There was a tense silence between the three in the room.
"There is the possibility she is primus," Rayan conceded.
"You will regret it if she is. If she takes our House, she'll kill us all trying to protect them," Alma said scornfully.
"We don't know that," Liara protested. "From what I've seen, all she wants is an alliance for the humans, and for us to rescind our claim to her."
"All we have is her word on that," Alma said, exhaustion in her voice. "What kind of person would walk away from the power of the overlord? Our House is among the wealthiest. She would be insane to leave. No, if we want to protect ourselves, we need to act now before it's too late."
"We can't do anything while the Emperor's Face or the envoy is here. It would create an incident," Rayan cautioned.
"Let it," Alma said. "We have no reason to fear them or the emperor."
Jin bobbed beside Kira, drawing her notice. He flashed his lights, twice quick and once for slow.
She nodded. Every second they lingered, they risked discovery, and this wasn't the type of conversation she wanted to be caught eavesdropping on.
"I won't hear any more of this," Liara said. "I've already made my decision."
Jin started reversing seconds later. Kira followed as he led her into a small alcove off the hallway. They hid there as Liara swept past, Rayan trotting after her.
Kira released her breath once her cousin had disappeared from sight. That had been entirely too close.
She started to relax and then tensed as she realized Alma hadn't followed Liara. She looked up at Jin and mimed a question about whether there was another exit.
He moved back and forth and then dipped to say he had no clue.
She gave him a wry look. After all his exploring he hadn't discovered this area? He was getting rusty. Time was he never would have allowed any nook or cranny to go unexplored.
He read her expression and flashed several lights on and off rapidly, flicking her off.
They waited several tense seconds as the quiet murmur of voices reached her. Kira peeked out of their hiding spot.
"Kira," Jin hissed.
She held up a hand and moved forward on silent feet.
Jin made a frustrated sound before following.
"What are we going to do?" Alma asked in a hushed voice.
"If the Overlord won't protect herself, it is our duty to act in her best interests," a woman said. "Her fall would leave all of Luatha vulnerable."
"There's no way we could act without placing ourselves in danger," Alma said.
"There's a way," the woman said. "But it would require the defense codes—something I don't have access to."
"Why would you need those?" Alma asked.
"Our common enemy waits outside the defense net. We let them through to deal with the humans and the lost heir, and our hands will be clean. No one would ever know what we'd done," the strange woman said.
They were talking about the Tsavitee, Kira realized with a dull horror. They had to be.
She shifted closer for a better look at the speakers. Of the two, she recognized Alma’s voice.
"You're talking treason. I should have you arrested and executed just for thinking it," Alma said sharply.
"But you won't. You know as well as I do Luatha has no chance if the mongrel takes control. We need to protect our House from outside influences, even if the means to do so wouldn't be condoned under other circumstances."
