The dress fit well enough, and she didn't think she'd have to worry about modesty since it wasn’t see-through. It would do for now until she could find something better.
"The healer said to stay here. I promised her you wouldn't leave," Joule protested, hurrying after Kira as she left the room, her bare feet slapping against the stone.
"First thing to know, if you're going to hang around Kira for any length of time—she rarely does what she's told," Jin said, bringing up the rear.
Joule nodded, his face pensive.
He was probably wondering what exactly he had gotten himself into. She should have felt some sympathy for him, but she didn't. These were the kind of things you vetted before you made someone your mentor.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
In theory, Kira knew the general location of the Nexus from her tour with Finn where he’d referred to a certain direction of the Citadel as its heart. In reality, it was more difficult than she’d anticipated, to locate the Nexus.
The home of her mother's people was an insanely complicated jigsaw puzzle, almost impossible for strangers to navigate. Unlike human cities, where buildings were joined by streets and alleys, each one their own separate structure, the Citadel was one jumbled mass, lacking easily navigable pathways.
Each building wove in and around the next, making the concept of a first, second, and third floor obsolete. Instead, it had been constructed over many centuries, each building or tower added to the whole as it was needed, the trends and styles of the time influencing its design.
It forced Kira to tramp up and down, over and under, through doorways that doubled as windows, and hallways leading nowhere.
Its layout defied logic and reason, giving her a glimpse into the genius behind its construction. What she had at first assumed was indefensible was actually their greatest asset. The very confusion of the chaos that was the Citadel would make it impossible to corner its inhabitants as they flowed around their enemy using any one of the jumbled paths.
Unfortunately, it was almost impossible for a stranger to find their way. You were as likely to wind up on top of a roof as you were your intended destination.
Jin couldn't help her with Joule watching. It would have given away how much of the Citadel he'd mapped in his free time, an advantage that might come in handy, now that the Curs had been taken into custody.
It left Kira to find her way on her own. A frustrating exercise in futility.
About the third time she ventured past the same set of statues—Tuann clad in synth armor holding en-blades and staffs as they impassively stared out—Kira gave up.
She beckoned Joule from where he'd been following. "Where do we go?"
To his credit, he didn't gloat or point out how she should have listened to him in the first place. For that, Kira found herself liking him a little bit more.
"The Nexus is considered the seat of power for the House," he told her, his young face serious. "For that reason, they've designed the surroundings to disguise its location from enemies. In theory, this would allow time to evacuate the Overlord and her council if they ever felt the Citadel was lost."
It was a nice history lesson, but didn't tell her what she needed to know
"Does this mean you don't know?" she asked.
She was already turning to ask Jin to take over leading when Joule spoke up, his voice irritated. "I know. I was just explaining its significance, so you understand what you're up against. You won't succeed like this."
"How about you leave the method of entry to me and just get us there," Kira suggested.
His sigh was heavy. At that moment he seemed like any other teen she'd encountered, the weight of the world on his shoulders as he dealt with stubborn adults.
Joule took the lead and soon they were in a section of the Citadel Kira didn't recognize.
The walk did Kira good, calming some of the desperation and worry that had sent her scrambling from the healer's room. It also gave her time to think. The Luatha weren't likely to execute Jace and the others. They wouldn't want to risk a diplomatic incident over a possible miscommunication.
Kira needed to get to Liara before anything else happened.
"Do you have a plan?" Jin asked as he hurried to keep up with her.
"I'm working on it."
"Good. Just remember to think before you do anything drastic," he cautioned. "We don't need to be thrown into whatever place these people call a brig along with Jace and the others. We'll do them no good if we're locked up too."
"I'm aware of that," Kira told him calmly. "I won't give them a reason to act against me."
Jin seemed to find that sufficient reassurance, falling quiet. Just in time too, as they came into view of an ornate set of doors with intricate carvings.
Kira made a small snort. They might as well have posted a sign that said “important thing behind this door.” It practically shouted its strategic significance. If the Luatha hoped to fool an enemy combatant, they hadn't done a very good job.
Four guards watched them approach with curiosity, confirming Kira's belief they didn't yet see her as a threat. She released a breath. That was one piece of good news.
"Aza, you should still be in bed," the one in front said, greeting her with a warm expression and sympathy in his eyes.
Kira paused, at a loss to reconcile the guard's friendliness with Roderick's earlier disdain.
"I had hoped to speak to my cousin," Kira said. "It seems my friends are being detained."
The friendly one nodded. "Yes, this is true. They were determined to present a potential threat. I can personally assure you we mean them no harm. This is for everyone's safety until we fully investigate."
Kira relaxed slightly at that. His assurance rang with truth.
"I'd like to see and talk with them," she said, not giving up.
He shook his head regretfully. "I'm afraid that won't be possible. The seneschal and marshal wish to question them to make sure they had nothing to do with the repeated attacks on you."
Frustration moved through Kira. There was a difference between being told someone was fine and seeing it with your own two eyes.
"Then I'd like to talk to Liara," Kira tried.
"Now is not a good time, aza," the man said.
"We're not trying to keep you from airing your grievances," a female guard said, reading her frustration correctly. "She is greeting visitors. It would not be an appropriate time to interrupt."
Kira sighed. She couldn't argue with that. She was about to tell them she'd wait, when the doors behind them opened and the men and woman guarding them snapped to attention.
Graydon's gaze was searing as he stopped short. His eyes locked on her before growing suspicious. He recovered quickly, turning to check her surroundings and reaching the conclusion she was once again without protection.
Kira stopped paying attention to Graydon as her gaze snagged on two figures behind him, each as mountainous as Graydon, their armor and faces hidden by the cloaks they wore.
"What are you doing here?" Graydon asked, striding forward.
"I have business with Liara," she said. Her attention went past him to a large room with cathedral ceilings above it. Liara stood in the center of a glowing circle, her body slightly out of focus as stars hovered all around her.