"What do you mean by that?" Kira asked, sensing a deeper undercurrent in his words.
He took a sip from his glass. "You'll have to stick around to find out."
"You know I'm leaving as soon as I can arrange it?" Kira said.
He gave her an enigmatic smile. "We'll see. I have faith I can change your mind."
Kira felt a spurt of alarm. Graydon was the type of man who felt the need to conquer any obstacle in his path. She was the ultimate challenge, a woman unimpressed with his station and utterly consumed with running as far from him as possible.
She should have let things run their course last night. He'd have lost interest and she could go about her business without distraction.
She sighed. Too late now.
Kira turned to the gathering, people watching for several minutes. Those around her seemed curious, peeking at her before looking away when they noticed her attention. They giggled and gossiped with their neighbors.
None approached, leaving a ten-foot bubble around Kira, Graydon, and his three minions.
"I can't tell if they see me as some exotic zoo animal or if there’s another reason for their avoidance," Kira said, holding her glass up to her mouth but not drinking as she studied the other Tuann.
"They're not certain of your standing. My presence and my warriors probably don't help," Graydon said. "People are often intimidated by those who’ve joined the ranks of the oshota."
Kira took a sip of the liquid and closed her eyes as a tart, sweet flavor coated her tongue. She'd never tasted anything like it. If nothing else, she could say there was one aspect of Tuann society she enjoyed. They knew what they were doing when it came to food and drink.
"Because you're likely to kill them?"
"They rely on us for protection but prefer our presence from a safe distance," Graydon said.
There was no bitterness in his voice, just a statement of facts.
Kira looked around at their guards, their expressions neutral masks as if the topic had no relevance to them.
She looked at her glass, feeling empathy for them. She knew what it was to be sought after but held at a distance because of what you could do.
The potential for violence didn't automatically equate to the likelihood.
Being revered didn't make the nights and days any less lonely if those you'd lay down your life to protect wouldn't let you close enough to have a conversation.
"Yet you protect them anyways," Kira said in a soft voice.
"That is our purpose, lady," Solal said with a slight smile.
Her lips quirked in response, though her eyes remained remote and sad. She'd thought the same once, until she'd found that purpose was not a replacement for the warmth of skin against hers or a conversation after a long shift.
"The seneschal approaches," Amila murmured in a voice pitched for their ears.
Any levity or softness vanished from the expressions of Graydon's guards. They tensed, their focus laser-sharp as they turned their attention to the approaching woman.
Alma's hair was bound up in a complicated, undone knot that exposed the tips of her ears. She looked like a regal noble, come to bestow her blessing on the peasants. The arrogance and haughtiness of her expression would have made lesser people feel self-conscious.
Kira took another sip of her drink and waited expectantly.
Alma's eyes went to Jin and she made a moue of distaste. "Couldn't you have left the toy behind for one night?"
Kira didn't answer, just stared Alma down. Graydon and the others were equally silent beside her. For just a moment, they were a united front against the interloper. It didn't matter that the Citadel was Alma's home. Kira had people willing to stand at her back.
Alma sighed in frustration. "I suppose we can't expect much, given you were raised by humans."
Kira's expression didn't waver at the insult, if anything it became even more polite.
Graydon’s oshota stiffened as they took umbrage at the slight. Their expressions didn't shift from their normal remoteness, but the air crackled with intensity. The pressure felt like the sky before a thunderstorm, the potential for destruction there.
It surprised Kira. She hadn't thought they felt such empathy for her.
"Is there a reason you're here?" Kira could do icy disdain too.
Alma's eyes narrowed. "Don't get lippy with me, child. I won't be as gentle as the commander. I'm the seneschal for House Luatha and I'm due respect."
Respect was earned, not given. So far Alma had proven she was capable of pointless posturing against a supposed weaker member of her House. Kira wasn't known for respecting those who abused those under them.
Her cheek twitched with all the emotion she was suppressing. She couldn't say any of that. To do so would betray the façade she was trying to keep up. Graydon and his warriors might suspect Kira's true colors, but these others did not.
The utter wrongness of the woman’s assumptions turned Kira's annoyance into a game. She couldn't upset Kira because she had no idea of who she was dealing with, and Kira wasn't yet ready to educate her.
"Of course, seneschal," Kira said, giving her a humble nod. Graydon choked on a laugh beside her. Kira ignored him as she beamed sweetly at Alma. "I assume your time is precious. What is it you came over here for?"
"The ceremony will begin soon," Alma said. "Prove a credit to your bloodline and your life will be very easy going forward."
And if she didn't? Would they cast her out or sentence her to a life of drudgery?
Kira kept those questions contained as Alma swept off.
"It is such fun watching you toy with them," Graydon murmured next to her.
She twitched a shoulder.
"I'm interested to see how your game will end," he said.
"Or when they'll realize the mouse is actually a lu-ong," Finn said acerbically.
She gave him a sidelong look but didn't confirm his guess. She didn't feel too bad Graydon and his oshota had seen past the mask she'd crafted for the Luatha. If she'd wanted them to underestimate her, she would have needed to handle their first encounter better.
"What is it I can expect from this ceremony?" Kira asked.
"They'll test your affinities to the soul’s breath. They’ll use knowledge of your strengths to determine what position within the House you would be best suited for," he said.
He steered her across the room toward a raised dais in the middle of the floor, a carved stone table on it. The balconies above all had a perfect view of the spot.
Ziva and Joule waited near the dais, their faces grumpy despite their finery.
Joule wore a high-necked vest, his arms bare except for a metal cuff around his thin biceps. He hadn't quite filled in yet, but his arms contained a hint of the man he might be one day.
Ziva's outfit was a more feminine version of his, a silky overdress over a pair of pantaloons. Her hair had been slicked back and a diadem affixed on her head, a single pearl hanging on her brow.
Neither looked thrilled to be there. Their frowns became even more pronounced at the sight of Kira.
She arched an eyebrow at them. "What is it now? You were perfectly happy when I left you yesterday."
The two traded a look. “They’re not going to offer the rest of our House a position here.”