Alma lifted her chin, the line of her jaw stubborn.
"We lied," Liara said, her gaze resting on her former adviser. "Another House was trying to merge with ours. Alma and Rayan could not hold it for much longer. I had to ascend to the position or we would have lost many things."
"If the Tsavitee knew of this, it might be why they decided Luatha was a good target," the stranger said. "They may have seen the lack as something they could exploit."
"No one in our House knew except my advisers," Liara said firmly.
Alma flinched the slightest bit.
Roderick rounded on her. "How else did you betray this House, Mother?"
"It was not my intention. You know that," Alma said, her expression pleading.
"Mother?" Kira muttered.
It explained some things, including how Roderick got his position.
"Roderick's father was the former marshal," Liara said quietly. "When I ascended, Alma asked that I make him the next marshal. She said it would look good, like the next generation was taking up the mantle."
"And it never bothered you his loyalties would always be to her first?" Kira asked.
Liara grimaced. "I didn't have many choices. Many of theoshotaowed much to his father and his family. I saw him as the lesser evil."
Kira made a hmm as the drama before them unfolded.
"How could you do this?" Roderick shouted, his expression devastated.
"This wasn't how it was supposed to be," Alma cried. "You were supposed to fight them, retake the Citadel and strengthen our position. Not this."
"Our people would have still died," he roared.
"But your title would have been secured and our Overlord would have been known as the one who defeated the tsavitee," Alma said.
Kira winced as Alma admitted to not caring about what happened to the rest of them. Roderick and the rest of his people shook their heads, their expressions a mix of shocked dismay and disgust.
As imperfect as Roderick was, he and his people fulfilled the role of protector for the Luathans. To hear one of their own sought to exploit that would carry the harsh sting of betrayal.
With a muttered curse, the stranger attending Liara stood and took several steps toward where Roderick and his mother squared off.
Kira lowered herself to sitting beside Liara. They were as alone as they were going to get.
"The tsavitee will try to sacrifice some of your people to make you give up the codes," Kira said softly.
Liara jerked to look at her.
Kira hesitated, not liking this next task but not having much choice. It made her feel dirty to contemplate. It was emotional manipulation of the worse sort.
The situation was dire, and not just here. She had to take any advantage and use it, no matter how slimy it might make her feel.
"I can stop this," Kira said.
Hope shown on Liara's face.
Kira looked at her carefully. "But I'll need something from you first."
Liara's expression dimmed. "What do you want?"
Now or never, Kira told herself.
