"Coups are not as commonplace as they once were, but they're still a threat. The Houses are always one minor offense away from war with each other," he said, keeping a pleasant expression on his face as he nodded to someone in the crowd.
Kira was beginning to understand why the Tuann had not had a bigger presence in the fight against the Tsavitee. If tensions between the Houses were as bad as Graydon insinuated, it would be difficult to bring to bear the focus and cohesion necessary to beat a powerful enemy like the Tsavitee.
From what Kira had seen of the Tuann so far, they relied on their technology and reputation as superior fighters to safeguard their borders. That arrogance would eventually bite them in the ass.
"Every day I find myself more and more glad you disrupted my normal, safe existence to drag me into this nest of vipers," Kira said dryly.
Graydon snagged two glasses of a peach-colored liquid and handed one to her. "You're Tuann. We need certain things in our lives. Boredom would eventually cause you to do something unwise."
"Like take over a station just because someone looked at you wrong," Jin chimed in.
Graydon lifted his glass in acknowledgment. "We weren't created for peace. We were created for war."
"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 theoshota."
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.
