"Why?" Kira asked.
"Because you're a mystery, and your survival gives hope for others who lost their children during the Sorrowing," the woman stuttered.
Kira fell silent, fiddling with the cuffs of her sleeves.
Eta visibly shook off her awe, returning to the previous topic. "They'll compete to see who reaches the other side the fastest while doing the most destruction to the drones."
Kira turned to see Graydon make an impossible leap, snatching one of the drones out of the air and hurling it at another. The two crashed with a harsh crunch and dropped into the water.
Eta sighed, the sound happy and admiring. "The commander is winning. Not that I'm surprised. He's one of the best. Roderick just challenged him because he’s an ass."
Kira made a noncommittal sound, not wanting to distract the chatty woman.
As they watched, Graydon swarmed up a wall and across one of the bridges, while Roderick struggled to evade the three drones locked on him.
For defense, Roderick carried a long wooden staff, using it to deflect their fire.
Not very well, she noted when several beams hit his leg and torso.
Pain reflected on his face even as he pressed forward.
Graydon reached the final platform easily, crossing the line amid groans of dismay from those in green and cheers of victory from those wearing black.
Graydon raised one arm in response, looking around the arena. His gray, stormy eyes found Kira's and then moved beyond her. When he realized she was alone, the smile faded from his face, leaving the hunter staring back at her.
"Ah, crap," Kira muttered.
She thought about retreating, fading into the trees and making her escape before he could reach her. She'd been on the opposite side of enough dressing-downs to know this wouldn’t be pretty.
She sighed and stiffened her spine. Running would only prolong things and make them worse. Besides, the last time she’d run from one of the Tuann hadn't exactly worked out for her.
"He's coming this way," her new friend muttered, sounding torn between two extremes—excitement and nervousness.
"Unfortunately," Kira muttered.
"You don't understand. To be considered for his detail would be the greatest of honors," Eta said.
Kira was sure it would be. If the prowess he'd demonstrated was anything to go by, she should assume his warriors were as well-trained as he was.
He stalked around the obstacle course as another group prepared to enter. He stopped in front of her, his expression carefully controlled.
"Is there a reason youroshotais not with you?" he asked in a tone that made it clear he thought her an idiot.
"Perhaps because I did not want him with me, and so he is not," Kira returned politely.
Eta drew in a sharp breath, before pressing her lips together, hard, as her gaze darted between the two.
Kira ignored her, too focused on winning the battle of wills with the commander.
Graydon visibly struggled with patience. "I don't care what you want. Finn's job is to keep you alive. Let him do it."
"Somehow, I've managed to survive all these years without your or anyone else's protection."
"That was around humans," he scoffed. "The Tuann would eat you alive."
Kira's eyes narrowed. Oh, would they now? She was half-tempted to show him the error of his thinking.
"I didn't know your kind were cannibals," Kira said, retaining her polite façade. "Thank you for warning me."
