldn't be because she'd developed a habit of studying him as closely as he studied her.
“You said she was raised by humans,” the stranger said, the slightest sneer in his voice. “Perhaps they've found a new way to mimic us.”
Kira stiffened at the insult. The obvious scorn told her exactly how he felt about her adopted species.
Graydon's soldiers stilled, the air turning icy. Before, they'd been tense but not on edge. Violence now simmered just below the surface. They hadn't liked the implied insult to their leader or Kira.
Amila stepped forward, placing herself between Kira and the strangers as she stared down a man who'd ventured too close.
"Careful, Roderick. You're not just insulting them when you question me," Graydon said, his voice a silky rumble.
"This should be interesting," Jin said.
Roderick's gaze shifted to him and a look of distaste filled his expression. "Bring her, but the human toy stays here."
"Not happening. He goes where I go." She gave him a friendly smile. Those who knew her would have warned him to be careful. Kira rarely smiled like that unless she was planning something—usually something painful and embarrassing for someone else.
"Children aren't to speak unless invited," Roderick instructed haughtily.
Anger coiled in Kira's gut. This guy was beginning to irritate her.
"Remember the mission," Jin murmured in Japanese. He took a chance in assuming the Tuann present didn't know the language.
"I never forget," Kira said through gritted teeth.
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.