"How big a ceremony are we talking?" Kira asked.
"All of the Overlord's council and most of the Citadel will be there," Finn said. "The three of you will be given the first test of the House and then they will hold a celebration."
Kira nodded. A big party where most of the populace of the Citadel would be distracted. Good. She could work with that.
"I assume you're bringing this up for a reason." Kira arched an eyebrow in expectation.
Graydon answered for him. "You need to learn proper etiquette. Luatha is an old House, and for this occasion they will be scrupulous in making sure the niceties are observed. Creating a good impression will only serve to help you."
Kira pulled a face. The prospect didn't thrill her but she understood his reasoning. "Fine, what do I need to know."
His smile was slow in dawning. "So very much."
*
Kira contained a winceas sore muscles protested. Evidently practicing bows and other forms of greetings used unexpected muscles, and they were not happy.
Graydon had proved a surprisingly effective, though merciless, teacher. He seemed to take a sick pleasure in snapping out instruction after instruction and then pointing out all the ways she'd gone wrong.
Tuann society was filled with nuances wrapped in nuances, and then tied with a bow of more nuances. It was enough to give Kira a headache.
Governed by tradition and rules, their restrictions were meant to clearly outline expectations of personal conduct. Since duels and personal combat were an accepted form of settling grievances, she’d learned it was important to guard your interactions to prevent inadvertent offense.
No, when they planned to kill each other, they wanted it to be because they were good and infuriated with their opponent.
All this served to make Kira's head hurt by the end. She barely understood human social behavior. She had no idea how she was going to make it through this ceremony without offending everyone present.
Kira groaned just thinking about it.
"Cheer up, Nixxy," Jin said. "At least Graydon said you couldn't be challenged until after theadva ka."
"No, he said I couldn't be challenged by another adult. Other children or those who haven't passed theadva kaare fine," Kira corrected.
Jin made an amused sound, knowing Kira would have difficulty if someone Joule's age tried to challenge her.
"You haven't called me Nixxy in a long time," Kira said, looking up at him.
She stood on the terrace off the suite Graydon and his people had procured. In the dark, Jin nearly blended in with the night, only the odd flicker of light reflecting off his metal body.
"You left Phoenix behind when you made theWandereryour home," he said.
She had. She'd tried to bury the parts of her that had made the Phoenix such an effective weapon.
"You sound like you miss her," Kira said, feeling vulnerable. When she'd chosen not to return to the Curs, she'd never considered how Jin might feel, taking his presence for granted. He was the one constant in her life.
Perhaps she should have made more of an effort to figure out what he wanted.
"I do sometimes," he admitted. Seeing her expression fall, he rushed to add, "I know why you left her behind. You had to keep your promise to Elise. You had to."
She nodded. Yes, she had, but perhaps she could have found a better way.
"That life was killing you, slowly but surely. Everyone could see it," he told her. "They might not have wanted to admit it, even to themselves, but they did."
By the end of the war, she was a walking shell of her former self. Her light and humor gone, leaving nothing behind but a vicious animal—dangerous to everyone, including herself.
Elise had been a Cur, her best friend, her sister, and the woman Raider loved more than life itself. Before she'd gone, she'd made Kira promise to survive, to live for all those who hadn't.
So, Kira had, even when some days it felt like she was abrading her skin with volcanic ash as she struggled through one hour after another.
