“And if I was so strong, I could fend off a hundred enemies?” Kira tested.
“We would use your skills to protect others,” Liara said simply.
So, she was damned if she revealed the depth of what she was capable of, and damned if she didn't.
“Doesn't give me much incentive to trust you either way,” Kira concluded.
Liara inclined her head. "I can see how it might seem that way. Unfortunately, the House test will reveal the depths of your soul one way or another."
"House test?" Kira asked.
"The ruma ah. It's a series of tests all Tuann seeking to join a House undergo. When you reach the point where you can pledge your loyalty, you experience this as well," Graydon supplied. "I wouldn't waste time trying to fool it into thinking you're weaker than you are. The test will figure out your potential no matter how you fight it."
Kira didn't like the sound of that. Her expression was pensive as her thoughts turned inward. She wished she knew more about what was expected of her. There were things she'd like to keep hidden, partly because of her past, partly because she didn't want to face the questions their revelation would inevitably bring.
While the Tuann seemed to have many things in common with her, there was the ever-present worry her time in the compound had changed or damaged her in some way. The experiments they'd performed on her and others had been brutal. It wasn't outside the realm of possibility she'd been changed as a result.
The Tuann, for all their stiff-necked insistence on family, weren't likely to be accepting of too many oddities.
She released the breath she was holding. It was pointless to agonize. If she couldn't figure out a way to rig the test, Jin would.
Graydon turned his attention to Finn. "Would you like to explain how you let your charge wander around without you?"
A threat threaded through Graydon's voice as he fixed Finn with a hard stare.
Finn opened his mouth.
"No," Kira said.
She shook her head at him. She didn't want him explaining. She didn't want the cause of the incident brought up, discussed, and dissected.
There was a chance those symbols had been normal. There was also a chance they weren’t.
Finn's mouth clicked shut and his expression went neutral.
His silence surprised Kira. She hadn't expected him to listen to her, his friendship with Graydon trumping her wishes
Graydon arched an eyebrow at her. "No?"
Kira lifted her chin, not letting him intimidate her. "That's right. This is between me and him."
Liara's mouth made a soft O. Even the two guards at her rear seemed impressed at Kira's stubbornness. Both looked away after a second of shock, struggling to contain their amusement at the sight of her standing her ground against a man she was beginning to realize wasn't often challenged.
Graydon's eyes darkened as he studied her. "You're being ridiculously stubborn."
"Good. It’s my life to be stubborn with," she said.
He chuckled. "That statement shows me how little you understand. If you die, he will be the one to face consequences. He's already lost one charge. To lose a second would result in no others accepting him as their oshota. This means he could no longer contribute to the wellbeing of the House."
And dead weight was the first to be eliminated in times of strife, Kira supplied mentally, seeing where Graydon was going with this.
He leaned closer, saying for her ears, "Think carefully upon your actions. While his duty is to ensure your wellbeing, you have a responsibility to him as well. It's a two-way street as the humans would say."
Kira gritted her teeth and glared as he straightened. "Perhaps you should have tried to explain all this last night." She hadn't realized quite how serious Finn being assigned to her was until that moment. "I would never have accepted his protection otherwise."
"Exactly why I didn't bother explaining."
She held in her growl at his amusement. This was all fun and games for him, but what was she supposed to do with a man who by all accounts was now her permanent watchdog?
Roderick chose that moment to approach, distracting them. "The final team has finished their run. You're next."
"Next for what?" Liara asked.
Roderick's eyes widened slightly as he finally noticed her standing in the cluster. "Overlord, I didn't expect you today."
"Obviously," she said, her voice dry. The two guards in attendance twitched slightly, their eyes dancing with a hidden mirth. "What is she next for?"
"The odiri course," he said diffidently.
He was trying for humble and conciliatory but not quite succeeding, frustration and arrogance still present in his expression.
"That’s bold," Liara said, surprise wiping the haughtiness from her face for a second. "Who is she running it with?"
Roderick's face grew even more remote. "She did not say."
"She cannot run the course by herself," Liara said. "It's meant to be tackled with a team of at least four."
"She made it clear she didn't want help," Roderick said stiffly.
None of those present bothered to correct him; Noor and Isla behind Graydon exchanged disgusted glances while Kira's jaw clenched.
Roderick hadn't bothered to explain the course was impossible to run solo. Protesting now would make her look even stupider than she already did.
"She doesn't know better, you do," Liara said, the rebuke fierce.
Roderick shifted, his expression turning dark.
"Send the human in with her," Roderick said, flicking a glance at Raider. "They can perhaps educate us in their battle tactics. Many are interested in how they managed to survive the Tsavitee considering their vastly inferior technology." He looked Raider up and down. "And their less than impressive physical abilities."
Roderick gave the two of them a look filled with arrogant challenge as he waited expectantly. He thought he'd won this round.
Worse—he was probably right.
It was a legitimate solution, even if it was intended to put Kira and Raider in a tight spot. There were two of them. With the rest of the Curs scattered around the Citadel, it was likely to remain that way.
If they wanted another member, they'd have to ask the Tuann. The chances of one agreeing were unlikely given the stiff reserve they'd made obvious since Kira and the Curs arrival.
Still, if the two of them refused to participate, the Tuann would assume they were weak or afraid. Kira didn't really care what others thought of her and could have twisted that assumption to her benefit, but Raider and the rest would care.
From the pinched expression on Raider's face, he'd come to the same conclusion she had.
Roderick waited, knowing they'd have little choice in forfeiting. His mouth pulled up on one side as he anticipated winning this little skirmish.
"Since they’ll be down two, I will compete as well," Graydon said.
Roderic looked like he wanted to argue but couldn't think of a polite response.
"Me too," Liara said.
Surprised appreciation shot through Kira. Until now, she'd assumed Liara would come down on Roderick's side in this situation. She might regret it, but he was one of her people. It would make sense if she placed her loyalty with him, over a long-lost cousin she'd known less than forty-eight hours.